Red Letter Mosin HORDE!

[MarksmanTim]

I received a call today from my friend who works at Gander Mountain in the firearms department. He said they just got in another crate of Mosins. When I got there he took me in back to look at all of them in their glory. I inspected each one. I think there were 10 1943's and at least 5 1942's. The others were a couple 1938 Tulas and Izhevsk's. One might have been 1939. The most interesting thing is that maybe 10 of them were also "RED LETTER". Not all had the /25\ but most did. There were also a few rifles that looked like the red color was attempted to be cleaned off. Close inspection revealed a little red left deep in the serial number. All bayonets were matching, and the red letter rifles had the bayo serial number red as well. Some of the red letter rifles from Izhevsk had what looked like a small Tula star next to the Izhevsk mark, both of which were near the /25\ mark.

The rifle I bought (on layaway) was the most unique. I can only afford one rifle, especially since I just bought a couple hundred dollars worth of ammo yesterday.

Mine is an MO double date, red letter. The MO and /25\ are stamped on top of each other, indicating the stampings happened during different refurbs. I had to stay in keeping with my M91/30 refurb tradition, as this rifle was originally a 1943 Izhevsk. So it is a 1943/50. The date and Soviet Crest are pretty scrubbed, but still readable in the right light. Matching red letter bayonet too. I will post pics once I bring it home.

[Junk Yard Dog]

[Cosmoline guy]

It's not what you know, it's who you know when it comes to finding good Mosin's.

[MarksmanTim]

I think this makes 7 1943 Izhevsk M91/30's now. Each one is unique! But this would be one of the last ones to go if dire circumstances made me sell off rifles.

[dou44]

i love the red letters

[daveshady]

my buddy at our local gun shop got in 5 from century today they are selling them at 165$ with all the gear and tools.

2- Tula 1939 - both had yellow sights one had yellow on bbl shank also
1- Izhevsk 1938 - yellow sight and yellow butt plate
1- Izhevsk 1942 - yello sight
1- Izhevsk 1943 - good shape nothing wrong with it had stock with no esc in back others
all had wartime stocks nice stuff for the price they are selling at. One of the Izzys
the 38 had some odd markings next to the Izhevsk mark. Ill add a pic I snapped.

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DONT YA JUST LOVE TO GET TO SNOOP THRU THE boxes before they hit the shelf
Awesome on your Redletter MO that is kewl

[Dan4good]

sweet job, so much fun to look thru a crate i only had the fun once and i chose a 43 laminate i love the laminated stocks

[hoshow]

The red letters/numbers are pretty cool

[qz2026]

I'm a red letter junkie. This is the second crate of reds that I have heard about in the last couple of months. Look 'em over, there could be some really nice ones like the triple MO ex dragoon I was able to acquire. If you look closely, there will be a /25\ on all of them. Some look half scrubbed, some not in red, some missing a number but they will be there as well as the "2" on the bottom of the fore stock. So far it looks like about 10% are hex's - not scientific, just what I have been able to find. If you find one of those, gobble it up. I also have one like you mentioned that looked like the paint was removed but had the /25\ and the "2". Even though it is not a red, that's what I am calling it.

Where'd you say this place was?

I have no idea what the significance is of the yellow lettered rifles. I've got one with yellow on the serial number and on the sights gradients.

[Junk Yard Dog]

It's not what you know, it's who you know when it comes to finding good Mosin's.

No, most of the time it's pure luck. I bought a Finn marked M38 , a Finn M28/30, and a Finn M24, all in excellent condition and each for $50 or less. Each time I had no clue what I was buying and neither did the seller, no internet to tell us back then.

[MarksmanTim]

I'm a red letter junkie. This is the second crate of reds that I have heard about in the last couple of months. Look 'em over, there could be some really nice ones like the triple MO ex dragoon I was able to acquire. If you look closely, there will be a /25\ on all of them. Some look half scrubbed, some not in red, some missing a number but they will be there as well as the "2" on the bottom of the fore stock. So far it looks like about 10% are hex's - not scientific, just what I have been able to find. If you find one of those, gobble it up. I also have one like you mentioned that looked like the paint was removed but had the /25\ and the "2". Even though it is not a red, that's what I am calling it.

Where'd you say this place was?

I have no idea what the significance is of the yellow lettered rifles. I've got one with yellow on the serial number and on the sights gradients.

I did look them over pretty close. No hex's, oldest date was '38. Also, there was only one in a prewar stock, and one wartime. Mine has a post war stock. I didn't pay attention to the stocks other than to check the sling slots.


This is bad. There is a gun show this weekend near me. It is a small show, but called "military arms and collectibles". I went once a year or so ago but didn't know what I was looking at. Now I have the power of knowledge. That is dangerous for my wallet!

[MarksmanTim]

my buddy at our local gun shop got in 5 from century today they are selling them at 165$ with all the gear and tools.

2- Tula 1939 - both had yellow sights one had yellow on bbl shank also
1- Izhevsk 1938 - yellow sight and yellow butt plate
1- Izhevsk 1942 - yello sight
1- Izhevsk 1943 - good shape nothing wrong with it had stock with no esc in back others
all had wartime stocks nice stuff for the price they are selling at. One of the Izzys
the 38 had some odd markings next to the Izhevsk mark. Ill add a pic I snapped.

DONT YA JUST LOVE TO GET TO SNOOP THRU THE boxes before they hit the shelf
Awesome on your Redletter MO that is kewl

I think the "yellow" is just white lettering that has aged. I have a '48 M44 that has white lettering, it is starting to "pale" to a yellowish color.

[zeebill]

i love the red letters

Just bring your rifles over to my place and we will see if we can entice the Red Letter Fairy to do her thing in an over night stay. Note I am not modifying anything as it will all be the work of the Red Letter Fairy! Bill

[zeebill]

I'm a red letter junkie. This is the second crate of reds that I have heard about in the last couple of months. Some look half scrubbed

I have no idea what the significance is of the yellow lettered rifles. I've got one with yellow on the serial number and on the sights gradients.

They ran out of red paint or crayons. Bill

[MarksmanTim]

I'm a red letter junkie. This is the second crate of reds that I have heard about in the last couple of months. Some look half scrubbed

I have no idea what the significance is of the yellow lettered rifles. I've got one with yellow on the serial number and on the sights gradients.

They ran out of red paint or crayons. Bill

[Three_Dogs]

[bunkysdad]

I also looked at several red letter wartime Izhevsk rifles and found no /25\ mark. Not a partial, not a light stamp, half stamp, upside down stamp, nothing. They did all have the 2 on the stock, and all had a Molot import mark. Nice average refurbs with red painted in rear sight and the date. They were at Cabela's.

[bunkysdad]

Oh, and a mark I had never seen before. Just like mentioned above, a tiny star stamped clear as a bell. The star was not on a red letter I Don't believe. Not a big outlined star like on a Tula. Just a little star maybe 1/16th inch in diameter.

[qz2026]

I have seen that as well. Two of mine have the star on the stock too...

[kamakazi339]

what is the significance of the red lettering? jw