New Toy...Good friends

[DaveTN]

A couple of weeks ago my best friend came by and we spent the evening sitting on the patio drinking a few beers and checking out my lasted gun additions.

He’s not really into collector guns but was really impressed when I brought out the old military stuff. (Garand, 03 Springfield, M1 Carbine)

Last night we went to his camper on the lake to visit and listen to the band. He says he has a rifle he wants to give to me for my collection. He said he has had it for years and doesn’t even know what it is, but thought it would go well with my collection.

So now I have my first Mosin Nagant. I’ve not really researched these a lot but it appears to be a Finnish M39 stamped 1941.

[Guest Crunchman]

You are correct. It should have the SA inside a square and be stamped with the factory mark, Tikka, Skyy, Sako. The parts may have lined out serial #s and be restamped to be matching. This was common practice with the Finns and does not detract from the collectability. Before firing, get the bore slugged as the diameter can vary from .309 to .311. Also, take the action out of the stock and check the date on the underside of the tang. You may find that the reciever is actually from a much earlier date

Congrats on a fine rifle. All of my Finns were excellent shooters.

BTW, these are going for $200 to $400+.

Here's a site for the breakdown of the M-39.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/finnishmosin/index.asp

Edited May 25, 2008 by Crunchman
adding more info.

[Urse]

Nice rifle....good friend!

[bushfox25]

Nothing better than free guns.

[Guest The Cat]

Also, take the action out of the stock and check the date on the underside of the tang. You may find that the reciever is actually from a much earlier date

+1 on the tang. My Finn was manufactured by Schweiz-Industrie Gesellschaft

[musicman]

Sweet!! That's a great looking rifle, and the price can't be beat!

[Guest flyfishtn]

Very good friend you have a now a very nice rifle to in your collection. Two treasures.

[Guest tokarev]

I remember your first post about this rifle. It was just before the ,..uh,..improvement to the forum and it got deleted ;-)

I had posted a link that has a lot of detail on this model and don't know if you saw it before it disapeared.

http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/finnish_mosin_nagantm39.asp

This is one of the best sites for that model. The rest of the site will pretty much tell you anything you ever want to know about all other Mosin-Nagants. Here's another favorite of mine:

http://7.62x54r.net/

I have a M39 made in '41 also. I consider it one of my finest milsurps! Take care of that Finn. It's a great one.

[Guest Major Pain]

Take care of that friend, he's also a good one.---MP

[I_Like_Pie]

Buy all the surplus ammo you can before it starts drying up and going up in price...it is still really cheap now for some reason.