Additional M39 Markings

[93Cobra]

I posted awhile back about my new M39 and it's markings.M39 (http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27178)

Here are a couple more:

1. The receiver tang is dated 1896 with what looks like a bow & arrow (arrow on bow is in shooting position). Any idea? IS it common for the receiver date to be pre 1900?

2. On the left side of the barrel, it has a 36 "VKT" 00 marking. What does the 36 00 mean? Thanks.

Scott

[number_6]

Originally posted by 93Cobra
I posted awhile back about my new M39 and it's markings.M39 (http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27178)

Here are a couple more:

1. The receiver tang is dated 1896 with what looks like a bow & arrow (arrow on bow is in shooting position). Any idea? IS it common for the receiver date to be pre 1900?

2. On the left side of the barrel, it has a 36 "VKT" 00 marking. What does the 36 00 mean? Thanks.

Scott

The "36VKT00" marking is the high pressure proof mark. The rifle has been tested to about 36000atm chamber pressure -- roughly one third more than the average chamber was tested out to. It is a good thing and not that common.

Be seeing you.

[REDSTAR]

Bow and arrow is the pre- 1928 Izhevsk arsenal mark.

Old reciever dates are common. The last one I looked at was dated 1906 on the underside of the tang.

Don't mean to be so anal Mr Six, but it's actually 3600 atmospheres, which is equivalent to 52,884 pounds per square inch. :)

[number_6]

Gack! I just realised that I hit the '0' too many times!

36000 atmospheres -- can you imagine? :eek:

Now, that's a damn chamber!

[wipes egg off face] I stand corrected and don't mind it at all.

Be seeing you.

[OneShot]

Pre 1900 styalized bow and arrow can also be Sestroyesk Arsenal. Depends on what it looks like. If it is very "scripty" it probably is. Look on Tuco's for many, many photos of proof marks to be sure of a match.

[Gonzotwp]

Don't forget that since your receiver is pre 1898 it qualifies as an antique as far as the BATF is concerned! To some people that can add up to $100 to the value of the piece. As far as the 36 00 proof, I think that all M39's were pressured at 3600 atmospheres, all of mine have the pressure proof markings. Hope you enjoy the rifle!!

:wave:

Gonzo

[93Cobra]

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. That is nice that the BATF considers the gun "antique". Are guns considered antique if the receiver is pre-1900 or pre-1898 like you said? Anyone know where I can find out which arsenal the receiver came from?

Thanks again.

Scott

[Gonzotwp]

Any receiver dated 1898 or before is considered antique. As far as the arsenal, directly above the date on the bottom of the tang there should be an arsenal insignia designating the original Russian factory that produced the receiver, either Tula, Izhevsk or Sestroyetsk. Check the insignia and go to Tuco's page to see which it is.

www.mosin-nagant.net

:congrads:

Gonzo

[REDSTAR]

The bow and arrow indicates its the Izhevsk arsenal. If it's scripty, it may be the other arsenal. I haven't seen the mark the other poster refers to. Just a arrow facing lenghtwise for that arsenal is the only mark for them that I know about.

Pre 1898 would be considered an antique.

The M39's were dated by the Finns as well so the ATF may consider that to be the date of the rifle or these companies would be selling them to anybody...however, the date by the finns is on the breech. I've often wondered about that. I should write a letter and ask the ATF.

edited pre 1898, I said 100 years old before but they haven't updated the language in the regs.

[Gonzotwp]

The info that I have from Dennis Kroh at Empire Arms is that the ATF considers the date of the receiver to be the determining factor if it differs from any other date on the rifle. I hope he knows for his sake because he sells them as antiques ( no FFL required ) all the time. Let us know if you find out different REDSTAR.

Gonzo

[REDSTAR]

That makes sense. He's probably one of the few who bothers to take the stock off to look at the underside of the receiver. I'm aware that the ATF considers the date of the reciever to be the date of the rifle, but I was wondering because I never saw one sold as an antique before. Thanks for the heads up on Dennis.