Was This a Good Deal, or Just Average?
Went to my favorite gun store this afternoon to pick up some 6.5 Swede Mauser cartridges, and while I was there I bought a 1942 issue model 91/30 Mosin-Nagant rifle. The bluing was virtually coal-black, with a few tiny irregularities near the end of the barrel; the wood was VERY nice, with no significant blemishes---a very small discoloration (NOT a scratch or dent)1" long towards the back end of the handguard; and the action locked up with decent tightness. The rifling looks very good, and even without cleaning the bore is quite shiny; the serial numbers on the bolt, receiver and butt-plate match. There's some sort of strange, dot-like stamping on the underside of the end of the barrel near the muzzle that appears to say "TG KNOX TN 91/30 762X54 RUSSIA". The guy who owns the store says it's "collector grade" (whatever THAT may mean), and it seemed to me to be a decent buy at $99.00. I figured that, if nothing else, I can use it to poach wolves like Vasili Zeitsev...But I'm wondering: was this a good deal, or nothing really special?
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If You're happy with your purchase, and walked out the front door with a smile on your face......Then you made a good deal..and requires No comment from the Peanut Gallery!
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
Like the Capt. said ,if you're happy its a good deal!!Jeeze, how often can you find a great gun for a hundred bucks. BTW, the marking on the bbl is the import stamp from the company that brought in into the U.S.-Bob
Gun control is a steady hand0 -
Well, yes, I'm quite pleased with it (grin) but I was wondering if this was some sort of amazingly good deal....By the bye, just what IS "collector grade"? 0 -
A "Wise" salesman's line.
Next week he may use "Museum" Quality Grade.
Whatever works!!!!!!![:]
You bit, didn't you?0 -
I think you did all right. Current dealer price on these is about $65 + shipping--so it probably cost your dealer about $80 to put it on the shelf. $19 is a fair mark-up. As for "collector condition", that means one that is extra nice, all original, almost all the finish (98%+) In the case of this particular rifle there are a couple of things to consider: (1) The Rooskies have been using this basic design since 1891. That's a long, long time. About 112 years. (2) During that time they participated in two World Wars, and a bunch of small ones. They needed and made lots and lots of rifles. (3) Now that they no longer use them as first line issue, and need money, they are exporting as many of them to the U.S. of A. as the market will bear. (4) Since they are an obsolete bolt action and the U.S. Govt. doesn't view them as a threat like those awful "assault rifles" they are likely to be abundantly available at reasonable prices for a long time and not have too much collector value. A possible exception to this would be the original 1891 model made for the Tsarist forces complete with all Tsarist markings. So, you have an interesting rifle in great shape, and should enjoy shooting it. Got a couple myself. 0 -
Well, Spring.....No. I didn't bite, because he didn't bait me.
I bought the rifle BEFORE the store owner had come in. After looking at it, and satisfying myself that it was in very shootable shape, and deciding the price was well worth it, I said "Heck, why not?" and plunked my money down. All the saleslady said was, "Yep, it's in very nice shape, and we got in a big shipment of them." About ten minutes afterward, the owner came in from running errands and told me it was "collector grade", and that he'd ordered a slug of them for his two stores. I told him that that was cool, but that I was buying it for a shooter.
I've been doing business with the people at this gun store for several years, and they've NEVER tried to ply me with sales talk on any of my purchases. In fact, they've steered me away from some slick-looking refurbished stuff that was, mechanically, not so hot---so I've come to trust them not to snow me.0 -
Just as Spring Creek indicated "collector grade" means many things to many people and your rifle sounds like a nice pick up for a reasonable price. For a true collector however the very presence of an import marking is death itself for any sort of premium price. Your rifle also sounds as though it has been refinished at least once during its lifetime because the 91/30 was well known for its over all poor quality of factory finish when compared to the earlier MN rifles. Many of these surplus MN rilfes have been rebarreled as well and the shiney bore on a Russian rifle made in 1942 (the height of combat on the eastern front) makes me curious. The 91/30 itself was an updated version of the older Model 1891 which replaced the early hexagon receiver with a cylindrical type and had much inproved sights. Up to 17 million of these rifles were produced from 1930 until around 1944 so they are not rare. Condition and ORIGINAL makes these guns valuable and I hope yours turns out to be "collector grade" after all.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Mark sez:
"Up to 17 million of these rifles were produced from 1930 until around 1944 so they are not rare."
KEWL!
Then I can refinish the wood and redo the bolt-handle without feeling like I've wrecked something scarce or TRULY collectible! SWEET!0 -
If I am not mistaken, these are sold by Big 5 as 'arsenal refinished' for $89.00 - 99.00. 0 -
In recent months, there has been a large shjpment of the 1891/30 rifles which have been "arsenal reconditioned". I picked one up for $75.00, and it is a well-done refinishing (reblued, stock refinished or new, trigger and action smooth, and the ammo is cheap. They are pretty good shooters for a pre-World War One piece (design slightly modified in 1930). In my book, if you pick up a pretty good shooter for $100 nowadays, it's a good deal.
Regards,
Jack0 -
If it helps my local dealer has 1 for $149 and I wont touch it!!
The price is to high . you got a good deal. you know you got a good deal cause you put your money on the counter.[:D]Most people put their money in their pocket if its a bad deal. (not being a smart a$$ here) just my 2 cents0
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