Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
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- snayperskaya
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Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
I received a couple of photos out of the blue a couple of weeks back of what was a very dirty sad looking M91 Mosin, that on closer inspection turned out to be a New England Westinghouse produced example.
With my interest piqued I went to have a look at it a few days later and I have to say that it appeared that this rifle had been to Hell and back and was by far the dirtiest, greasiest Mosin I've ever seen!!!..... But I could also see the potential and once I found out the ridiculously low price I could have her for and picked myself up off the floor I decided she was well worth restoring.After a couple of hours once the worst of the muck, Cosmoline and grime was cleaned off she was starting to shine bit more.The stock and handguard are the original American walnut items, the magazine assembly and sights etc are all original (the rear sight is still marked in Arshins) and other than the N.E.W stamps and marks and Russian proofs there are no other countries marks on it.....she wasn't Finnish-acquired/captured nor did she end up in the Balkans like many M91's so where she has been all these years is anyone's guess.
The cleaning rod was missing, as were most of the parts for the bolt assembly and both the barrel bands had snapped screws (which are a pain as they are captive screws!).
Fortunately with the help of folks across Europe I was able to source the parts I needed, which are all N.E.W-marked, and all arrived within a week.The bolt parts were from Finland, the cleaning rod from Sweden, barrel bands from Estonia and a period Russian leather sling from Bulgaria......all for a Russian rifle made in the USA!!!
I was able to assemble her yesterday and took the opportunity to check the headspace, which was spot on as the bolt closes on a "Go" but won't close on a "No-Go", and set the firing pin protusion etc and give her a final clean.The chamber and bore are in amazing condition for a 106 year old rifle, the rifling is still very sharp and the crown is original with sharp rifling right to the end, in fact the muzzle is a tighter tolerance than both my '26 ex-Dragoon and the '44 PU sniper!.
All that needs to be done now is a trip to the Birmingham Proofhouse (unfortunately!) and she'll be coming home.
An interesting article that details the New England Westinghouse Mosins.......
http://www.mosinnagant.net/USSR/US-Mosin-Nagants.asp
A few quick photos I took yesterday, I would have taken some outdoor ones but the weather wasn't the best......
With my interest piqued I went to have a look at it a few days later and I have to say that it appeared that this rifle had been to Hell and back and was by far the dirtiest, greasiest Mosin I've ever seen!!!..... But I could also see the potential and once I found out the ridiculously low price I could have her for and picked myself up off the floor I decided she was well worth restoring.After a couple of hours once the worst of the muck, Cosmoline and grime was cleaned off she was starting to shine bit more.The stock and handguard are the original American walnut items, the magazine assembly and sights etc are all original (the rear sight is still marked in Arshins) and other than the N.E.W stamps and marks and Russian proofs there are no other countries marks on it.....she wasn't Finnish-acquired/captured nor did she end up in the Balkans like many M91's so where she has been all these years is anyone's guess.
The cleaning rod was missing, as were most of the parts for the bolt assembly and both the barrel bands had snapped screws (which are a pain as they are captive screws!).
Fortunately with the help of folks across Europe I was able to source the parts I needed, which are all N.E.W-marked, and all arrived within a week.The bolt parts were from Finland, the cleaning rod from Sweden, barrel bands from Estonia and a period Russian leather sling from Bulgaria......all for a Russian rifle made in the USA!!!
I was able to assemble her yesterday and took the opportunity to check the headspace, which was spot on as the bolt closes on a "Go" but won't close on a "No-Go", and set the firing pin protusion etc and give her a final clean.The chamber and bore are in amazing condition for a 106 year old rifle, the rifling is still very sharp and the crown is original with sharp rifling right to the end, in fact the muzzle is a tighter tolerance than both my '26 ex-Dragoon and the '44 PU sniper!.
All that needs to be done now is a trip to the Birmingham Proofhouse (unfortunately!) and she'll be coming home.
An interesting article that details the New England Westinghouse Mosins.......
http://www.mosinnagant.net/USSR/US-Mosin-Nagants.asp
A few quick photos I took yesterday, I would have taken some outdoor ones but the weather wasn't the best......
"The only real power comes out of a long rifle." - Joseph Stalin
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
- snayperskaya
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
Maybe it was fate but the first three digits of the serial number are the month and year I was born....June '71.
Passed the "bullet test"!.....
Passed the "bullet test"!.....
"The only real power comes out of a long rifle." - Joseph Stalin
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
Not the 6th July 1691?snayperskaya wrote:Maybe it was fate but the first three digits of the serial number are the month and year I was born....June '71.
Did you take any "before" photos?
It's not a muzzle loader - it don't work like thatsnayperskaya wrote:
Tory voters. Next election. Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.
- snayperskaya
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
TRG-22 wrote:Not the 6th July 1691?snayperskaya wrote:Maybe it was fate but the first three digits of the serial number are the month and year I was born....June '71.
Did you take any "before" photos?
It's not a muzzle loader - it don't work like thatsnayperskaya wrote:
I know mate , it does give an indication of the wear at the muzzle though....I have seen Mosin muzzles that will swallow a .311" bullet down to the case neck!.
"The only real power comes out of a long rifle." - Joseph Stalin
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
- snayperskaya
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
Some before pics......
Stock was far dirtier than it looks in this photo!
Stock was far dirtier than it looks in this photo!
"The only real power comes out of a long rifle." - Joseph Stalin
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
- snayperskaya
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
"The only real power comes out of a long rifle." - Joseph Stalin
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
- Ovenpaa
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
What a superb looking find, I like your folding rest as well.
- snayperskaya
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
Thanks mate, the rest is just old tarted up pallet wood with a car jack and some steel plates to add some weight.It works for cleaning and shooting, the rear rest can be dropped down so a rear bag can be used instead when shooting.Ovenpaa wrote:What a superb looking find, I like your folding rest as well.
I dropped lucky with the M91 as I had been after one for quite some time and the fact she's a N.E.W Is a bonus
"The only real power comes out of a long rifle." - Joseph Stalin
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
Why does it need to get proofed?
- snayperskaya
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Re: Old Russian Lady rescued, N.E.W M91
Because it has never been proofed since it left the factory and my RFD can't sell it to me out of proof.Musclebob wrote:Why does it need to get proofed?
"The only real power comes out of a long rifle." - Joseph Stalin
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.....give a man a bank and he can rob the world!.
More than a vested interest in 7.62x54r!
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