{"product_id":"original-imperial-russian-mosin-nagant-model-1891-three-line-infantry-rifle-by-tula-arsenal-with-finnish-sa-marking-dated-1895-serial-no-80157","title":"Original Imperial Russian Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 Three-Line Infantry Rifle by Tula Arsenal with Finnish SA Marking, Dated 1895, Serial No. 80157","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original pre-1899 Imperial Russian Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 Three-Line Infantry Rifle manufactured at Tula Arsenal in 1895, serial number \u003cstrong\u003e80157\u003c\/strong\u003e. It remains in the original full length infantry rifle configuration rather than having been shortened or rebuilt to the later Soviet 91\/30 pattern. The rifle subsequently saw Finnish service and carries the boxed \u003cstrong\u003eSA\u003c\/strong\u003e property marking, while retaining an intriguing mixture of Imperial Russian, later Soviet, and Finnish era components and markings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are so very rare, and one of a very few examples that we have had in decades. A real pre-1899 Antique Russian Mosin-Nagant M1891 Full Length Rifle, more officially referred to as the \"Three Line Infantry Rifle, Model of 1891.\" This example was never converted to the 91\/30 standard, and is still in the original full length. It does have the stock cross bolt for use with the heavier \"Spitzer\" bullets used, however it has the original sling swivels installed on oval bushings, and is otherwise still in the original issued confiburation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle has lots of issue markings, and is marked with serial number \u003cstrong\u003e№ 80157\u003c\/strong\u003e over the chamber. The bolt is non-matching (probably remarked), and there is also an \u003cstrong\u003eSA\u003c\/strong\u003e inside a rectangle on the left side of the barrel, for \u003cem\u003eSuomi Armeija\u003c\/em\u003e (Finnish Army). However, the Finnish did not convert this example to their M\/91 standard, and is still in the Russian configuration.\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\u003eThe official designation of this model is \u003cb\u003e3-линии пехотная винтовка образца 1891–го года\u003c\/b\u003e which translates to \"Three Line Infantry Rifle, Model of 1891\". It has the cross bolt to reinforce the stock against recoil, and the flip up 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 (4 to 12) on the left side of the sight base have been struck through, and new measurements (2 to 8 1\/2) in meters added in hundreds of meters (12 x 100 arshíny = 8 1\/2 x 100m) on the right side.\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, though the marking on the top of the receiver has been removed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe full markings on the barrel are:\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\u003eИМПЕРАТОРСКІЙ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eТУЛБСКІЙ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eОРУЖЕЙНБІЙ ЗАВОДЪ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1895 г.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e№ 80157\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese markings indicate original manufacture in 1895 at the \"Imperial Tula Arms Factory\", one of the most prominent in Russia. We also checked the underside of the receiver tang, and it is also marked with the\u003cstrong\u003e \"Hammer\"\u003c\/strong\u003e logo of Tula over \u003cstrong\u003e95г\u003c\/strong\u003e (г is short for год \"god\", or year in English) for \u003cstrong\u003e1895\u003c\/strong\u003e, so it 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\u003eReconstructed in the 19th century Tula Arms Factory became one of the most prominent arms factories in Europe. In 1879 the plant started production of the famous Berdan rifle with an improved bolt. Workshop was organized by a model where created their own models of small arms and hunting weapons. Increased production of various products: single- and double-barrel muzzle-loading shotguns, breech-loading center-fire rifles. Designer Sergei Ivanovich Mosin took part in devising damascus steel technology used in production of barrels. He also designed a bolt-action rifle which was put to testing along with a rifle developed by Émile Nagant. In 1891, as a result of complex tests Mosin's entry was chosen over the Belgian design and it was adopted by the Imperial Russian Army as the three-line rifle of 1891.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top of the bolt bears crossed out number \u003cstrong\u003e121043\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the end of the bolt handle has \u003cstrong\u003e1615\u003c\/strong\u003e, neither of which match the receiver. There are proof marks but none that are definitive for either Imperial Russian or Soviet era. The magazine housing however has the Tula \u003cstrong\u003e\"Star\"\u003c\/strong\u003e marking used during the soviet area, in addition to serial number \u003cstrong\u003e91727\u003c\/strong\u003e. The butt plate has several faint markings on the tang, but none that we can identify, while the rear is marked with serial numbers \u003cstrong\u003e48997\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e31613\u003c\/strong\u003e. The nose cap and rear sight leaf are both marked with the \u003cstrong\u003e\"Bow and Arrow\"\u003c\/strong\u003e of Izhevsk arsenal, a Czarist marking which was discontinued following the Russian revolution and subsequent civil war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right side of the butt stock on the rifle is marked with a clear \"Crossed hammers\" with a circle over it, with a 9 inside the circle, which indicates stock inspection, or the maker. Next to this is a rectangle stamped with \u003cstrong\u003eAV3 9958\u003c\/strong\u003e, a marking that we do not recognize, but believe to be Finnish in origin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall condition shows wear and past oxidation to the metalwork, with some evidence of past peppering and minor pitting in areas, particularly on the receiver area, and inside. This is also present on the barrel, and we observed some rust present on barrel under the hand guard when looking for the receiver marking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe walnut stock is in very good condition for its age and shows the dents, dings, scratches, and handling wear expected from extended military use. The left side displays pronounced wear along the raised upper portion, consistent with repeated contact against a hard surface. The stock shows evidence of cleaning but does not appear to have undergone a major modern refinish or restoration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original style cleaning rod remains present and threads correctly into the stock. Both barrel bands remain secure, though small flat head screws have been installed adjacent to them to prevent movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe action cycles smoothly during manual inspection and the trigger releases crisply. Magazine feeding was not tested. The bore is in very good condition for a rifle of this age, with a mostly bright surface and strong lands and grooves. The rifling shows clear evidence of use, including somewhat rounded lands and darker grooves from old fouling and oxidation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe muzzle has been counterbored approximately 1\", an arsenal style modification commonly used to remove worn or damaged rifling at the crown and restore a more consistent muzzle condition. These mechanical and bore observations describe only the rifle’s current condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that it is safe to load or fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its matching 1895 Tula barrel and receiver dates, original full length Model 1891 infantry configuration, Imperial arsenal markings, Finnish boxed SA property stamp, metric altered rear sight, surviving Imperial Izhevsk components, original style cleaning rod, and extensive evidence of continued military service, this is a particularly interesting early Mosin-Nagant rifle. The nonmatching bolt and furniture, Soviet marked magazine housing, removed receiver eagle, oxidation on the receiver and barrel, stock wear, added barrel band retaining screws, counterbored muzzle, and mixed service components are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in an Imperial Russian arms, Finnish military rifle, early Mosin-Nagant, Tula Arsenal, or advanced 19th century military firearms collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications (Rifle):-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1895\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMaker: Tula Arsenal\u003cbr\u003eModel: 1891 Mosin-Nagant Rifle\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber:7.62×54mmR Russian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 31 1\/2 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 51 1\/2 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Bolt Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: 5 Round Internal\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45819720368197,"sku":"ONJR26AULC100","price":1895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/008AE205-5D1E-47F6-AFC9-33DB69AAF097.jpg?v=1790017064","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-imperial-russian-mosin-nagant-model-1891-three-line-infantry-rifle-by-tula-arsenal-with-finnish-sa-marking-dated-1895-serial-no-80157","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}