Finn 91-30

I purchased two Finn barreled, round receiver 91-30s for $70 at an Internet auction. Both were beat up, missing the front sights, hand guards, and barrel bands. Fortunately, both had bright shiny barrels with sharp rifling. I purchased the missing parts at Numrich Gun Parts Corp. http://www.gunpartscorp.com/, shot them both, and picked one to make into a target rifle. It was originally built in Russia and the stamps on the underside of the rear tang, behind the screw hole show that it was made at the Tula arsenal in 1932. It was fitted with a Tikka barrel in Finland in 1944.

The book The Mosin-Nagant Rifle by Terence W. Lapin is a fantastic reference for anyone interested in any version of the Mosin-Nagant. It gives a complete history and description of all the different variations of each component of the rifle as well as ammunition. An appendix gives a very complete listing of identification markings so that any rifle can be dated and traced to its place of manufacture. My philosophy about modifying military surplus rifles is to never do anything to it that would prevent me from restoring it to its original military specification. In other words, I'll change parts but won't do any cutting or drilling on the receiver.

The top mark, SA in a box, means that the rifle was once the property of the Finnish Army. The T in a triangle in a circle is the logo of the Tikka arsonal. The serial number is next, then the date the barrel was made, 1944