Finnish Mosin Nagant

[firesteel]

Just bought my first Mosin Nagant, a 1943 Tikka. I don't know who made it originally. I'll post a pic of the assembled rifle later. Thoughts?

[Junk Yard Dog]

1943 Tikkakoski, nice, the receiver is Imperial era Russian as were most receivers used by the Finn's. Nice find, and be careful not to mess up the order of any shims you might have found in the action. Welcome to the board

[Judi and her Mosins]

Very nice, I like the Crest on it. Judi and her Mosin's

[firesteel]

Do you mean shims on the stock under the action? There is a small square metal plate tacked in place there.

[Longcolt44]

Nice, ver nice. I bet it looks really good in the furniture the Finn's made.

[firesteel]

I'm a bare novice, but I think the stock is original finish. It is a very handsome rifle.

[desdem12]

Nice. Has a Chatellerault receiver Excellent first rifle.

[firesteel]

I'm an American Finn with a great interest in Finland and her history, and saw this rifle at a recent gun show. I remembered something about how the Finns laminated the stocks on these rifles, and when I saw the lamination joint I had to buy it. It has a bit of history behind it, even showing the Russian Imperial eagle, or whatever it is, on the receiver, along with the Finnish Tikka logo on the barrel. The serial number on the barrel matches the bolt. I'm very happy with it. I'll be looking for more.

[desdem12]

Finnish mosins are the sweet kind of mosins. They never made any receivers so all of the receivers will be Russian. It is a bonus to have the early French mosin receiver also. Good luck in your hunt.

[Longcolt44]

What you are calling a lamination is in fact a finger joint. There are a few different types of finger joints. Below ar a couple examples. A pre or wartime model and a post war type. There are also original 1 piece stocks also. A laminated stock looks like plywood does from the sides. Thin slices of wood glued together to form a strong sheet of wood that is stronger than a one piece.

[firesteel]

You are correct. It is jointed, not laminated. Now I need to find a bayonet. Are there Finnish-marked bayonets available?

[firesteel]

It has the pre and wartime joint. Rounded fingers.

[Longcolt44]

You are correct. It is jointed, not laminated. Now I need to find a bayonet. Are there Finnish-marked bayonets available?

Yes the bayonets are available but you might want to take out a small second mortgage first.

[firesteel]

Perhaps I shall consider a mortgage. Where can I shop for a bayonet? And I understand that there are some Finnish bayonet holders? I have an original Finnish-issued cleaning kit coming from Finland and would like to complete this rifle with all original accoutrements.

[Longcolt44]

I don't want to scare you in public so check you Private Messages at the top of the page.

[bunkysdad]

Most excellent. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the pictures. Is this a Model 1891?

[firesteel]

I believe it is a Model 91. The front of the barrel is marked M91 Finland with some other import marks.

[finloq]

Nice. Has a Chatellerault receiver Excellent first rifle.

Des, that is what I thought when this popped on another board. The circle 'c' seems small and in the wrong spot, though.
The grease hole and obvious age of the receiver lends weight in that direction.

[firesteel]

There are definitely a couple small circle c's, and an open C at the rear edge of the tang. But I've come to see that there is no exact science to markings on these rifles. In any case, my next objective is to see how well it shoots.

[zeebill]

Nice. Has a Chatellerault receiver Excellent first rifle.

Des, that is what I thought when this popped on another board. The circle 'c' seems small and in the wrong spot, though.
The grease hole and obvious age of the receiver lends weight in that direction.

I have found circle C marks in many different places. Whether that makes them a Chatellerault receiver I know not. At some points I really wonder whether that just might be an inspection mark that just resembles Chatellerault factory marking? The grease hole says it is early that we do know lending me to think in this case it may indeed be a Chatellerault receiver but we really can only surmise that. I have a couple of Chatellerault rifles and they have a similar marking under the tang in different spots so I would say the placement may vary and actually the size appears about right to me. It is fun guessing just exactly what you have but you will never exactly know at times! Makes for half the fun of collecting! Great to hear you are thinking of heading to the range with it. That is what it was meant to do shoot! Enjoy it and the challenge of shooting it. Congrats on a nice one! Bill