With all the talk on the Hide Vintage Forum about the Mosin Nagant I've finally got round to looking at a project I first thought about around five years ago. Other builds/purchases got in the way but I got here at last.
Anyway...to business - the scope of the project is exactly the same as my USMC M1903A1 - that is to build a close replica of this rare WW2 "precision" rifle using genuine or high quality reproduction parts so that the modern day shooter can enjoy the challenges and experience of shooting these classic/vintage rifles without the expense of an original or the risk of damaging an original, irreplaceable historical firearm.
First...the donor rifle:
I have never seen an M39 in the UK. Lots of M44 carbines, plenty of M91/30 but...no M39.
The M39 appeals because of (a) it's rarity - it'll be something "different" (one of my smith's main motivators for all his projects) and (b) because from what I've read the Finnish rifles offer a better level of quality and accuracy over their Russian cousins.
Lack of availability of the M39 in the UK is one of the main reasons why the build never happened before. So, no alternative but to import.
I spoke to a business colleague in Finland who called me back after a search to tell me...no good ones left in Finland, they've all gone to the US or are being held onto by their Finnish owners!
Enter Hide member Joop!
Joop very kindly put me in touch with one of his contacts in the US who had several to choose from (Thanks Joop!! Beer...or is it Vodka?...is on me!).
I'll admit, I was initially concerned about buying a rifle blind on the internet, but Joop's recommendation and the direct contact with Pat (the seller) gave me confidence to take the risk.
After a couple of conversations with Pat on the phone about a number of the rifles that were available, some emails and pics, I settled on a '44 dated VKT rifle that had been reworked post war.
Mind you, if I'd been after a rifle to keep in original condition there was an all matching '41 Sako in well-marked and mint wartime stock that I'd have snapped up! Maybe another time.....
As with my No4 and 1903 donor rifles on previous projects, the fact that this was reworked/rebuilt was one of the main reasons for choosing this rifle over a more "intact" original in a wartime stock. I feel more comfotable getting FTR'd/arsenal refinished rifles worked on.
It arrived today
Crown looks in good shape, no major issues that I can see:
The bore is in fantastic condition - sharp and mirror bright. Will test my photography "skills" at the weekend and see if I can get a shot.
The rifle is now housed in a post war square joint stock:
The stock appears overall to be in very good condition - only very minor surface scratches. It is a bit rough around the edges at the sharp end (see below, will know more when the rifle is stripped and inspected). There is a small nick out of the rear edge by the butt plate but it seems pretty minor:
There appear to be multiple numbers on the rifle. The bottom metal is not numbered at all. <span style="text-decoration: line-through">The sight base is possibly a mismatch?</span> <span style="font-style: italic">Edited...as tommeboy points out below the numbers on the side of the sight base are distance calibrations - DOH! Mosin newbie mistake on my part </span>
:
Only things that really shout at me so far are some areas of rust and minor pitting on the metal work (see below, will talk to Paul about possible returning all metal work to the white and rebluing)
and the slivers of wood sticking out of the fore-end. Hoping this isn't a problem. The front end all seems very secure and no signs of cracking or movement in the handguard....just dodgy Arctic Birch or some seriously bad shiming to secure the handguard?
But all in all - looks good to go!
Next step will be to get the rifle down to Paul at TVG for stripping and inspection in a couple of weeks or so....then join his growing waiting list for the work to be done.
We're thinking that this one could benefit from return to "as new" restoration....
Anyway...to business - the scope of the project is exactly the same as my USMC M1903A1 - that is to build a close replica of this rare WW2 "precision" rifle using genuine or high quality reproduction parts so that the modern day shooter can enjoy the challenges and experience of shooting these classic/vintage rifles without the expense of an original or the risk of damaging an original, irreplaceable historical firearm.
First...the donor rifle:
I have never seen an M39 in the UK. Lots of M44 carbines, plenty of M91/30 but...no M39.
The M39 appeals because of (a) it's rarity - it'll be something "different" (one of my smith's main motivators for all his projects) and (b) because from what I've read the Finnish rifles offer a better level of quality and accuracy over their Russian cousins.
Lack of availability of the M39 in the UK is one of the main reasons why the build never happened before. So, no alternative but to import.
I spoke to a business colleague in Finland who called me back after a search to tell me...no good ones left in Finland, they've all gone to the US or are being held onto by their Finnish owners!
Enter Hide member Joop!
Joop very kindly put me in touch with one of his contacts in the US who had several to choose from (Thanks Joop!! Beer...or is it Vodka?...is on me!).
I'll admit, I was initially concerned about buying a rifle blind on the internet, but Joop's recommendation and the direct contact with Pat (the seller) gave me confidence to take the risk.
After a couple of conversations with Pat on the phone about a number of the rifles that were available, some emails and pics, I settled on a '44 dated VKT rifle that had been reworked post war.
Mind you, if I'd been after a rifle to keep in original condition there was an all matching '41 Sako in well-marked and mint wartime stock that I'd have snapped up! Maybe another time.....
As with my No4 and 1903 donor rifles on previous projects, the fact that this was reworked/rebuilt was one of the main reasons for choosing this rifle over a more "intact" original in a wartime stock. I feel more comfotable getting FTR'd/arsenal refinished rifles worked on.
It arrived today
Crown looks in good shape, no major issues that I can see:
The bore is in fantastic condition - sharp and mirror bright. Will test my photography "skills" at the weekend and see if I can get a shot.
The rifle is now housed in a post war square joint stock:
The stock appears overall to be in very good condition - only very minor surface scratches. It is a bit rough around the edges at the sharp end (see below, will know more when the rifle is stripped and inspected). There is a small nick out of the rear edge by the butt plate but it seems pretty minor:
There appear to be multiple numbers on the rifle. The bottom metal is not numbered at all. <span style="text-decoration: line-through">The sight base is possibly a mismatch?</span> <span style="font-style: italic">Edited...as tommeboy points out below the numbers on the side of the sight base are distance calibrations - DOH! Mosin newbie mistake on my part </span>
Only things that really shout at me so far are some areas of rust and minor pitting on the metal work (see below, will talk to Paul about possible returning all metal work to the white and rebluing)
and the slivers of wood sticking out of the fore-end. Hoping this isn't a problem. The front end all seems very secure and no signs of cracking or movement in the handguard....just dodgy Arctic Birch or some seriously bad shiming to secure the handguard?
But all in all - looks good to go!
Next step will be to get the rifle down to Paul at TVG for stripping and inspection in a couple of weeks or so....then join his growing waiting list for the work to be done.
We're thinking that this one could benefit from return to "as new" restoration....
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