Finnish M91 in M91/30 laminate stock?

[gavinmastervick]

Hey all,
In my spare time I’ve been cruising these forums as well as online gun posts. Found an interesting posting for a really nice condition Finnish M91 (receiver allegedly dated 1916, barrel stamped VKT 1940), lots of Finnish force matched stampings on the bolt etc.. What doesn’t add up is that it is in an M91/30 laminate stock. I won’t claim to be knowledgeable at all, but could this be authentic?
How did Finnish refurbishment go? From my research, they would add their own barrels to existing Russian receivers, match other Russian components to the barrel serial number, modify triggers and shim stocks, etc.. Could it be possible they would furnish it with a laminate stock off the line, and how could the stock be proven to be authentic?

[Junk Yard Dog]

I suppose if they captured a rifle from the Soviets during the later part of the continuation war they might have gotten a Soviet laminated stock. I don't recall hearing that the Finn's made their own laminated stocks given the huge number of Soviet weapons captured between 1939-1944. I also don't recall hearing of any laminated M91 stocks being made by the Soviets, just M44 and M91/30 with M44 stocks being used on the M38 as well.

[gavinmastervick]

I suppose anything is possible. Could there be a stamp on the stock or other tell tale signs it’s original? My thought train now is that Finnish barrels were 91/30 length hence the stock. It seems improper to throw a 91 in an incorrect stock.
How long were the Finnish barrels?

[millman]

It sounds like someone replaced a missing M91 stock with what they could find.

[racerguy00]

Soviet laminate 91/30 stocks weren't a thing until the 50s. So someone had a sporterized Finn m91 or a barrelled action and stuck in a refurb stock. Finn M91 stocks and handguards are hard to find and are really expensive.

VKT M91 barrels are about 3 inches longer than a 91/30 barrel.

[gavinmastervick]

I see! I appreciate the response, guy confirmed it’s an unoriginal stock to the barrel/receiver. Which is too bad.
I see, so did the Finnish start making 91/30 length barrels once they started receiving 91/30s? Interesting to me that the barrel is stamped 1940, when 91/30 technology was available. Perhaps they decided not to mess with the recipe and match appropriate barrel lengths to their 91 receivers.

[racerguy00]

The full length m91 was the most common rifle in Finn service, so there were lots of those needing repair and replacement. It was easier to restart production of those in 1940 than introduce another new model at that time. (The m39 was already in the pipeline) Stocks were already being made and repaired, tons of barrel bands etc around instead of making a new type. That sort of thing. Later on in 43 when m91 production was stopping enough 91/30s had been captured it made more sense to start producing the handier m30 (91/30) model. Even then, it seems that a lot of the Finn version of the 91/30 weren't assembled until postwar even though the barrels were made during the conflict.