hammer 'n sickle and the Czar's eagle crest

92FS

Picked up an old Mosin-Nagant M91/30 the other day that has both the hammer and sickle as well as the Czar's eagle crest on the hex receiver, dated 1931.Thought the Bolsheviks would have gone out of their way to remove all 'offending' markings.What gives?Is this a rare item or a well conceived counterfeit?Surely there must be thousands of these rifles out there.Aren't there?Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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just my 2 cents...

Der Gebirgsjager

Very interesting. I recently acquired a pair of Mosin Nagant 91/30s with hex receiver rings. One is dated 1929. Both have only the hammer and sickle. After giving the For Collectors Only Series "The Mosin Nagant Rifle" a good reading and consulting several other sources I've concluded that a number of 1891 models were probably shortened to 91/30 configuration. Interordnance has been offerring for sale the U.S. made 1891 Nagants dating from W.W.I with various levels of Tsarist markings removal--all the way from completely removed to completely intact. Probably the weapons stored in the more remote parts of the Soviet Union or in the satellite republics were not defaced as thoroughly. I would guess that your 91/30 markings are original, and that it started life as a full length 1891 model (as the Tsar wasn't around in the 1930's!).

92FS

Thanks for the reply.From what I've able to gather from various pictures and descriptions of the barrel bands and band retainers, it looks to be a Type II 91/30, as opposed to the similiar looking "converted" Dragoon.It was made at the Ishevsk arsenal, as the top of the receiver has the arrow inside the triangle marking.And it was imported by Century Arms as it has CAI on the side of the barrel.Guess I'll hold on to it until I find more info, just in case.

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just my 2 cents...