1923 Izhevsk Finnish Updated Dragoon
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The M91/30 is one of the most common Mosin Nagants there is and even those that are
upgraded from the earlier Dragoon rifles are plentiful on the US market. However,
this rifle has some subtle differences from the recent imports and even the typical
Finnish modified M91/30s. For appraisals and detailed evaluations of this rifle by Mosin Nagant collectors see
the 1923 Izhevsk Finnish Updated Dragoon page in the Mosin Nagant Appraisals section. For the purpose of the
appraisals the bore is described as counterbored with slightly rounded rifling and some
frosting and the import mark is an older Century mark at the muzzle with the original
serial number duplicated on the receiver. Although the barrel is a 1923 Izhevsk, the rifle is built with an 1895 Sestroryetsk
receiver as evident by the date and arsenal mark on the tang. This was almost
certainly done in the Soviet Union in 1923 as it is well documented that many 1919 to 1923
Izhevsk rifles were built on older receivers that were most likely salvaged from damaged
or worn out rifles from WWI. In 1923 the rifle would have been built in Dragoon
configuration which has the same sights as the M91. The rear sight on this rifle has been upgraded to the M91/30 type which is very common on Dragoons. However, this was typically done in the Soviet Union after WWII. Since this rifle was acquired by Finland as evidenced by the [SA] and 41 marks, most likely by capture during the Winter War, that could not be the case. The sight was upgraded either in the Soviet Union prior to WWII or by Finland. Both of these scenarios are uncommon. Further evidence of either early Soviet or Finnish work is the lack of pins holding the rear sight base to the barrel. This was adopted in the Soviet Union around 1943 and all subsequent upgrades used them. The bolt is matching but was most likely stamped by the Finns. The floorplate is lined out with no new number stamped and is also typical for Finnish rifles. The buttplate has a post 1938 Soviet serial number and could be original to the butt of the stock. This was spliced to a new Finn made fore end using the earlier rounded dovetail pattern. The older rear half of the stock shows evidence of hard use with many small dents and scrapes. The fore end shows less use as does the Finnish made handguard. The front sight is the Finnish "stacked blade" using a spacer to raise an M91 type sight to the correct height for the M91/30 rear sight.
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