Finland, why are these variants more desirable? or are they

[pelago]

WELL, HERE IS THE START!
The more i investigate these things and all the variations the more intriguing it all gets. guess a trip to my local library is in order (the woman shudders when i give her the next title, but she always comes thru, they had to go to a different state one time to get a book, but the UNC Library system and its share program is a tax dollar i support)
but here are my three entries into the Collection world, do three make a collection?


i paid 87.00 us dollars for the bottom one about 9 years ago, pretty accurate at 100 yards, very loud, and a helluva whack on the old shoulder

[JBinIll]

"…..do three make a collection?"

LOL I have some "collections" with one item.

[PhillipM]

I'm not into foreign milsurps but I do know Doug Bowser. PM sent with his phone number, he loves to talk about Mosins.

[pelago]

i hate it when i stumble into something that makes me look deeper and deeper into the subj
saw this page and the man said that this was NOT a comprehensive list of variants? hell they even made a 410 shotgun in the balkans out of this action!

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRef01.htm

Now i find out that the rifles were shimmed for accurace and i look at the most recent one and think and wonder and say WTH
now to clear the work bench and take it apart and look see
and to think i thought Mauser collecting would be bad to start

[Shooter5]

Looks like a great start. I would like a scoped M39! Have seen a few. The sniper MNs are much easier to acquire.

http://www.empirearms.com/rifles.htm

http://www.allans-armory.com/aa.php

http://www.collectiblefirearms.com/index.html

http://www.simpsonltd.com

http://www.collectorfirearms.org

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com

[Guamsst]

Oh, speaking of white death, and to perk you interest more, the most successful sniper EVER was a Finn. Although, his kills and the term "sniper" are kind of questionable when combined as he was fond of hunting Russians with iron sights and is rumored to have used a submachinegun as well. However, 505 of his kills were confirmed and accumulated in 100 days.

A classic case of an attacker underestimating his opponent and home field advantage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4

[Ken in Iowa]

Very nice Mosin collection. I have the M38 and M39, but sold the PU snipers. The scope is too high for my taste. The open bridge limits how the scope can be mounted.

The M39 is one of the most accurate bolt action military rifles of WW2. Create some handloads using Sierra 174 gr MatchKings or .311 Sierra 180s and you will see why.

Look for a 40's vintage Tikka or VKT M91 next. Keep your eye open for earlier ones as well.

[JBinIll]

Here's something to add to your Finn rifle,the maintenance tools-

[Shooter5]

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

Brief rundown of the series.

[pelago]

I only happen to have three mosin nagant rifles, one a russian sniper, the other a carbine and the 3rd is the model 39 from Sako
some questions:
can you date a mosin orignal action by serial number?
did the Finns purposely put the serial number on the barrel? (my 39 has perfect stamp, and deep stamping of serial number on barrel right above is the Sako 'S' and underneath is 1942 where the russian serial number looks almost crudelyt stamped on the receiver) Can not even compare the serial number stamping the receiver is crude, misaligned, and the serial number on receiver is deeply stamped and perfect, same number

[RCS]

Finnish Model 1924 heavy SIG Neuhasen barrel

In 1923 Finland ordered some barrels for their M1891 rifles from SIG Neuhasen, later they order a heavy barrel also from SIG Neuhasen. These were known as the Model 1924 rifles.
do not know how rare these are but a different variation. These rifles also have had work done to improve the trigger pull.

Later Finland order both heavy and standard barrels from Germany

Photos show the heavy barrel Model 1924

[pelago]

In 1923 Finland ordered some barrels for their M1891 rifles from SIG Neuhasen, later they order a heavy barrel also from SIG Neuhasen. These were known as the Model 1924 rifles.
do not know how rare these are but a different variation. These rifles also have had work done to improve the trigger pull.

Later Finland order both heavy and standard barrels from Germany

Photos show the heavy barrel Model 1924

thanks for input and great photos, they are kinda neat rifles and lot of history with them, but back to question, is the date on the barrel the date the finns redid the rifle, i have no idea when the original action was built, 227865 is the original serial number on the receiver, and it is rather crude looks like stamped individually one number at a time, not even at all, but the serial number on the barrel is perfect, and dated 1942. ?? Unfortunately been sick and not have had opportunity to fire the rifle, if it shoots as well as the barrel looks i will be a happy camper and might shoot it in the vintage matches. Too bad former father in law is gone he would be very interested in all of this with the last name of Siekinen, and he told me once that he had relatives that fought against Russia, he served in US navy all of WWII, with the Russians as an ally but Finland in dispute enough to go to war against Russia. Technically thinking enemy of my enemy is my friend concept that would put Finland as an sally of Germany and a paper enemy of US, which i know is not true but technically speaking?

[MasterChief]

My Finn collection.

[madsenshooter]

I don't know if SIG used tighter standards back then, like they did for my K31 which has a .306 groove diameter, .294 bore diameter, but even US standard would be a lot better than the .316 groove diameter Russian Mosin I bought.