The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

My local FFL was in his shop today so I got to pick this up today. I bought it from an online auction house and had to speculate what it was. I am glad I did, looks to be an 1943 Tikka M91 built on a 1897 Tula receiver. Question: What is the A stamp on the receiver and tang?

Very nice!

You bought this blind on the internet? I have bought rifles without knowing what they were before, always in person were I was first holding and examining the rifle, and all long before there was a tool like the internet I could use to ID things. I knew at least that it should be able to shoot, and the money involved, even adjusted for inflation, was small. In this case you did well, the Tikka M91 rifles tend to be good shooters, at least mine are, and it looks to be well cared for. Be careful buying what you don't know anything about on the net, condition is hard to determine with only some photos and the description to go by. Lucky for us most sellers are honest about the condition, but you should strive hard to at least ID the type of rifle you are buying. Without that ID you don't know if you are overpaying for the common, or getting a deal of a lifetime on the rare. Gambling. You could have found out what this rifle was by reading up in the boards information section, or old posts in the Mosin forum. You could even shoot a PM to an admin asking for help with the ID, we all have M91's already and are unlikely to snipe your auction. You did good ...this time.

Junk Yard Dog wrote:You bought this blind on the internet?.

Yes and no, "sight unseen" is an exaggeration, it had one crappy picture. The photo only had a side view that started from the rear sight to the buttstock. I saw the wire hangers and Arshin sights so I knew it was either a Finn or Finn capture M91. I got it for $200, so not bad when refurbs are going for $160 from Cabelas.

Pip6214 wrote:

Junk Yard Dog wrote:You bought this blind on the internet?.

Yes and no, "sight unseen" is an exaggeration, it had one crappy picture. The photo only had a side view that started from the rear sight to the buttstock. I saw the wire hangers and Arshin sights so I knew it was either a Finn or Finn capture M91. I got it for $200, so not bad when refurbs are going for $160 from Cabelas.

And how did I miss this one. Just kiddin Pip. You got a pretty good deal on that one. You got lucky bunkysdad or I missed it.

A very good deal

Nice going Pip. Be very careful about keeping your source a secret. I know of at least two Texas boys that would lead you in to a blind canyon for rifles like this.

Longcolt44 wrote:Nice going Pip. Be very careful about keeping your source a secret. I know of at least two Texas boys that would lead you in to a blind canyon for rifles like this.

No kidding, those two guys I wouldn't trust at all. If I remember their user names I will post them.

Very nice. I'm not sure on the A stamp. Some kind of inspector mark probably. I've seen them on some of mine as well. Everything from tangs to rear sights.

My other M91 and the others I've seen don't have hangers like this one. Is this original or did someone improvise?

Well done on that one. Is that polly on the stock or just a nice finish with photo flash.

gurn wrote:Well done on that one. Is that polly on the stock or just a nice finish with photo flash.

Doesn't seem to be poly coated, it is a bit darker than the pictures since I had the flash on.

Nice score, sometimes you have a general idea what a rifle is with a few crappy photos and then when its priced low, it is well worth taking a chance.

Pip6214 wrote:My other M91 and the others I've seen don't have hangers like this one. Is this original or did someone improvise?

looks legit the screws are a bit too long and the threads look like there sticking out on the cheek side of the stock so as to dig into your face when shooting

BuckeyeSgt wrote:

Longcolt44 wrote:Nice going Pip. Be very careful about keeping your source a secret. I know of at least two Texas boys that would lead you in to a blind canyon for rifles like this.

No kidding, those two guys I wouldn't trust at all. If I remember their user names I will post them.

Those Texas boys come from a long line of rifle snatchers!