Make: Tula Arsenal, Russia (no visible import markings)
Model: 91/30 (1891/1930)
Serial Number: 1807 (preceded by two Cyrillic characters)
Year of Manufacture: 1939
Caliber: 7.62x54R (7.62x54mm Rimmed)
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle, Fixed Magazine
Barrel Length: 29”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded post dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a U-notched sliding escalator attached to the barrel. The left side of the receiver has a PU (Cyrillic acronym, the full words in English translate to “Scope Short-Cut”) mount, and mounted to the rifle is an Early “SVT” Style PU Scope, distinguished from the later war models by the additional “narrow band” still present in the tube, which would be eliminated from the design in February 1943. The glass is slightly hazy and dirty, and the body shows moderate wear, erosion, and pitting. This scope remains in Fair overall condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two-piece smooth wood stock has a straight grip, finger grooves, metal nose caps, cut out for the included cleaning rod, two barrel bands, two sling eyelets, through bolt, and a metal buttplate. The wood shows moderate wear from handling and storage. There are a number of scrapes, compressions, scuffs, and scratch marks. The bottom of the buttstock shows a deep scrape, mostly smoothed out. The left side of the stock below the mount has “CAL” scratched into the wood. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good Plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light to moderate erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates a 7.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light to moderate wear from handling and storage. The metal shows scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is scattered erosion. The screw heads are sharp, though they show light use. Most markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good to Very Good Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes mounted with the aforementioned Early “SVT” Style PU Scope, and comes complete with a dark green canvas scope cover, a classic 91/30 cruciform blade 91/30 socket bayonet with spring clip attachment (not serial matching), and a light green canvas sling with leather attachments.
Our Assessment: The Mosin Nagant bolt action rifle was developed by Russian firearms designers Sergei Mosin and Léon Nagant in 1891. The 91/30 model was introduced in 1930, and served as the standard infantry rifle for the Soviet Union during WW2 and beyond. The Mosin incorporated a 5-round internal magazine firing the powerful 7.62x54R cartridge, and “kicked like a mule”, though some of the recoil was absorbed by the Soviet “telogreika” padded winter jacket commonly worn. The Mosin was also notoriously stiff and difficult to disassemble, and that was likely intentional to avoid having rough-hewn peasant conscripts trying to take it apart unnecessarily in the field. The Mosin Nagant had a long service life, and was renowned for its durability and reliability.
This Soviet Russian Mosin Nagant Model 91/30 Rifle was made at Tula Arsenal in 1939. It has since been arsenal refurbished, and at some point after that has been configured as a PU sniper rifle. The serial number on the barrel shank is “1807”; the floorplate is serial number matching, but the buttplate and sniper style downturned bolt are not serial matching (either to the rifle or each other). Thus, we believe this Mosin has been configured as a sniper rifle after it left Soviet service, which is not surprising, as many Mosins have been cobbled together by importers with spare parts for the last few decades. That said, the scope on this rifle is a fantastic, original Early “SVT” Style PU Scope, serial number “17377”, which was made at Factory #3 in 1941. It’s well marked with the hammer, sickle, and star, though the star and date remain mostly obscured (though just slightly legible) by the mounting rings. This rifle is chambered in 7.62x54R, remains in Good to Very Good condition, and features a 29” barrel, 90% of its original (to arsenal refurbishment) blued finish, a fine two-piece smooth wood stock, the aforementioned PU sniper scope and mount (the glass is slightly hazy and dirty), a scope cover, bayonet, and sling, strong mechanics, and a semi-bright bore with sharp rifling. The most famous use of a Mosin Nagant Sniper Rifle during WW2 was undoubtedly by Vasily Zaitsev, the “young shepherd boy from the Urals” who became the hero of the Battle of Stalingrad (July 1942-February 1943). His sharpshooting exploits and “one on one” sniper duel against an opposing German crackshot in the ruins of that city on the banks of the Volga were immortalized in the book and movie “Enemy At The Gates”. Though this Mosin is not an original PU Sniper, it’s still a wonderful piece of history that would go well in any Soviet small arms collection.
RIFLE