Just won an auction on this M38
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:57 am
To understand my enthusiasm here, you first of all have to know that the availability of military surplus rifles in Denmark is extremely scarce compared to what you fellows “over there” are used to. Due to strict regulation and control, collectors are very few and sellers even fewer but they do exist. (I think we have one or two small (part time) companies importing and selling surplus).
Well, last week I discovered an Internet auction on what was described as “Mosin Nagant 91/30”. After having checked out the pictures on the website of the auction house, I was, thanks to frequent visits to this great forum, able to see that it was an M38. They did correct their mistake after a few days of auctioning and some other bidder and I let the price crawl up. Bottom line is that I won the auction and ended up paying $185. Cheap, I believe, as that is also the usual price you pay over here for your typical “out of the crate” 91/30 wartime Izhevsk refurb.
So far the only downside is that the number on the bolt doesn't match. You couldn't tell from the pictures on the website of the auction house. Still very pleased with it though.
I just picked it up yesterday and still need to check and clean it. It's a 1941 Izhevsk. I'm not sure if it's a refurb. I can't find the usual “refurb box” from the Ukrainian arsenal stamped on the stock. There is an other box, or two boxes, in a circle – could that be it?
It does have an interesting inscription: “L.Z.A.Li” stenciled on the receiver. Googling that leads to various interesting meanings. One of which suggest it's a German capture (referring to the Linz Ordnance Depot, Austria or “Luftzeugamt, Linz”). This would make good sense as Denmark was occupied by the Germans from 1940-1945 and they left a lot of weapons behind as they left in 1945.
But perhaps someone here knows something about this?
Photos always help, so here they are:
Well, last week I discovered an Internet auction on what was described as “Mosin Nagant 91/30”. After having checked out the pictures on the website of the auction house, I was, thanks to frequent visits to this great forum, able to see that it was an M38. They did correct their mistake after a few days of auctioning and some other bidder and I let the price crawl up. Bottom line is that I won the auction and ended up paying $185. Cheap, I believe, as that is also the usual price you pay over here for your typical “out of the crate” 91/30 wartime Izhevsk refurb.
So far the only downside is that the number on the bolt doesn't match. You couldn't tell from the pictures on the website of the auction house. Still very pleased with it though.
I just picked it up yesterday and still need to check and clean it. It's a 1941 Izhevsk. I'm not sure if it's a refurb. I can't find the usual “refurb box” from the Ukrainian arsenal stamped on the stock. There is an other box, or two boxes, in a circle – could that be it?
It does have an interesting inscription: “L.Z.A.Li” stenciled on the receiver. Googling that leads to various interesting meanings. One of which suggest it's a German capture (referring to the Linz Ordnance Depot, Austria or “Luftzeugamt, Linz”). This would make good sense as Denmark was occupied by the Germans from 1940-1945 and they left a lot of weapons behind as they left in 1945.
But perhaps someone here knows something about this?
Photos always help, so here they are: