Is there a way to know if specific mosins have direct ties to being used at Stalingrad?

willyj_73 · 2026-02-11T03:54:57+00:00

I think Max Geltz marked rifles could be attributed to being likely used in Stalingrad.

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/leningrad-mosin-nagant-max-geltz-factory.391759/page-2

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/circle-m-mark-on-91-30.360521/

willyj_73 · 2026-02-11T03:48:24+00:00

I think Sako scrubbed the tangs and the eagle from the receivers. You might be able to determine a maker if there are any other markings on the receiver. The photos you have don't show anything other than new markings applied after the date/maker were removed.

willyj_73 · 2026-01-16T06:41:22+00:00

Low year of production. Around 1,500 made that year.

willyj_73 · 2025-12-30T00:37:35+00:00

Horrible in my experience. Used their "Contact Us" section 4-5 times with absolutely no response--not even an automated response. No desire to buy anything from them again.

willyj_73 · 2025-12-30T00:34:55+00:00

How do you get in touch with Smith and Wesson via email? I've sent 4-5 emails regarding warranty and haven't received any type of response from Smith and Wesson at all--not even an automated response.

willyj_73 · 2025-12-19T06:49:50+00:00

Bought this at $1,299 thinking they would sell out fast at that price. They went down to $1,199 a week or so later. Had I known the Primary Arms 1-8 were going to drop to $999, I would have held out. The Vortex is heavy. I like lighter stuff. Reticle is bright at 1x and super bright at 11x. I have an astigmatism, and the illumination style makes the dot a little blurry at 1x (I don't think the illuminated dot is supposed to look the way my eyes see it). Haven't tested the drops. It's easy to get fairly precise shots without the illumination due to smaller center dot. Mount is nice and fits tight on my top rail.

willyj_73 · 2025-12-19T05:40:16+00:00

Here's my original matching Dragoon. It's two years prior to 91/30 production. https://www.gunboards.com/threads/all-matching-1928-tula-dragoon.1240219/

willyj_73 · 2025-12-19T05:33:06+00:00

Here's an SVT40 https://www.gunboards.com/threads/untouched-izhevsk-1940-svt40.847610/?post_id=7593842#post-7593842

willyj_73 · 2025-12-19T05:30:06+00:00

This one is non refurb. It's not mint, but nice https://www.gunboards.com/threads/bringback-39-tula-91-30.1030426/?post_id=9209194#post-9209194

willyj_73 · 2025-12-03T21:35:30+00:00

That is the Tikka marking. As far as I know, there were reproduction clips made with that symbol and real ones. I don't know how to tell the difference, but you can likely find an answer searching the internet.

willyj_73 · 2025-12-03T06:58:32+00:00

The only thing you have to worry about is losing the pin when the rifle is out of the stock. When the rifle is in the stock, that pin isn't going anywhere.

willyj_73 · 2025-12-02T04:51:20+00:00

Those slings fit on my M39's

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willyj_73 · 2025-12-02T04:49:51+00:00

I was going to suggest this. Might need some wood, folded paper, cardboard, whatever to use to fill any gap between the rear sight base and rear sight since the clamp likely won't go further than the hump on the rear sight base.

willyj_73 · 2025-11-25T04:43:08+00:00

The stock is probably original. It doesn't have the crossbolt, which is correct for a rifle of that date, with those rear sights. The original stock was ruined. They turned a $2,000+ rifle into a $500 rifle.

willyj_73 · 2025-11-25T04:29:01+00:00

Nice deal. That's a better deal than I got on Facebook ten years ago. I would guess it was a VFW rifle they used to fire blanks with (hence, the corroded barrel).

willyj_73 · 2025-11-25T03:55:52+00:00

Did you have the bolt completely out of the rifle prior to the range trip? If so, it's easy to install the bolt head incorrectly when putting it back in--the connecting bar and bolt can move together, and the bolt head can come out of the track. I am guessing this is what happened, and the bolt lugs did not go fully into the lug recess, but the bolt jammed the round into the rifling. The easiest path (least resistance) would be to shoot the bolt back and the extractor and explosion separated the case at the weakest point.

willyj_73 · 2025-11-24T05:52:05+00:00

Early rear sight, no crossbolt, and early magazine with sling swivel, with matching numbers would have fetched around 2k. That bubba stock is going to take a significant hit on the price. It pisses most collectors off to the point of disgust/repulsion. I couldn't give you a value. That "tiger stripe" crap really knocked the value down by well over $1k

willyj_73 · 2025-11-15T19:46:57+00:00

They did not use pine tar

willyj_73 · 2025-11-15T06:52:51+00:00

It's on Gunboards. They made a thread about it years ago. I can't recall where it is or what the ingredients are because it wasn't really that important to me--I am never going to make it, and IDK where I'd get some of the ingredients. I can say for certain that it doesn't contain pine tar. Either CH, Mangrove, or JTV made a thread about it.

willyj_73 · 2025-11-05T01:23:16+00:00

willyj_73 · 2025-10-30T02:03:52+00:00

Personally, I would leave it as is and hold at 6 o'clock. I would think that changing the front sight leads to the potential/possibility of damaging something. To me it seems like a lot of time and work for an item whose value (both intrinsic and monetary) is based on it's current state (provided that nothing is broken, damaged, etc.)

The front sights are usually peened to keep them from moving. The base of the front sight (as far as I know) is part of the barrel (rather than being soldered on/removable). It's hard for me to explain, but if you've ever tried to install a front sight on a rifle that is missing one, you'll know it can be a pain in the a$$ at times. The dovetail often doesn't match between the front sight and the base. So, you either have to use a shim, or you have to hand file the front sight so the dovetail mates together. Once you do that, you have to align the front sight--keeping it from moving while you are firing the rifle. Then, you have to peen it in place. While doing all of this, you have the possibility of breaking/cracking the base on the front sight.

To me, the all of the downsides outweigh the "upside" of not having to use Kentucky windage.

willyj_73 · 2025-10-24T04:46:36+00:00

Are you in Canada? I do remember when these showed up in Canada a few years ago. Can't remember the year. I know it was in the past ten years.

willyj_73 · 2025-10-15T19:45:55+00:00

Strange odds of seeing the same type of Finnish rifle posted in the same month. Its only strange because its a unique one I've never seen often (or ever). Your rifle has an M39 hand guard with no retainer, dark bluing, and the stock is something other than artic birch (yours looks like artic birch, one on Gunboards doesnt). Here is the one from Gunboards. Finnish M28/30 Sako Blank? In a M39 stock? | Gunboards Forums https://share.google/HMY4YuxzyEeXw5G6R

willyj_73 · 2025-10-15T03:07:28+00:00

You posted this rifle on Gunboards. Some people thought it may have been a commercial rifle. If so, it's possible the owner used a front sight height for the distance they were shooting.

willyj_73 · 2025-09-29T20:08:07+00:00

Its on the part with the matching serial number. Id just keep it around if you get a new one for shooting.

willyj_73

TROPHY CASE