So my friend gets jealous of me having all this fun and getting these fantastic Mosins, so he orders one online from Century. It came today.
I... what do I tell my friend?
- The butt is cracked.
- It's a highwall Izhevsk with the "war years" crappy machining and the markings are so bad I can't make out the year.
- Serial numbers do not match. Not even an attempt to refurb them or force match and restamp them.
- I pop it apart and look at the tang marking, STILL can't make out the year. I *think* it might be a 1944. Maybe.
- Came with a bayonet, that's cool. Huh. It has two serials but they're superimposed so not sure what to make of it.
- Check the bore. Lands are rounded REAL bad, and the grooves are pitted even worse.
- "That's funny," I say. "Usually when they're this worn you can see an egg-shape in the end of the barrel where the cleaning rod rubbed--" Oh my head. It's been counterbored.
But... I've only ever handled 4 Mosins. Is this gun really that bad? Do I tell my friend he needs to get a gunsmith to check it before we even dare put a round through it? I *think* the serials match on the bolt and breech but at this point I'm terrified of the headspace on that thing. Or... am I overreacting? Have I been pampered by high-quality Mosins and this one is just average?
What's the definition of a "poor" quality Mosin? My friend bought from Century and they have "fair", "good" and "very good" Mosins; they claimed this was a "very good" Mosin. They ALSO clamed my 1943 Izhevsk was a "very good", and while it's a re-arsenal it is definitely rock-solid shooter.
So.... what do you guys think? Is this gun probably fine, or not even worth cleaning? Did my friend by a "probably okay" gun or a $99 sack of parts? What about the history value? Should this one be treated with more reverence since it's literally had a ton of history piled up in it? (My friend is a shooter/sporter, so if you think this is a valid historical piece but a poor shooter, let me know so I can take it away from him.)
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--Dave