Confused with my 1928 M91/30

[2700fps]

All matching numbers including the tang.
But no screws in the sling slots?

Thought all pre WW2 had screws!


And what’s a Tula updated Dragoon?
I believe this is what mine is?

[Longcolt44]

Sound like your rifle got a new post war stock in it's travels.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Updated dragoon just means the rifle had the older dragoon sights and bands before being updated to 91/30 spec after the war. Any 91/30 dated before 1929 started off life as a dragoon rifle, and most 1930-33's also as it took years to use up the old dragoon parts. The commies ran everything on a shoestring budget, usable parts were not tossed out even if a design change had been authorized.

[2700fps]

Ok. Thanks

[2700fps]

So doing a bit of work and firing this rifle today.
As stated it is not stamped M91/30 by the Russians but is by the importer.

So technically what model is this? Also previous owner drilled and taped the action. Has it lost its value now?

[Longcolt44]

The Russians did not stamp model numbers on their rifles, only a good knowledge of them will tell the model. It now has no collector value of any kind. Relegate it to you collection of shooters and hope it is a good one.

[2700fps]

Yes. Sorry that was a stupid statement.

So I ask again.
All my info says the first year the M91/30 is listed, is 1929. My rifle is 1928 but the importer put a stamp M91/30 on it?

Barring its collector value of nil, let’s say it was worth $350 today if it had not been drilled and tapped, what is it worth now after being worked on?

[Junk Yard Dog]

The 30 in M91/30 indicates the year the changes to the rifles design were approved for use. Very few if any rifles received these approved upgrades before 1932-33 as the old supply of parts had to be used up first before new parts could be made and used. After the war over the Soviets began a program of refurbishing their old weapons and stashing them away for WWIII. During this time between 1945-and sometime in the 1970's the Soviets updated all the dragoon rifles that came in for refurbishing. The dragoon rifles were given 91/30 approved sights, bands, and so on. Rifles dated 1929 would have started off life as dragoon rifles as the approved changes of 1930 did not yet exist.

[2700fps]

Thanks for the detailed explanation.
So I guess it is one of the few of the 1928 rifles that got the upgrade....

I will post some photos so there is no confusion!

[2700fps]

Is is also a Hex receiver.
I suspect a pretty rare rifle, pity...

It shoots well so far...

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[racerguy00]

Not rare. Most all 20s date dragoons were updated during refurb. It's now a 91/30. The numbers would have been matched at refurb.

Drilled and tapped $150 or so

[2700fps]

Ok.
Thanks

[mogunner]

My favorite shooter is a 1928 Izhevsk ex-dragoon 91/30 in a pretty laminate stock. Obviously refurbed but man is it a good looking/shooting rifle.

[Snayperskaya]

Mine is a '26 Izhevsk ex-Dragoon that has also picked up a later stock at some point.....

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[steelbuttplate]

Not rare. Most all 20s date dragoons were updated during refurb. It's now a 91/30. The numbers would have been matched at refurb.

Drilled and tapped $150 or so

Whats a dragoon original worth now, might have an SA stamp. ?

[racerguy00]

Most Finn ones are mutts, so not original as in factory original. But in dragoon configuration they've been selling.in the $400 range where I am. I got a Finn ex-dragoon for a little less recently even though those are even more uncommon.

[zeebill]

Most Finn ones are mutts, so not original as in factory original. But in dragoon configuration they've been selling.in the $400 range where I am. I got a Finn ex-dragoon for a little less recently even though those are even more uncommon.

I have a lot of Finn Dragoons and generally they are priced less than a say not messed with straight Russian Dragoon. Generally the less they are modified from original Dragoon state the more they are worth. If a Milsurp rifle is drilled and tapped for a scope or the barrel is cut or the sights are removed permanently or modified they are not worth over maybe $125 or so and of no collector value. Once a rifle is refurbished I unlike others see no collector value in it and view it as a parts rifle for shooting. Yeah I know they are selling for more than some captured or modified Finns but that is a certain portion of the new collector market buying merely what is being offered or what they can easily find. Online buyers and impulse show buyers are not all what I would call educated buyers and down the line someplace they are burned for the exaggerated over blown prices they have been paying. I fear the super payer collectors will be bit down the line too. This is especially true if they have to liquidate their collections due to personal reasons in a hurry. Things like divorce, death, loss of job, and such are what costs most high price payers. They tend to buy like they live fast and loose with little thought for the future and liabilities they might incur from being all spent out. This is not to say I haven't been there but the stress of living like that catches up with you sooner or later. May very well be why today I have a heart problem but I am still kicking so far at 75. 40+ years of semi-serious collecting has taught me much but I still make many of my early life mistakes and probably will till they throw the dirt over me.

Many unimproved Dragoons are out there in private collections and sooner or later things cut them loose to the rest of us. I pay about $300 or so for Finn captured Dragoons and maybe $500+ for straight Russian ones with more for unimproved ones. I can get refurbs all day at about $250 or so and sell or trade them at about $350 or so. New collectors have discovered auctions of late and they run prices on refurbs up to almost $400 so I find few I will buy at that price. You will find if you look close prices follow the cost of living of the area so buy in a cheap area and sell in a high priced neighborhood if possible. I still often find unimproved Dragoons in certain pawn shops that have older clientele where Grandma may need a new pair of glasses and off goes Grandpa's prize Russian rifle he never shoots anyway. If you think about the simple facts of life and use them to dictate your actions it is sometimes simple to figure out where to look, what to buy, and what to pay for things. Good Luck and most of all enjoy what you are doing! Bill