1916 Sestroryetsk M91 Mosin Nagant

[RazorBurn]

I picked this 1916 Sestroryetsk M91 up earlier today. I was pretty surprised as I've never come across a Sestroryetsk before. It is "F" marked below the serial number and the serial number is stamped on the left side of the receiver like Finnish one's are and it looks like it has a gear stamp on the left rear of the stock. The bolt and floor plate are mismatched numbers. This one looks like a Finnish capture to me but there is no "SA" stamp and the stock is not a two piece stock either.

The bore has pretty good looking lands and grooves but needs a good cleaning to determine the exact condition. The stock has a couple of hair line cracks at the butt plate and on the left side of the receiver so I doubt I'll ever shoot it any to speak of. The metal looks good for it's age and hopefully I'll come across a hand guard and cleaning rod one of these years so I can set her back to right.

[Longcolt44]

An absolutely great catch.

[Fledge]

It looks like a real nice one. Congrats.

[conmcb25]

Very Nice!

[qz2026]

Very cool
TulaTom and I were at a gun show several years ago and I was able to pick up a very nice one too. I liked that it had nice and crisp shank stamps on it and it was in wonderful condition. The guy had it priced absurdly so I made him an offer for it, a bit high but not totally out of the ballpark, and he immediately agreed to it meaning I could have offered much less for it but was stuck with my offer. Tom and I looked at each other with that "oh shit" look. We both still laugh about that one...

1 - ID Finn M-91 1915 Sestoryetsk sn 52712 C&R.jpg

[RazorBurn]

What does everyone think about my thinking that it's Finn'd? If it had an "SA" stamp I'd be convinced it is. I just don't see it being "F" stamped and not Finn myself.

[racerguy00]

I have a couple Balkan m91s with an F suffix. I've seen another with the F under the serial like yours. What does the font on the other parts look like? Typically the "balkan" imports have a tall narrow looking font.

[steelbuttplate]

What does everyone think about my thinking that it's Finn'd? If it had an "SA" stamp I'd be convinced it is. I just don't see it being "F" stamped and not Finn myself.

F stamp on Finn rifles only applies to m-27's, made at a Finnish factory. I think the F in this case is an unknown. Nice rifle

[Junk Yard Dog]

[RazorBurn]

I have a couple Balkan m91s with an F suffix. I've seen another with the F under the serial like yours. What does the font on the other parts look like? Typically the "balkan" imports have a tall narrow looking font.

I'll get some better pictures of the other parts tomorrow if the rain holds off. Anywhere in particular to show?

[SA1911a1]

Finn or Balkans, it is a very nice rifle. Congrats!

[neal45]

Another fan here. The Sestroryetsk marking is my favorite Mosin logo. Congratulations on a very nice find.

[ssg_lord]

Given the scrubbed imperial crest above the Sestroryetsk crest along with the missing cleaning rod and the F stamp I'd say you almost certainly have a Balkan import there as those are all traits of one. It also has its original Russian "barrleycorn" front sight, something the Finn's almost always replaced on M91's in their service.

[Thagomizer]

Another vote for a Romanian import. Scrubbed crest is a factor. Does it have the sheet metal wedge added to the rear sight?

[entropy]

I was about to go postal on Rongo for a second-it looks that much like mine! (Which is in Rongo's safe waiting to be rescued-soon!) Mine has both Imperial eagles though, so not mine. Nice looking '16 Sestroryetsk!

[RazorBurn]

I have a couple Balkan m91s with an F suffix. I've seen another with the F under the serial like yours. What does the font on the other parts look like? Typically the "balkan" imports have a tall narrow looking font.

Here are some more pictures of the other numbered parts. Sounds like the consensus is that it's Balkan. Where the rear sight didn't have the arshin's marked out that made me think it may not be Finnish. I didn't know the Balkan one's were marked on their barrels with the "F" mark so it's cool learning new things.

[qz2026]

Opps, I see what is likely a couple Bulgarian pine cone stamping in the left finger groove... Also, a little research at http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSerial.htm you will see:

Letter suffixes follow some serial numbers. These are typically found on M91s from the Balkans and are thought to have been added by other countries. They are not part of the original numbers... "F", most common of the letter suffixes

Ser007.jpg

Although your "F" is under the serial number, I suggest that it is a suffix, - just on the next line. I don't find this out of the realm of possibility. And the font looks strikingly familiar on both. Case closed... Balkan M-91.

[RazorBurn]

Opps, I see what is likely a couple Bulgarian pine cone stamping in the left finger groove... Also, a little research at http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSerial.htm you will see:

Letter suffixes follow some serial numbers. These are typically found on M91s from the Balkans and are thought to have been added by other countries. They are not part of the original numbers... "F", most common of the letter suffixes

Ser007.jpg

Although your "F" is under the serial number, I suggest that it is a suffix, - just on the next line. I don't find this out of the realm of possibility. And the font looks strikingly familiar on both. Case closed... Balkan M-91.

You know I feel like Helen Keller right now because I knew to look for pine cones. I just never paid attention and did not saw them there. Thanks for pointing them out to me!

[racerguy00]

The font on the mag's serial number is the same as I see on lots of the Balkan m91s. The bolt is a little different. Two letter prefix with a 5 digit number.