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Received a call yesterday - buddy had found this 1941 Sako M39 at a GS wondering if I would be interested in it. Price was $200 delivered and mine, I jumped on it without even seeing or knowing much of anything about the gun. When he brought it to me I was of course jumping with excitement, with all the hype around here about how great M39s are. I was not disappointed - the feel and the trigger compared to my Soviet 91-30s is like a whole different animal.
But I do have concerns that hopefully you guys can shed some light on. 1) The stock is very smooth and seems like it may have been refinished - obviously I hope not but can you tell from the pictures? This is the first Finn of any kind I have handled. 2) Bore is less than minty but shows promise with cleaning. Also there is light pitting and darkness on the bolt, is this normal for these? 3) I know the receiver is OLD - the Finns scrubbed some Soviet marking but there is no tang date that I can see Any other ways to identify receiver make and age? 4) I know for a fact that something is not quite right with the buttplate - I am thinking the Finns did not use Phillips head screws. Is there a source for correct stuff?
Nice looking rifle!! I don't have all the answers, I'm sure someone else will add....
The stock does look a bit light, but I have seen a few M39's with a lighter finish, it's all in how the pine tar soaked into the wood. I'm thinking someone may have cleaned it up, and in the process removed some of the pine tar. The sanding marks are normal for a M39 though. I can't tell by your pics, but does the stock splice have the rounded fingers?? If so it would be a war time stock.
As for the Phillips screw, it definitely is not Finn, I'd look around and see if I could find a Finn screw to replace it with.
What a deal of the century. Excellent STEAL. The stock looks like It has sharp edges and looks unsanded to me. There are lighter colored stocks. Bolt looks fine from what I can see and of course the screw is wrong. Nice no see um buy. I am sure if you look around at numrich sarco and gb you will find a screw for this. Here is some comparison m39s for you.
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The commerce which maybe carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important ~Thomas Jefferson~ (to- Lewis and Clark)
I see Liberty Tree has the set of 2 buttplate screws, but shows to be for the 91/30. Would those be correct or did the Finns have a special screw? Definitely more correct than the Phillips head screws in there right now.
Also the plate seems narrow for the stock. Again is this normal?
The patina on the screw matched the buttplate, it looks like it fits properly, who is to say it is not Finn? They were known for variations. That is a nice M39
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
bcposton wrote:I see Liberty Tree has the set of 2 buttplate screws, but shows to be for the 91/30. Would those be correct or did the Finns have a special screw? Definitely more correct than the Phillips head screws in there right now.
Also the plate seems narrow for the stock. Again is this normal?
Thanks again all for the advice!
The screws are the same. Yes, sometimes the plate is a bit narrower, than the stock, just the way it is.
Junk Yard Dog wrote:The patina on the screw matched the buttplate, it looks like it fits properly, who is to say it is not Finn? They were known for variations. That is a nice M39
Pretty sure the phillips screw is a American invention....
Is it true that the Chatellerault mark is a P in a circle? If so then I may have at least figured out the make of my receiver.... Will post a pic if this is a possibility.
bcposton wrote:Is it true that the Chatellerault mark is a P in a circle? If so then I may have at least figured out the make of my receiver.... Will post a pic if this is a possibility.
Nice! The stock looks a lot like mine which is a post war stock - so my stock's not as old as the barrel and receiver. Your's might be the same. You will love shooting it - very accurate and lots of fun. Enjoy!
That is a very good find for that price. An excellant rifle! Congratulations!
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"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953
I think it looks like a "transition" stock and it would be lighter in colour and have that surface look, if it is. Also I agree with JYD, as to who knows what the Finns may have done. I'll bet the bore cleans up ASSuming it was cared for properly after it left the Finns. The other thing is IMHO ,you got the rifle for 1/2 price . That is easily (today & tomorrow) a $400.00 rifle.
Nice M39. The stock does not look refurbished to me either. I just made some pine tar last night to blend and protect in a scratch I accidently got on my M39. I'd leave that stock the way it is.
Husker, yes very close to yours. I only wish that mine had that cool extra mark on it oh well. It is really a relief you guys feel good about the stock, I was sweatin that.
As for the bore it is already cleaning up nice - had to work through some nasty, greasy, gritty black and brown crud that was left in there. And the crown is much nicer than anything I have seen so far on Soviet guns. I am not sure what happened with the exterior metal - much of what appears to be bluing seems more like a tacky black paint. This has came off in some areas like the end of the barrel where cleaning solution has touched it leaving the metal just about in the white. Seems like this stuff is on most of the above the wood metal surfaces. Should I try to remove this stuff or is it supposed to be there?
Junk Yard Dog wrote:The patina on the screw matched the buttplate, it looks like it fits properly, who is to say it is not Finn? They were known for variations. That is a nice M39
Pretty sure the phillips screw is a American invention....
Henry F. Phillips invented the idea in 1937, phillips head screws can be found in any country on the globe . The M39 was in Finnish service as a training rifle well into the early 1980's, often maintained at a unit level, it is very possible a screw was missplaced and they used what was on hand at the time that worked. You just never know with these rifles, if it's working I would leave it alone.
I have never seen any black paint on a Finniah rifle, that doesn't mean it has never been used, but it would be unusual, sounds like it's coming off on it's own anyway.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
OP- can you check the area of the recoil lug and see if there is a grease hole on the side of the receiver next to the lug? I've had a few Chattelerault receivers and I've noticed the very early ones with the grease hole are usually the ones that are not dated on the tang. They didn't date them until 1894 if I remember correctly.
Any other ways to identify receiver make and age? 4) I know for a fact that something is not quite right with the buttplate - I am thinking the Finns did not use Phillips head screws. Is there a source for correct stuff?
,you got the rifle for 1/2 price 
