Spring cleaning
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:35 pm
Spring cleaning is under way and it's time to clean up in the workshed, I had several rifles still in the boxes they came in all cosmolined up waiting for me to get to them. I love bargains and a $60 Mosin is a bargain, so when then forum sponsor Trinity offered then so cheap I jumped on it buying a small pile of them, "just because" These were rifles that Chris couldn't seem to sell on his website at full price, in the case of this 1933 Tula it was the electropenciled numbers. Why some collectors care about stamped or EP'd numbers escapes me, US rifles have one serial number so I am used to ignoring the others. It's a good, solid refurb, old style stock, decent shellac, nice red color, and it passes headspace. No special markings like DDR, or MO, but a nice, clean bore, only mild wear on the crown, a little blood pitting, that's about all that makes this one stand out from a thousand just like it. One problem it does have, more of a minor irritation is a slightly bent front sight hood, however the availability of a new type of elevation adjustable front sight has been brought to my attention, and I think this rifle would be a good one to test it on. I noticed the bent hood when I pulled it out of the box earlier this evening, I had been wondering what rifle to try that sight on, I hate messing with the front sights on these, but since this one needs to come off anyway......I remember telling Chris that if he had a hex receiver in the lot I would take that rifle no questions asked, he had one. The others were a 1940 Izhevsk, 1944 Tula, 1942 Tula, and I forget the other two just now. Here is a pic of the '33 all set to go, it's bayonet is one of the rare special models that will fit any 91/30 without trouble, slips right on, the rifle it was fitted for must have a huge barrel diameter. I think it was a good deal for $60 plus a few for shipping.
