There is often confusion among collectors about the meaning and purpose of import marks. ATF rules and importer practices have changed over the years leading to a wide variety of marks with different information and in different locations on the firearm. On occasion import marks are mistaken for original marks, especially when they are simply a number or letters rather than the importers name or location.

Most collectors prefer firearms that are not import marked, and some will only purchase non-import marked examples. Currently import marks are a fact of life though. Some marks are more discreet than others and these are usually preferred. When purchasing a firearm sight unseen over the internet an unsightly mark can be a disappointment. Referring to the pictures on this page should give a collector a good idea of what type of marks to expect on a new Mosin Nagant whether it is a current import or an older one.

Many of the marks used on Mosin Nagants by various importers over the years are included with the meanings of abbreviations and other relevant information. The numbers in the first column are for reference when discussing the marks with other collectors. Please refer to them in any correspondence regarding the pictures. The second column contains the exact lettering and punctuation of the mark on the firearm. Notes are in the third column and the pictures in the fourth column are thumbnails which link to larger pictures. The marks are highlighted for clarity only and are not normally as "stark" as they appear. Many collectors subdue the import marks with various cold blue products rather than highlight them. This page is under construction with M91/59, M91/38, Eastern European, and Chinese Mosin Nagant import marks to be added as time allows.

#	Mark	Notes	Picture
Model 91
1	C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT. M91 7.62R RUSS	The abbreviations stand for: "Century Arms International St. Albans, VT" This mark is found on Tula, Izhevsk, and Sestroryetsk M91s
2	C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT. M91 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R	A variation on the above mark
3	M91 US 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	This mark is found on New England Westinghouse and Remington M91s
4	M91 U.S.A. 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	A variation on the above mark
5	C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT. M91 7.62R FINLAND	This mark is found on VKT, Tikka, and B M91s, and M24s
6	M91 FINLAND 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	A variation on the above mark
7	CAI ST. A. VT M91 7.62R SWITZ	This mark is found on M24s When these were imported it was mistakenly believed that they were made in Switzerland.
8	597051	Besides the marks shown above, the serial number may be stamped on the receiver by Century also. This is not always the case and some rifles with barrel marks will not have the number on the receiver.  In most cases if there is a serial number on the receiver, rather than the barrel, it was placed there by the importer. Civil Guard rifles will sometimes have the "S number" on the receiver which was often used by the Finnish Army, and the importer, as the serial number.
9	242100
10	SAMCO MIA FL M1891 7.62X54R FINLAND	This mark was used by Samco of Miami, Florida
11	1381	Samco imports may or may not have the serial number added to the receiver in one of two types of stamps.
12	46060
13	VALTION KIVAARITEHDAS	Samco also placed this mark on some of the rifles they imported.  It is the complete Finnish name for "VKT" which means "State Firearms Factory".
Model 27
14	CAI ST. ALB. VT M27 7.62R FINLAND	The abbreviations stand for: "Century Arms International St. Albans, VT" This mark is found on Tikka and VKT M27s. M27s are not usually numbered on the receiver.
Model 28
15	MARATHON PROD. INC. WETH, CT. FINLAND	Marathon Products is no longer in business. Marathon imports are not numbered on the receiver.
16	CAI ST ALB. VT     M27 7.62R FINLAND	This M28 is mismarked as an M27 by CAI CAI M27 imports are seldom numbered on the receiver.
Model 28/30
17	MARATHON PROD. INC. WETH, CT.	A variation on the Marathon mark. M28/30s are not usually numbered on the receiver.
18	MARATHON PROD. INC. WETH, CT.	The Marathon mark is sometimes found on the right rear of the receiver.
Model 39
19	CAI ST. A. VT. M39 FINLAND 7.62 X 54R	The abbreviations stand for: "Century Arms International St. Albans, VT" This mark is found on all variations of M39s.
20	M39 FINLAND 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. GEORGIA VT.	This mark was used after Century moved from St. Albans to Georgia, VT. M39s are typically numbered on the receiver.
21	Inter Ordnance Monroe NC Finland 7.62x54R M39	I/O M39 imports are marked on the barrel and numbered on the receiver with a "dot matrix" type mark.
22	70505
Model 91/30
23	C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT. M91/30 RUSSIA 7.62 X 54R	The abbreviations stand for: "Century Arms International St. Albans, VT"
24	M91/30 7.62 X 54R RUSSIA C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	A variation on the above mark
25	M91/30 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	A variation on the above mark
26	M91/30 RUSSIA 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. GEORGIA VT.	This mark was used after Century moved from St. Albans to Georgia, VT.
27	M91/30 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. GEORGIA VT.	A variation on the above mark
28	N84199	Most Century imported M91/30s are numbered on the receiver.
29	VV1220	Later M91/30s with Cyrillic letter prefixes in the serial number have the serial number marked on the receiver with the English versions of the letters.
30	M91/30 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. GEORGIA VT. 9130025496	Century now places the entire import mark on the receiver with a new serial number.  The new number typically begins with the model designation.
31	M91/38 RUSSIA 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	An M91/30 mismarked as an M91/38
32	M91/30 FINLAND 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	The Century mark for Finnish M91/30s.
33	PW REDMO WA	PW Arms of Redmond, Washington uses a small mark on the barrel.
34	TG KNOX TN 91/30 762X54 RUSSIA	Tennessee Guns of Knoxville, TN uses a small "dot matrix" mark on the bottom of the barrel with a new serial number on the receiver.
35	M93550
36	AH5130	In some cases Tennesee Guns places the serial number on the flat of the bolt opening. courtesy of "ThreeJs"
37	COLE DIST S'VILLE KY	Cole Distributing of Scottsville, Kentucky uses a small mark on the barrel.
38	9130     7.62      RUSIA
39	M91/30 RUSSIA 7.62 X 54R G.W.S. SMETHPORT PA	GWS brought in some of the first rearsenaled M91/30s and sold them through Allegheny Arsenal. They are no longer importing Mosin Nagants.
40	S/N 9130-9641 Russia M91/30 7.62x54R Aztec Ocala FL	Aztec International used a small import mark on the receiver with a new serial number that begins with the model designation.
Model 38
41	M38 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	The abbreviations stand for: "Century Arms International St. Albans, VT"
42	M91/38 RUSSIA 7.62X54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	An M38 mismarked as an M91/38.
43	DN 4569	M38s have Cyrillic letter prefixes in the serial number and the serial number is marked on the receiver with the English versions of the letters by Century.
44	M1938 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. GEORGIA VT. M3807907	Century now places the entire import mark on the receiver with a new serial number.  The new number typically begins with the model designation.
45	TG KNOX TN M38 7.62X54 RUSSIA	Tennessee Guns of Knoxville, TN uses a small "dot matrix" mark on the bottom of the barrel with a new serial number on the receiver.
46	S/N 38-2913 Russia M38 7.62x54R Aztec Ocala FL	Aztec International used a small import mark on the receiver with a new serial number that begins with the model designation.
Model 44
47	M44 RUSSIA 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT.	The abbreviations stand for: "Century Arms International St. Albans, VT"
48	C.A.I. GEORGIA VT M44 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R	This mark was used after Century moved from St. Albans to Georgia, VT.
49	OR 5983	Some Century imported  M44s have the English version of the Cyrillic serial number prefixes stamped above the original marks on the barrel. The entire serial number is also stamped on the receiver.
50	CN1931 C.A.I. GEORGIA VT M44 RUSSIAN 762X54R	The translation of the original serial number and the import mark placed entirely on the receiver. courtesy of Michael Coogan
51	TX14                      7.62x54R                      M1944 RUSSIAN C.A.I. GEORGIA VT	The original serial number and the import mark placed entirely on the receiver using a "dot matrix" type stamp. courtesy of "combat32"
52	M44 RUSSIAN 7.62 X 54R C.A.I. GEORGIA VT. M44020461	A new serial number and the import mark on the receiver. The new number typically begins with the model designation.
53	COLE DIST SVILLE KY MADE IN RUSS M44 7.6254R	Cole Distributing of Scottsville, Kentucky marks M44s on the bottom of the bayonet lug.
54	5397	The serial number is sometimes placed inside the receiver by Cole Distributing.
55	KM994 INTER ORDNANCE, MONROE, NC M-44, RUSSIA, 7.62 X 54	Inter Ordnance now places the entire import mark on the receiver along with the original serial number. The serial number uses the English version of any Cyrillic prefixes.
56	S/N 44-3551 Russia M44 7.62x54R Aztec Ocala FL	Aztec International used a small import mark on the receiver with a new serial number that begins with the model designation.
57	PW ARMS REDMOND WA RUSSIAN m44 7.62x54r SER. 002885	PW Arms of Redmond, Washington places the entire import mark on the receiver with a new serial number. courtesy of "alf1960"