"Weapons of War: The Mosin-Nagant M1891 Rifle" Topic

"The Russo-Ottoman War of 1877–1878 lasted just 10 months. The Turks had purchased 50,000 44 caliber Winchester 1866 seven shot repeating rifles, while the Russians were using single-shot 46 caliber Berdans. The siege of Plevna (in modern Bulgaria), where the outnumbered Turks inflicted heavy casualties on the Russians, awakened interest in repeating rifles throughout Europe.

In 1889 Russia solicited designs and a prize of 200,000 rubles was announced for the winner. Two ordnance officers, Captains Mosin and Zinoviev, each produced a design in the popular 30 caliber. Surprisingly the Belgian firm Fabrique d'armes Émile et Léon Nagant entered a 35 caliber design.

After two years there was no consensus between the Mosin and the Nagant designs. It was time to start over. Only Mosin and Nagant were invited to try again. After several rounds of testing the commission found this Mosin design met its needs the best, although during the trials it was discovered that it was susceptible to double feeding of cartridges, which jammed the rifle. The Nagant design had an interrupter as a part of the extractor—a feature that Nagant had actually copied from a previous Mosin design. The committee added this interrupter to the current Mosin – voilà, problem solved…!

More here

link

Armand

Good gun; know some folks who have one that makes an excellent hunting rifle

(smile)

Armand

A store chain here in NC used to sell them for $50 USD each, 30 years ago.

I bought mine from Big 5 sports for just over $100. USD complete with sling and bayonet a few years ago.

Thanks

Armand

I have two -- a long rifle (M91/30) and a carbine (M91/59). Both are WW2 production (1942 and 1943 respectively).

It is somewhat odd to have a model 1959 carbine with a 1943 production date stamped on the receiver. But I do. That's because after the long bolt-action rifles had left infantry service, but while carbines were still current for issue to auxiliary troops, many of the surplus M91/30s were re-manufactured to the standards of the M38 carbine, and called M1959s.

The long-rifles are interesting in that they are sited to be fired with the bayonet fixed. In fact the Red Army infantryman in WW2 did not have any sort of scabbard for his bayonet. He carried it mounted to the rifle. As it is a side-mount, it does in fact pull shot off by about 3-4 inches at 100 yards. So the rifle must be sited either with or without the bayonet to shoot well.

The carbine can not mount a bayonet. It was intended for artillery and vehicle crews, border guards, militia, and later for police. No bayonets needed. It is actually a very nice gun to shoot -- exceptionally well balanced for standing off-hand shooting. But with a gun that is almost 2 lbs lighter than the original, with a barrel that is about 8 inches shorter, you need to be ready for the kick of a mule, and for a muzzle flash the size of a flaming pumpkin. Always seemed to get a lot of attention at the range when I stood there shooting it.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Bet it was Rose's! I remember them selling Moison-Nagants, but bought an SMLE No 4 Mk 2 for the price you quoted more than 25 years ago. It was virtually mint, still in grease, and probably only ever proof-fired. Best deal I ever got without having to negotiate.

Thanks also!

Armand

I recently thought about buying one "just because." The gun and ammo are just too expensive for me now.

I've got a fairly offbeat WW2 "bring-back" that I inherited from my father. His ship was in Tokyo Bay for the official Japanese surrender and he undertook an unofficial self-guided tour of Yokosuka Navy Arsenal – It is a 6.5mm Arisaka "Type I" rifle manufactured in Italy under special contract shortly before the war. Looks exactly like the normal Japanese rifle except that it has a Carcano design bolt action and safety. After cleaning and inspecting the rifle, my gunsmith was of the opinion that it has never been fired.

Strange thing – no imperial chrysanthemum, arsenal stamp or proof marks that you would expect to see atop the breech of a Japanese rifle – only a 6-digit serial number low on the left side of the breech.

B

Blutarski, have you read these?

link

nambuworld.com/typeipix.htm

Hi 79thPA
It was about 8-10 years ago that I discovered that my dad's Arisaka was actually a Type "I". I do not remember which web sites I located back then, but the Nambuworld site you referenced is not one that I recall seeing before. Thanks for that!

I recently discovered that 6.5mm x 50 ammunition is still available from some "boutique" manufacturers.

castoscurios.com

link

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There is a guy who has posted a YouTube video of him firing his 6.5mm Type 38 with ammunition from these manufacturers and they seem to run through the rifle without any drama.

B