This Finnish M91 is chambered in 7.62x54R and carries serial 277xx. The receiver dates to 1897 and still carries its Imperial Russian double headed eagle, and the rifle is an antique on the strength of that receiver date. The barrel is a Tikkakoski barrel dated 1941, stamped with Tikkakoski's triangle and the serial, and the barrel shank carries two Finnish property marks: the word PUOLUSTUSLAITOS spelled out in full, and the boxed SA beside it. The Finnish numbers match. The rifle is mechanically excellent, with a tight lock up and a crisp trigger. The bore has strong rifling and is semi bright, but it holds stubborn carbon and frosting in the grooves that has not cleaned out. No small parts are missing, all of the lock screws are intact, the cleaning rod is present, and the original sling loops are in the stock. It retains almost all of its blued finish. The barrel is import marked M-91 FINLAND 7.62X54R over CAI ST ALB VT.
The Mosin Nagant M91 was the Russian service rifle from 1891, and Finland inherited large numbers of them at independence and took more in the wars that followed. Finnish industry never manufactured a single Mosin receiver or bolt body of its own: Finnish rifles were built on recycled Russian actions fitted with new Finnish barrels and furniture, which is why a rifle put together in the 1940s sits on a receiver from the 1890s. Tikkakoski made about 33,000 new M91 barrels between 1940 and 1944. Finnish service rifles carry a property mark, and the familiar one is the boxed SA, for Suomen Armeija, the Finnish Army. For a short period at the beginning of 1942, before the boxed SA came into use, the Finnish forces instead stamped the word PUOLUSTUSLAITOS, the Defence Establishment, in full. That window lasted only about two months, so the mark is met far less often than the boxed SA that followed it.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Finnish assembly on a Russian receiver, barrel by Tikkakoski
Country of origin: Finland
Model: M91
Action: Bolt action
Caliber: 7.62x54R
Classification: Antique
Serial: 277xx
Receiver: Dated 1897, Imperial Russian double headed eagle intact
Barrel: Tikkakoski, dated 1941, triangle arsenal mark
Property marks: PUOLUSTUSLAITOS spelled out in full, and the boxed SA
Matching: Finnish numbers matching
Mechanical condition: Excellent, tight lock up, crisp trigger
Bore: Strong rifling, semi bright, with stubborn carbon and frosting in the grooves
Finish: Retains almost all of its blued finish
Completeness: No small parts missing, all lock screws intact
Stock: Original sling loops in place
Included: Cleaning rod
Import mark: CAI, St. Albans, Vermont
