{"product_id":"original-antique-finnish-captured-mosin-nagant-m-91-infantry-rifle-by-izhevsk-arsenal-serial-163092-dated-1897","title":"Original Antique Finnish Captured Mosin-Nagant M\/91 Infantry Rifle by Izhevsk Arsenal Serial 163092 - dated 1897","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. These are so very rare, a real pre-1898 Antique Russian Mosin-Nagant M1891 Full Length Rifle, more officially referred to as the \"Three Line Infantry Rifle, Model of 1891.\" This particular one was later refit in Finland to the Finnish M\/91 Mosin-Nagant standard, and fitted with a new stock. The rifle has lots of issue markings, and is marked with serial number \u003cstrong\u003e163092\u003c\/strong\u003e over the chamber. The bolt does not have any serial marking, and there is also an \u003cstrong\u003eSA\u003c\/strong\u003e inside a rectangle on the side of the barrel, for \u003cem\u003eSuomi Armeija\u003c\/em\u003e (Finnish Army).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Russian \"Mosin-Nagant\" bolt-action rifle is arguably the most-produced rifle in history, with around 37 million being produced in various versions in several different countries. This number easily surpasses the Lee-Enfield, Mauser GEW98 and Mauser K98K in number produced. The reasons for this are multiple, including both the size of Russia and later USSR, as well as the long service life of this design, which is still in use today in some locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe history of what is known as the \"Mosin-Nagant\" rifle begins in the late 19th century in Russia, following the Russo-Ottoman war. During the course of the war, it became apparent that Russian troops needed a modern bolt-action rifle to compete with the rest of the world, so they started evaluations in 1889 on what would become the general issue rifle for infantry troops. Three designs were submitted, and at the time in Russia bullet diameter was measured in \"line\"s, where one line was 1\/10 of an inch. This is what gave rise to the official name of the rifle, the \"3-line rifle, Model 1891\", as it was in .30cal, or 7.62mm. The name \"Mosin-Nagant\" is in reality somewhat of a misnomer, as the design chosen was designed by Mosin, not Nagant. However due to legal issues with Nagant over certain design aspects of the rifle, his name was attached to the design as well, leading to the name used in most of the world, the \"Mosin-Nagant Model 1891\". Three other models would subsequently be put into service prior to WWI: the M1891 Dragoon, the M1891 Cossack, and the M1907 Carbine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Finland achieved independence from Russia, over 190,000 Model 1891 infantry rifles were already stockpiled in the ex-Russian military depots within Finland. As a result, the rifle was adopted as the standard Finnish Army weapon, and surplus Mosin–Nagants were purchased from other European nations which had captured them during World War I. The official designation of these were \"3-линии пехотная винтовка образца 1891–го года\" which translates to \"Three Line Infantry Rifle, Model of 1891\". These rifles were then overhauled to meet Finnish Army standards and designated M\/91.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis entailed replacing the stock with a new one, constructed from two pieces of wood with a glued finger joint in the middle. The new stock featured traditional sling swivels fitted into escutcheons, instead of the slots used on the Russian types. This example has both intact, and does not show any signs of recapture by the Soviets, or other later alterations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with most, this example has the cross bolt to reinforce the stock against recoil, and the rear sight correctly goes up to 3200 арши́ны (arshíny), an archaic measurement used by Russia through the first world war. Roughly equal to 71.12 cm, the ranges on the left side of the sight base (4 to 12) have been crossed out, and new measurements in meters (2 to 8 1\/2) added in hundreds of meters (12 x 100 arshíny = 8 1\/2 x 100m) on the right side. The M\/91 was the most widely issued Finnish rifle in both the Winter War and the Continuation War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel displays an Imperial Russian \u003cstrong\u003eDouble Headed Eagle\u003c\/strong\u003e over Cyrillic letters \u003cstrong\u003eЛ К\u003c\/strong\u003e just below the rear sight on the base of the barrel, and the same marking is repeated on the top front of the receiver. The full markings on the barrel are clear, and read:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Imperial Eagle)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eЛ К\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eИЖЕВСКІЙ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eОружейньій заводъ.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1897г.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e163092\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Bow \u0026amp; Arrow)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese indicates original manufacture in \u003cstrong\u003e1897\u003c\/strong\u003e at Izhevsk arsenal, a major producer of Mosin-Nagant rifles and carbines. The factory itself was founded in 1807 at the request of the Czar, and continues to manufacturer small arms do this day. We checked the tang of the receiver, and it is also marked with a faint \u003cstrong\u003e\"Bow \u0026amp; Arrow\"\u003c\/strong\u003e over \u003cstrong\u003e1897\u003c\/strong\u003e (last number is faint. The right side of the barrel and receiver under the stock both bear production number \u003cstrong\u003e540106\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating that the barrel was not swapped out at any time. This also means that this is definitely a \u003cstrong\u003ePre-1899 antique firearm\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right side of the bolt is also marked with the \u003cstrong\u003e\"Bow and Arrow\"\u003c\/strong\u003e marking of Izhevsk Arsenal, while the front barrel band and butt plate tang are marked with the \u003cstrong\u003eHammer\u003c\/strong\u003e proof of Tula Arsenal, more Czarist markings which were discontinued following the Russian revolution and subsequent civil war. It was very common for rifles in service for a long time to have parts swapped out like this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition of the rifle is very good, especially considering the age and amount of service it must have seen. The stock is in good condition, with a lovely brown color showing the grain well. There are some small splits along the grain in the butt stock, but it is still structurally sound, and we cannot see any repairs. The metalwork is in very good shape, with strong bluing overall, most likely having been refinished at arsenal during its service life, probably when it was restocked. It still retains the original cleaning rod, which is in good shape, and still threads correctly into the stock retaining block.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle cycles well, with a crisp dry fire. The bore is in very good condition, showing strong lands and grooves with a partly bright finish. There is a bit of oxidation in the grooves, as expected for a rifle used during the days of corrosive smokeless powder. It does show a counterbore in the front of about 1 1\/2\", thought to increase accuracy by removing worn rifling at the muzzle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderful piece of Firearms and European History! Made in Russia in 1897, and then later used against them by Finland during the WWII Era. Ready do display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1897\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: 7.62×54mmR Russian\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 31 1\/2 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 51 1\/2 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Bolt Action\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 5 Round Internal\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42513287512133,"sku":"ONJR25FEAA112","price":1995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR25FEAA112__02.jpg?v=1742032196","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-antique-finnish-captured-mosin-nagant-m-91-infantry-rifle-by-izhevsk-arsenal-serial-163092-dated-1897","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}