A guy just came in and sold the shop three Finnish Mosins, all M39's: A '44 VKT, a '42 Civil Guard, and the absolutely cherriest M39 I've ever seen, a '42 Sako that must've been arsenal refurbished after the war, because there's no other way it could look this primo.
I'm sitting here waiting for the computer to print tags for three absolutely tasty old rifles, and here I've already done gone and promised this month's gun money to someone else...
*Grumble*
i don't see them listed on the CCA blog... what would be approximate price, before FFL transfer fees and interstate transportation? here i am, immigrant from .fi and without a single decent rifle...
ReplyDeleteum, sell platelets? Sell your hair for wigs and merkins? Uh, sell some crap on ebay. Rent out your cats as temporary pets - I hear that's a big trend in Japan. Just brainstorming here - remember, I'm a shopping enabler, at least when it comes to phlegm-approved purchases.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I finally got around to cracking open the Barbarian Princess, and it's a scream. It's like a classic primer for writing a romance novel. I think I'll use it as a template and devise one of my own.
They run from $259 for the VKT to $295 for the '42 Sako.
ReplyDeleteIf you've seen pics of my '91 Argentine Mauser over at my other blog, well, that's what kind of shape that Sako is in.
I was just standing on the floor making little whimpering noises while looking at it, and pondering the viability some of Phlegmmy's suggestions. I mean, I have more platelets than I really need, right?
...and the Civil Guard just made the go-aways. :(
ReplyDeleteSo many guns, so little cash...
ReplyDeletegeez, at that rate they'll all be gone before i could round up the cash. :-(
ReplyDeleteeven though i could probably afford the Sako (i'd have to find a local FFL to do the transfer, of course), that's still enough that i'd have to overhaul the budget first, and by the time i do that, you'll have found other buyers for 'em. ah well, what's a poor man to do if he can't stand some disappointment?
PICTURES!
ReplyDeleteYou're going to kick yourself for not getting that '42 Sako! You only need 1 kidney... :)
ReplyDeleteMy M39 is an arsenal-refurbished VKT and it looked like it wasn't even issued or shot. Great rifle and would be the last of the Mosins I would get rid off.
As far as money, I spent my budget on a 1936 F.B. Radom WZ 98A Mauser. 85 -90% blueing, little pitting, good bore, and matching numbers. Info shows it's one of 44,500 made that year. It's the 2nd collector type rifle I own.
Have to leave for work in 45 minutes and I'm a couple hundred miles away, crap!
ReplyDeleteTokarev
I never understood the attraction of the Moisin-Nagant. The rimmed round makes extraction easier, but feeding is a bit more problematic. It doesn't look pretty, and compares unfavorably to the Schmidt-Rubin, the Mauser, or the Enfield, all of which are distinctly second rate compared to the Springfield.
ReplyDeleteTam, holler if you need a loan..
ReplyDeleteAl T.
Cola SC
Yeah, and the good thing about the platelets is you can always make more, and drinking beer is probably good for platelet production, so it's a win-win-win.
ReplyDeleteDon-
ReplyDeleteThe Schmidt-Rubin second rate compared to the Springfield?!?... I respectfully disagree.
Gee, another "Springfield above all" type person...
ReplyDeleteMr Meaker, the 2 main problems that I have with a Mosin are:
1) Too short of a bolt handle. Makes it hard for stuck cases and speed. It can be manipulated just fine if you have good ammo and technique.
2) The stock, non-sniper trigger pull sucks. Contact Bill Huber and get one of his triggers, problem solved.
Alot of the WW2 rifles have their strong and weak points. The Enfields were probably the best balanced of the bolts - at least for the first 10 rounds. The 1903 Springfield was a good rifle but needed work that the 1903-A3 fixed. It all depends on the person behind the gun that determines what is good or not.
Not to let the Mauser people down... my Persian M29/30 took 3rd place foriegn rifle at Camp Perry a couple of years ago and I can get 16 shots of in a minute with it too. :)
Joe R.
I love my 1919-dated M1903 Springfield Mark I, but from most anecdotal evidence, the '03 ain't been born that'll shoot with a Swiss Schmidt or a Sako- or Valmet-barrelled Finn.
ReplyDeleteAnd, FWIW, I'm really not some huge Mosin fan: I have a token '44 Izhevsk 91/30 and a '53 FEG M44, but since I got my '44 VKT, I've started getting a bit of a soft spot for the Finn rifles, and am now actively pursuing an M/28 or M/28-30.
My first love in old military rifles, however, come from the Mecca of Bolt Action Rifles, on the banks of the Neckar in southwestern Germany.
Ain't there a song about the problem? "Too much month at the end of the money"?
ReplyDeleteToo many of us in the Acquisitive Class messed up big time by picking the wrong parents. We shoulda picked rich folks...
I do like a good Mosin and definitely have the Finn's as the better representitives of the group. My first Mosin was a Tikka '44 barrelled M91/30 and that got me started on the path. The next ( hopefully last ) Mosin I'm looking for is a Remington or Westinghouse stamped one in good condition. If it happens to be a Finn captured one, more the better!
ReplyDeleteJoe R.
Wasn't there a saying in the War to End All Wars about the Germans having the best hunting rifle, the Americans having the best target rifle, and the Brits having the best battle rifle.
ReplyDeleteWhere would the Moisin fit into that? Best-bayonet-if-you-run-out-of-ammo rifle. Best working rifle that has-been-buried-in-a-farmers-field-and-dug-up?
I'll go with the Springfield myself, but they are all beautiful when in decent shape...and sooooo much fun to shoot.