The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

are owned by members here? Got mine about
a year ago. Wondering if only 91/30's were
C.A.O marked ? Rear sight and all #'s in
orange . RC

I have a red letter and /25\ marked if that is what you are asking. Not sure about a CAO?

Is that the Italian firefighter deal? I've only seen one mentioned before on a forum.

I've got some rifles with red letters. I personally don't think there is really anything major to it, just a bunch of bored armorers. Still neat though, it's just I personally wont but a rifle based on whether or no the numbers are filled in. No idea what the CAO marks are.

The red highlighting is way to easy to fake.

But not the triangle 25, which seems to go hand in hand with red lettering. My "unmentionable sniper" is an MO with what looks like a CKO mark near the Izhevsk wreath. For what that may be worth.

Semper Fi, Rob

My 1938 Izhevsk actually has the serials, numbers, and lines on the rear sight filled in. Looks kinda funny and when I first got it I considered removing it... decided not to though as it is the way it arrived from the importer. I'll have to take a pic or something.

Sgt. Rob wrote:But not the triangle 25, which seems to go hand in hand with red lettering. My "unmentionable sniper" is an MO with what looks like a CKO mark near the Izhevsk wreath. For what that may be worth.

Semper Fi, Rob

I have had three triangle 25 rifles now and none of them had any colored lettering. They all had that little star on the metal edge of the ejection port wall though. The lettering of any color could be added by the former owner in this country or maybe even the enterprising dealer to make the rifle more desirable and sell better. So my advise is to just avoid even thinking about it in any value or rare or desirable mode. As Dog said it is just too easy to fake, matter of fact a friend does his routinely in white to help his eye sight at the range, he uses a paint crayon that is easily removable. You ought to see the aluminum in those letters! I have to admit it that color is eye catching. Bill

I wonder how long it will be before someone starts making and using SA stamps, triangle 25's ,MO's, and all the other markings we look for. I remember seeing many US rifle stamps available, and even one company that would stamp your new M1903 or Garand stock with anything you wanted.

As the Mosin gets harder to find & the prices continue to rise you can be sure to see fakes on the market.

They could be there right now, with the prices some Finn M91's are bringing.......