1916 Sestroryetsk balkan m91

[House Beagle]

Picked this one up on my lunch break. Don't know too much about it other than it was $190 with a spam can of ammo. Here are some quick pics I took before I went back to work. Stock looks a little funny but I'm new to the balkan rifles. Sorry for the pic quality. I will have the full run-down later on tonight or in the morning. How did I do?

[desdem12]

All you need to know is that it was less then 200 bucks with a spam can. That is enough to buy it right there. SAWEEET. sestroryetsk is a hard one to get.

[dou44]

great find and good deal

[fintowin]

That's a lot better than what I had for lunch.

[bunkysdad]

Me too. My lunch was terrible compared to that.

[TulaTom]

good deal.

[finloq]

Nice rifle, too bad Bubba got his hands on the sand paper.

[Ironnewt]

That's a lot better than what I had for lunch.

You and me both.

[House Beagle]

I was thinking it might have been sanded also fin, but I just got it inside and under some good light and I don't think that that is the case. It looks like it was sanded back in the day likely by an arsenal. There are so many dings and stuff still very visible so if bubba did sand it then it was a total failure which leads me to think it wasn't sanded. The thing that puzzles me now is that on the sling slots, the screws are Phillips head, not slotted. The slots themselves are very crudely inserted and have scrape marks in the wood all around them. Is this normal or at least heard of ?

[gurn]

Nice rifle, too bad Bubba got his hands on the sand paper.

I don't think it was Bubba.

[gurn]

Btw, nice find and you did great! Was it sitting in a shop? I'll take deals like that all day long.

[House Beagle]

Actually it was on armslist. I emailed him yesterday and there were about 4 other guys that had showed interest in the rifle only but didn't come out and say "I'll take it" but once I said that I'd take the ammo too he let me have it. Picked it up today on my break.

[racerguy00]

Nice score!

[House Beagle]

Thanks everyone! That are you all's take on the finish?

[Ironnewt]

I was thinking it might have been sanded also fin, but I just got it inside and under some good light and I don't think that that is the case. It looks like it was sanded back in the day likely by an arsenal. There are so many dings and stuff still very visible so if bubba did sand it then it was a total failure which leads me to think it wasn't sanded. The thing that puzzles me now is that on the sling slots, the screws are . The slots themselves are very crudely inserted and have scrape marks in the wood all around them. Is this normal or at least heard of ?

For what it's worth, according to Wikipedia the "Phillips Head Screw" was a invention of a Henry Phillips in the 1930's and primarily used in automobile manufacture, specifically by Cadillac and Ford. Personally I can't see them being used by Ivan to screw in sling slot liners.

[House Beagle]

That's what I was thinking but just why??? It's just odd and they fit in there perfectly, the only part of that gun that has perfectly fitted parts. I'll try and get a close up in the pics I post tomorrow.

[racerguy00]

It may be refinished. If someone removed the escutcheons to refinish the screws could have been lost of something. Either way, a great find at that price.

[Adam Lee]

House Beagle, you have found a nice "Balkan" M91 indeed. Don't worry over the escutcheon screws being replaced - you can always swap them out for slotted screws to bring it back to its original look. That's easy.

You are very fortunate to have a "complete" M91, with handguard and what look to be correct barrel bands, as well as cleaning rod. These are often missing these days on guns sold for the price you mention.

Please take some time to snap some more pics! The "Balkan" and Bulgarian Pinecone M91's are of high interest to me personally - I have a 1916 PTG pinecone.

Nice gun - great deal!

Adam

[kamakazi339]

So youre the one that bought that! I tried to get it