Mosin Nagant expert needed

[perdue3]

I am looking at adding a Mosin to my bolt action collection and have found a few at local pawn shops. Of course I want an ex-sniper Tula, but no moneys for that. The one I am interested in is a Finnish M91/30 built at the Tikka arsenal in 1943. I forget if it was hex or round receiver, I know that if it is a round receiver the price doubles. The Finnish round receivers in 1943 were very rare. My problem is that the stock doesn't seem to be Finnish. The Finnish M91/30's were usually spliced at the fore end and/or two-piece. This stock is laminated like a post-war Eastern bloc version. If this is a Finnish barrel and receiver with a post war laminate stock, which I know are a bit more rare than hardwood, how far does the price fluctuate?

The laminated stocks are not my thing to be honest and although there has been a huge influx of laminate M91/30's in the US in the last ten years, in relation to the grand total of Mosin Nagant's laminated stocks are a very small percentage. I am not a Mosin expert and I have been hard pressed in finding a local one. I do not want to have to join the Mosin Nagant fanboi forum, so if you know a lot about these rifles please help.

My question is, what is the value of a Finnish M91/30 with a post-war non-Finnish stock? Ill know if it is a round or hex receiver later today. Keep in mind that it is Finnish and therefore no numbers will match up.

[Nefarious]

Serenity/Txsailor is selling a Finnish M39 on a gun forum  we both read. Perhaps he will chime in.

[Serenity]

Serenity/Txsailor is selling a Finnish M39 on a gun forum  we both read. Perhaps he will chime in.

Love the plug! lol. I'm not TOO up on the world of the Finns (Hence my selling my M39). My understanding is this: Round receivers are rare, and definitely add value. The non-finn stock definitely hurts the value.

[Nefarious]

Perdue, If you can, get some pics of it.

[Serenity]

Perdue, If you can, get some pics of it.

Agreed. Words can only do so much. And as Nef said, if you don't like the one local to you, I've got one for sale as well!

[SmokinLoon]

Um, actually, I was under the impression that the Finns didnt make any of their own receviers.  My own is a 1916 (iirc) and it is hex receiver. It is a beautiful rifle.

You WANT a hex receiver.

If you desire quality and accuracy, on an open sight/iron sight Mosin variant, then the Finnish M43 wins without question. I've handled a lot of Mosin-Nagant rifles over the years, none are as nice as the "worst" Finnish  I've held. Even my own Russian Nagant which has hadly a scratch does not compare to my Finn.

I dont think it matters too much which Finn model you get, just get one.  I would look more at the receiver date, the date of the barrel, and the stock. They Finns built theirs for quality to be used by highly trained riflemen, not MG fodder conscripts.

[perdue3]

Went and looked closer today. The stock is definitely post war laminated and therefore not fitting with the Finns. It is a hex receiver and Finns did not make their own receivers. Tikka factory meant storage, no Tikka M91/30's made it to the battlefield. So, we have a Finnish M91/30 which I agree is the best Mosin for shooting. The stock is ugly as sin and not original. No sling nor bayonet. The receiver is from Izzy arsenal and the hard bottom is $175.

In my opinion, this particular Finnish M91/30 is not worth more than $125. I had to pass on this one, plus I am not extremely interested in a Finnish M91/30 even though I hear they are the best Mosin. I, however, would love to have a Dragoon or Cossack, even a M38 Tula. I wouldn't pass up a good deal on a Finnish M91/30 as long as there are no surprises....like laminated stocks.

Thanks for the help guys.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I think Simo Häyhä, the 600 kill sniper used M28 variant like this during the war. He used iron sights to all his kills.

[Nefarious]

I own a 1941 Izzy Finn Capture 91/30. I actually found out several years after I first got it. Reading about some other Mosin stuff at survivors SKS forums, I decided to pull mine out of the safe and look. BOOM! [SA] stamp right on the receiver. The rifle was not modified by the Finns at all, Looks like a regular 91/30 except for the Finn arsenal mark.

[perdue3]

I own a 1941 Izzy Finn Capture 91/30. I actually found out several years after I first got it. Reading about some other Mosin stuff at survivors SKS forums, I decided to pull mine out of the safe and look. BOOM! [SA] stamp right on the receiver. The rifle was not modified by the Finns at all, Looks like a regular 91/30 except for the Finn arsenal mark.

So, an [SA] is worth how much?

[Nefarious]

So, an [SA] is worth how much?

Honestly i dont know, considering the value of a regular standard issue 91/30 the least i would take for mine would probably be $150. I'm not really a Mosin guy, Im more of an SKS guy but i own several examples of them in my collection.

[Serenity]

Um, actually, I was under the impression that the Finns didnt make any of their own receviers.  My own is a 1916 (iirc) and it is hex receiver. It is a beautiful rifle.

You WANT a hex receiver.

It depends on what you want. My understanding is, the wartime examples are almost exclusively hex receivers. The round receivers are post-war examples, which are made just as well. You lose the wartime background, but they're generally in near-mint condition.

[shotgunneeley]

About 6 months ago I picked up a Russian Izhevsk model 1891/30 rifle dated 1943 and with a cylindrical receiver. Got the package deal of the gun, cleaning kit, 2 boxes of 7.62x54 rounds and the bayonet (somehow walked off without getting the sling) for $250.

This Thanksgiving week I hope to bag a doe or hog with it.

[Motherland]

just came home from school to find my 91/30, the first/only gun i've ever picked out myself, with a hex but '44 marked receiver, Izhevsk, shot fantastically for a $130 rifle with surplus 1977 ammo... definitely put more rounds through this old guy than any other rifle I've had, maybe all the others put together...
rusted all over and through
Mosins may be cheap/worthless but they can be really sentimental
Or maybe I'm just really sentimental

I really liked that rifle

[Charge]

Have you seen this?

http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/finnfaq.asp

-C+