1926 Tikka M39

A significant number of M39 barrels were originally manufactured in M91 length and subsequently cut down and reworked to M39 configuration. In the case of the B barrels this was done before they were ever built into rifles. With Tikka and some VKT M39s, completed M91 rifles were reworked to M39 configuration. The 1940s dated Tikka M39s are uncommon but well known among Mosin Nagant collectors. Even more rare and seldom encountered is a 1920s dated Tikka M39 as seen here. This rifle is serial number 686 with a "C" (.3087") size bore.¹ It has the early Tikka logo on the barrel and the later "D" mark indicating that the chamber throat was enlarged to safely accept the Finnish D166 cartridge with it's larger ogive bullet. The receiver bears the "crossed cannons" acceptance mark and a large stylized "AV1" indicating Arms Depot 1. The date is found on the underside of the barrel which is typical of the earliest Tikka M91 production. Later in 1926 the date was moved to the top of the barrel. Below the date is a tracking or assembly number used during production before the final serial number was assigned.

A corresponding tracking/assembly number is found on the front of the receiver's recoil lug. The receiver itself is 1895 Tula production making this rifle an antique under US firearms law.

Here the slender M91 barrel is seen under the rear sight base. Early dedicated M39 barrel production from 1940/41 has a secondary shank in this area but later production reverted to this pattern. For more information see the Mosin Nagant Rifle Barrel Contours page.

1 The Finnish M91 Rifle from Mosin Nagant Dot Net (return to text)

Thank you to "Tuco" of Gunboards.com for the opportunity to acquire this rifle.

Return to Mosin Nagant Virtual Museum