Finnish M91/24 Update w/ Photos

[ffuries]

We made the 160 mile roundtrip back to the GS and it turns out it was a Finnish M24 Stepped Barrel Civil Guard rifle (Lotta Rifle). They let me have it for $180.00 OTD. Will post pictures when we get home. Will take some cleaning. Very little rust after all what I thought was rust and pitting is a "Shellac" looking stuff coating the metal, will take some elbow grease to clean this "Ole Gal"!

The wife is baby clothes shopping now, our Son and DIL had their baby as I was buying the rifle. My first grandson out of 7 grandkids now! I'm finalizing the paperwork and he texts saying "He's here!".

Information from the initial teardown.

Jam free magazine, missing cleaning rod and top handguard.

Receiver Tang: Circle R (Remington)
Barrel: Böhler Stahl
Barrel: Boxed SA (Left side)
Barrel: S with 3 Sprigs (Top side)
Civil Guard Districts: S 103597 (Left side), 104655 and 102164 (Right side, no "S" before these two numbers), quick look shows all three are from the Kokkola District.
Stock: Circled Z with crossed something or other (Stock maker)
Serial Numbers: Barrel, receiver (Never seen Mosin Nagant receiver with a SN), and bolt match 26178, floor plate 7471, no other serial numbers

[millman]

Congrats!

[Fledge]

What?? I am calling the cops! You stole that one congrats

[ffuries]

More pics!

[ffuries]

More pics!

[ffuries]

Last of the pics!

[Lee-online]

That's a really good rifle for the money. A little tlc and she will be as good as new.

The civil guard numbers show some of its history, pretty cool.

[ffuries]

After some reading, am I right in assuming that "Missing" handguards are a normal thing with these rifles?

[racerguy00]

It should have one but a lot are missing. I'm guessing they broke easily since they were thinner than normal handguards.

[Longcolt44]

This should be a lesson to never pass up a rifle for under $200.00 unless you know what it is for sure. My M24 is newer by about 2200 serial numbers. You did very well.

[ffuries]

This should be a lesson to never pass up a rifle for under $200.00 unless you know what it is for sure. My M24 is newer by about 2200 serial numbers. You did very well.

Thank you, still learning as I go......But I have learned this much so far......I know enough to know I don't know enough yet!

[B24]

With common refurbs bringing $200 you did very well and a much more desirable rifle. Deals
are still to be had but you have to look for them.

[ffuries]

Rifle was listed at $199.00 asked if there was any wiggle room, said he'll do $170.00 plus the background so came out to $180.00....I ran as quick as I could back to the Jeep with it to get out of there!

[racerguy00]

It's a great rifle. Well worth the effort to get it for sure.

[Fledge]

Glad you gave this one a good home.

[zeebill]

Very nice rifle! I would say that rifle also has a coat of finish on the wood being it has it on the metal as your great pictures show. I would not mess with the wood at all as what is done is done and anything you do will be an obvious change to the eye of another collector. I would be shot if I suggested a coat of solvent to remove the shellac on the metal so I will leave that subject alone. Oh the Z in the crossed cannons on the butt stock means you are supposed to send it to me! I keep telling people that but no one listens? Very nice for a nice reasonable price too. Not like the $300 refurbs people are buying for sure! Congrats and enjoy it! Bill

[qz2026]

I would be shot if I suggested a coat of solvent to remove the shellac on the metal so I will leave that subject alone.

But, I know what you mean

Oh the Z in the crossed cannons on the butt stock means you are supposed to send it to me!

Damn.... I didn't know that I swear, you learn something every day here...

[ffuries]

Did some initial cleaning on it today....Magazine assembly is cleaned, oiled and lacking shellac, the bolt was soaked, cleaned, and scrubbed and now looks like it's supposed to (Took it apart and all the pieces were almost black), rest of the exterior metal looks about right (Little more cleaning to do there).

The barrel, well I'll put it this way, this is the first time I have ever cleaned a gun and when done said it was CLEANER, but not CLEAN. I have never seen the inside of a barrel look so damn dirty, will take a little more work to get the barrel clean. You know it's bad when the wife picks it up looks down the barrel and asks when are you going to clean it.

The previous owner either lost or removed the return spring on the trigger. So my list of stuff needed for it grows a little.

Sling
Trigger return spring
Cleaning rod
Bayonet
And the ever illusive top handguard

Before and after shot of the bolt.

[capt14k]

That is a great deal you got there. I love the multiple districts numbers. I have a 91/24 bayonet with 3 district numbers on it, two of course crossed out like your rifle. Congrats on the grandson and rifle. You've had a great week.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[ffuries]

Very nice rifle! I would say that rifle also has a coat of finish on the wood being it has it on the metal as your great pictures show. I would not mess with the wood at all as what is done is done and anything you do will be an obvious change to the eye of another collector. I would be shot if I suggested a coat of solvent to remove the shellac on the metal so I will leave that subject alone. Oh the Z in the crossed cannons on the butt stock means you are supposed to send it to me! I keep telling people that but no one listens? Very nice for a nice reasonable price too. Not like the $300 refurbs people are buying for sure! Congrats and enjoy it! Bill

Oh so that is your "Monogram" or "Property Mark" per se......