Serious Question??????

[8dDUCE]

My '39 has a double headed eagle on the hexed reciever. Is this from the czarist reign???? Is this common with type firearm?????8dDUCE.

[number_6]

Hex rcvrs are from the older M91 rifles that could possibly date from the czarist era. The Finns usually ground all the Russian markings off, but looks like one got through. Neat piece. What is the date on the receiver? Do you have a re-stocked one (square joints)?

Be seeing you.

[8dDUCE]

Anyone????? 8dDUCE.

[8dDUCE]

The date is 1942 and the wood has the square fingers. This thing has alot of proof marks. I noticed the eagle when I was cleaning, it looks as if someone tried to cover this up. It does not look as it has been ground on. It is still very smooth and has a nice finish, no pun intended. 8dDUCE.

[number_6]

There are a lot of strange variations with M39 rifles. My is a VKT 1944 with about 6 proofmarks scattered around on it. Some are old Russian proofs and a few are the Finnish ones. Unfortunately my bolt is not original to the rifle. Even though it has been engraved with the last four of the serial, the typeface is different from that used on the receiver. The number on the bolt handle does not match the Finnish serial. Plus, the bolt has the Sako mark. The action is smooth, but the firing pin spring must be about a 200# spring! :) My floorplate number does not match, but this is not something that would affect the rifle's accuracy. Square-jointed stocks were probably put on during a 1950-1960 re-arsenal. I love the look of arctic birch. Another weird thing about mine is that someone has ground off the front sight blade height from the barrel, but not the sight! There are all sorts of odd little grind marks on the barrel, too. Looks like we need to get a copy of "Rifles of the Snow". How do you like the B barrel? Have you shot it yet? Mine, despite a mismatched bolt, is incredibly accurate. I'm thinking of starting a collection of M39s -- it is truly a fascinating rifle.

Be seeing you.

[8dDUCE]

I am going to shoot it tomarrow. All the numbers on my weapon match, except the butt plate. I just completely I.G.ed my M-39 looks great. The stock has some circular patches of wood in it. Like someone drilled through the stock and put a dowel in and formed it into the stock. The work is beautiful. I love the way it looks. I do not have the "Tiger Stripes" in my wood. It has more of a "Burl" look to it. Thanks for the information. I will let you know how it fires. BTW, the barrel is pristine, the inside is extremely clean and sharp. 8dDUCE.

[8dDUCE]

Ok, I went to the Nagant web site listed in this forum. It states that NO "B" barrels had the 36<vkt>00 on the barrels. Mine does, and it is Bronze in color(barrel) with the CORRECT [SA] ontop then B then D followed by 42980 and finally 1942. What the HELL gives. I am really confused now. The bolt # matches the Hexed Reciever 2980 on bolt and 42980 on Barrel and Reciever. The 2980 is abreveated 42980, it can not all fit on the Bolt Knob. Antone know anything about this one???? Schuetzenman, REDSTAR, zouave, neilwest, or number_6 since you have responded??????? 8dDUCE.

[REDSTAR]

I just took apart one of my M39's awhile ago and under the receiver, underneath the tang where the top screws in is an Ishevesk bow and arrow mark (pre 1928 Ishevesk) and the date: 1907. The Finn date on the top of receiver is 1944. If you take your wood off sometime look under there and there's probably a date for the receiver.

[number_6]

Any and all information you read is approximate! ;)

I have seen VKT B barrels before. Only one, but I've seen it. Beyond that, I don't have a whole lot to add to this.

www.mosin-nagant.net is a good starting point, if that's what you're using. There are some more Finnish-oriented sites that you can find from the links there. I've developed a huge need to know about the Winter War and War of Continuation now.

Be seeing you.

[number_6]

Originally posted by REDSTAR
I just took apart one of my M39's awhile ago and under the receiver, underneath the tang where the top screws in is an Ishevesk bow and arrow mark (pre 1928 Ishevesk) and the date: 1907. The Finn date on the top of receiver is 1944. If you take your wood off sometime look under there and there's probably a date for the receiver.

Yes, the date on the top of the receiver is the Finnish arsenal date, which is when the rifle was commissioned for Finnish service. Most, if not all, M39s will have the "real" date somewhere else on them. It is really fun to find a 1900 or earlier! I need to yank my most current VKT apart and find out. I just sold it to a friend, but he hasn't coughed up the $$$ yet, so I still have it.

I think I am going to build up a collection. They're cheap right now, but they'll dry up! So...

M39 owners, where are you buying yours and what kind of luck are you having? I've heard that this is the one time you actually get a great deal from WG&A. Information, please.

Be seeing you.

[8dDUCE]

Did that, all I see is116 and a D under it? This thing has alot of metal shims were the main screws go. I have a double headed eagle with a crown above it on the reciever top. Thanks, 8dDUCE.

[number_6]

I know you know this but...

Don't lose any of the shims and keep them where they belong. The Finnish arsenals wouldn't release any of these rifles unless they shot a 3cm group at 300m and any "extras" are there to promote accuracy.

Be seeing you.

[REDSTAR]

8d- I didn't see your post before my last one.

The one thing I've learned in C&R collecting is this:

NEVER SAY NEVER

There is always some new bit of knowledge coming out. Information on C&R rifles is scetchy at best, especially commie weapons and even more so Chinese commie weapons because they were so darn secretive. Granted there's info on Finn's but there are still many grey areas with these rifles as well.

What you describe is normal for a M39 as far as the numbering goes. The B under the SA is the indication of a B barrel rifle. It's 100% a B barrel rifle. VKT assembled many of the B barreled rifles.

It's cool you have the 36 00 high pressure proof mark, none of mine have that. It stands for 3600 atmospheres= 52,844 psi.
1 atmosphere equals 14.69 lbs per square inch if you want to check the math. ;)

D166 means the rifle was rechambered for the slightly larger D166 round of the Russians as they captured large stores of this ammo. Shuetz went into detail about that in another M39 post. Most Finnish rifles are chambered for the Ruskie round although I don't think they're all stamped D.

[REDSTAR]

number 6, I have four M39's all from WGA and I'm very pleased with all of them, each has been in the condition stated and a fair price per condition.

[number_6]

Originally posted by REDSTAR
number 6, I have four M39's all from WGA and I'm very pleased with all of them, each has been in the condition stated and a fair price per condition.

Great. They seem to have the best selection of M39s around. I want about ten of them. My VKT has the high pressure proof mark, too, which is why I wasn't afraid to shoot it straight from the importer! :cool:

I'd like to take a trip up to NY and visually inspect the M39 selection, maybe hoping to find a really sweet one. But, I'll just have to wait on the old C&R and work it that route.

Be seeing you.