M91
(Finland)
Finnish M91 Mosin
Nagant
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General Description: |
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Weight
-- 9 1/2 lbs. (4.3kg))
Length (over all) -- 51 1/2" (130.8 cm)
Barrel Length -- 31 1/2" (80.0 cm)
Stock length -- 47 1/2" (120.7 cm)
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- Produced
from- as early as 1922 to as late as 1944.
- Most
common model of rifle used by the Finnish military
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History
Finland,
during the war for independence from Russia in 1917 captured numerous
M91 Mosins. Along with the captured weapons, they also already had many
on hand from former Soviet occupation and decided to use it as the
basis to supply and arm their military. The M91 was used to arm troops
from the Civil Guard to the basic infantry. Finland also purchased or
traded other arms for them. Most were aquired from other countries
between 1924 thru 1941, from various places such as Poland, Bulgaria,
and Yugoslavia. Some M91 rifles can be found in standard Russian built
configuration with nothing more than a [SA] stamp.
The
Finnish military decided to modify the Mosin thru out it's use. The M91
can be found in many configurations. The one thing Finland would reuse
is the receiver. The receiver can be found from all manufactures and
all dates, the hex receiver being widely used. Much like other Finnish
weapons, variations exist, a few later M91's have been found fitted
with a round receiver (very rare). The most common variation is stocks,
anything from a standard reused Russian issue stock to the two and
three piece spliced Finnish stock can be found. The Finnish made stocks
have a change also(these have been found used on Russian stocks also),
the use of metal wire sling hangers, these sling hangers allow the many
different sling variations the Finn's had to be attached. Brass shims
are a common find in the action, these were used as accurizing methods,
helping to adjust pressure on the barrel.
Other
small variations can also be found, trigger set-ups from other Finnish
Mosins, front and rear sights can be expected at times. The normal rear
sight is generally the standard Konoalov, with an extra step for 200
meter battle sight. The Russian arshin on the left side can be X'ed
out, stamped through or scrubbed. The Finnish marked the right side of
the base in meters.
Model
M91 Rifle Variants
Production
Variants: Barrel stamps
SAT
Barrel: Suomen Ampumataruikehdas, Marked SAT Riihimaki, very
few made, the estimated production is around 200, possibly one of the
rarest Finnish Mosins. This was Finlands first attempt to manufacture
barrels.
- Production
Dates 1922-1924
P-Series:
Known to have relined barrels, an effort to reuse worn barrels by
relining. Markings commonly will include a P-26 and P-27 (number being
the year) with an "S".The "S" is for the process known as the Salerno
method. A method of repairing worn barrels learned in Italy by Finnish
Colonel A.E. Saloranta. Any Russian stamps will commonly be scrubbed.
Along with the markings, another trait of this series is a barrel in
the white, while the other parts are blued as normal.
- Production
Dates 1925-1927, unused remaining barrels were also built as complete
rifles again in the 1940's.
- Number
built est. 13000 to 14000
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P-27 barrel shank stamp |
Crown showing installed barrel liner |
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Tikkakoski(Early
Tikka): Started barrel manufacturing in 1925. The early
barrels, 1925 and to mid 1926 are dated on the bottom of the barrel,
the middle production, mid 1926 and 1927 moved the date to the top of
the barrel. These can be found with Civil Guard district numbers
stamped on them. All will have the "T" stamp in the triangle on the top
of the barrel shank. Another indication of the mid production is a
stepped barrel, these had a heavier barrel than the first production.
The step allowed a standard Russian bayonet to be mounted.
- Production
Dates 1925-1927
- Total
number built est. 10000, Stepped barrel production est. 3000
Tikkakoski(Late
Tikka): Late Tikka model production was to satisfy the
Finnish military need for rifles. The Winter War had started in 1939,
one year prior to production. The M39 was just starting production
also, but the M91 was a tested and proven design. Also being quicker to
manufacture due to an abundance of parts was another plus. They were
issued to any and all troops, from the Civil Guard to being used for
training. These were assembled at the AV1 and AV3 Arms Depot.
- Production
dates- 1940-1944
- Number
built est. 45000
VKT:
State Rifle Factory(Valmet)- Much like the Late Tikka, these barrels
were made to also satisfy the needs for weaponry during the Winter War.
The VKT rifles were also assembled at the same Arms Depot.
- Production
dates- 1940-1942
- Number
built est. 32000
B-barrel:
These were barrel blanks were supplied by Belgium and the barrels
finished by VKT. An est. 13000 barrels, many of which were made into
M39 rifles. Some estimate the number of M91 B-barrels to be between
4000-5000 made, making this a fairly uncommon variant. All were
assembled post war. One of the rarer versions of the Belgium barrel
have what is known as Belgium Liege Proof Stamping. Also a few have
been reported with a very purplish/plum color tint to the barrel
bluing.
- Production
date- Barrels are dated 1942, but assembly took place postwar--assembly
date being unknown
Finnish
Changes
The
Rear Sight
- The
sight base, a Konovalov style, was calibrated and re-stamped in meters
on the right side, it had an extra step added for a 200 meter battle
sight. The Russian arshin was commonly stamped through, examples of
scrubbed out and unstamped out variations have been noted.
Top sight base is Finnish stamped on right side,
bottom sight, left side of the rifle shows a stamped out Russian arshin
sight base |
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The
Front Sight
- The
front sight is drift adjustable, the blade is dovetailed in the base
Stock
- Two
piece spliced stock, most will be set up for the Finnish style wire
sling hangers
- Three
piecee stocks, these are spliced like the normal Finnish stocks as well
as a splice in the toe of the butt stock
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Reused Russian stocks
Top:reused Russian butt stock
Center:Finnish butt stock
Bottom:Toe spliced Finnish butt stock |
Left:Finnish three piece spliced stock
Center:Finnish two piece spliced stock
Right:reused Russian stock |
Left and center:Finnish splices
Right:reused Russian stock
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Barrel
Bands
Hand-guards
- Can
either be Finnish or reused Russian handguards
Trigger
Markings
Misc
Receiver Markings
- The
Russian Imperial stamp can be X-ed out, ground off or untouched.
- AZF
and or OEWG- These were bought/traded from the Austria-Hungary Military
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AZF receiver stamped Tikka with the Imperial Russian Eagle |
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- German
Markings- Have also been noted, German captured weapons.
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