My Mosin PU

[cyanbarron]

Hi,

I picked up this mosin PU on Sunday at an estate auction. I checked all of the reference's that I could find about verifying whether a mosin is an actual sniper or a fake. Everything I've found seems to point to this being an actual sniper rifle. With one exception. The scope mount seems to be too new and has no marks on it. The scope itself is dated 1942 and two refurbished dates in 1968 and 1969. I was wondering if anyone was familiar about scopes being worked on in the arsenals as late as the 60's. Here are some pictures.

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[cyanbarron]

If anyone needs any more pictures just let me know.

[cyanbarron]

All the numbers on the gun match except for the scope.

[SA1911a1]

Can you share a photo of the side of the mount and the top of the scope?

[Miller Tyme]

If anyone needs any more pictures just let me know.

We need a lot more pics, the scope mount doesn't look like a PU mount, but it could be the odd angle of the pics. Post some of the mount(both sides) the barrel shank (both sides), and the bolt.

[cyanbarron]

I have to believe that the scope mount is fairly new but it looks like everything else is original, hopefully.

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[Darryl]

Need more photos of the side of the barrel shank (just behind the rear sights. On the left side of the barrel mainly. You showed the "top", but not the left side.

Also, information about the import mark. Photo, where it is, and what it says.

Under the bend of the "bent bolt" where it bends (photo)

Darryl

[cyanbarron]

Here are pictures of the bolt, import marking, and barrel.

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[Miller Tyme]

Sorry to give you the bad news but that is a reproduction sniper, but even though it is import marked by CIA it doesn't appear to be one of theirs. The mount and base appear to be either pot metal or aluminum and isn't close to being dimensionally correct for a good reproduction PU set up. The bolt looks like a welded on replacement for the original bolt handle. The rifle was never a sniper, rather a run of the mill 43 Izhevsk 91/30 Infantry rifle.

[cyanbarron]

I thought it looked good except for the scope mount. There are no other import marks I can find.

[AMCHornet]

I'm in 100% agreement with Miller Tyme.

-Rough receiver.
-Import mark so close to the scope mount.
-No sign of scope numbers along the wood line of the barrel, and other marks being there instead.

All those clearly indicate that it was simply a standard infantry rifle that somebody put a scope onto. It think it's an original WWII scope, but the mount definitely isn't.

In other words, enjoy shooting it but never try to pass it off as a real PU, especially to sell it. The RMNF Cheka secret police will put Polonium in your tea if you do.

I do sometimes worry that the "fakers" watch this forum and take notes on how to make better fakes.

[qz2026]

I tend to agree. The scope s/n should appear "x'd" out on the left side of the receiver - at least in most cases - for snipers manufactured at Izhevsk. Also the stock cut for the scope mount looks like a relatively new cut.

[cyanbarron]

Ok, thanks.