Finnish AV1 M/39 Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R Bolt Action Rifle C&R 1970
SOLD FOR: $780
WOA#: WY240120RR001
Make: AV1 (Arsenal 1)
Model: M/39
Serial Number: 305991
Year of Manufacture: 1970
Caliber: 7.62x54R
Action Type: Bolt action, internal 5 round magazine
Markings: The top of the receiver is marked “305991”. The left side of the barrel shank is marked “3600”. The top of the barrel shank is marked “305991” and “1970”. The bolt knob is marked “5991”. The underside of the magazine floor plate is marked “8014”. The underside of the stock is marked “1”. The top of the barrel is marked with an import mark. There are small proof and acceptance marks scattered throughout.
Barrel Length: 27”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is an adjustable bladed post set between two protective wings. The rear sight is a u-notch blade attached to a sliding escalator assembly. It is a u-notch sliding sight ladder assembly when flipped up. The rear sight sits between protective wings when down.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The wood stock has a semi-pistol grip, finger grooves, hinged nose cap with bayonet lug, hole for the included cleaning rod, barrel band with two sling loops, through bolt, underside sling loop, and a metal buttplate. The distinctive Finnish finger splices on the underside of the stock are present. The buttplate has a few larger areas of pitting. There are light compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. The toe of the buttstock has two slotted repairs. The LOP measures 13.6” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition as arsenal refurbished.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original to arsenal refurbishment.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 9.5 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its arsenal refinish. There are light scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There is light pitting on the sides of the magazine and the underside of the magazine floor plate beneath the newer finish. There is dried cosmoline along the front slides of the rear sight base and the upper handguard collar. The rear sight slide has turned a plum hue. The action and bolt show light operational wear. The screw heads show light use. The markings are crisp. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition as arsenal refurbished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a leather sling.
Our Assessment: The Finnish M/39 was one of the final iterations on the Mosin-Nagant to see widespread use as a front-line rifle. They were produced by SAKO and VKT following the Winter War and saw extensive service during the Continuation War. The M/39 was based on the beloved M/28-30, with improvements such as a heavier barrel, a semi-pistol grip carved into the stock, a more precise rear sight, and a bolt modified for smoother operation. The M/39 would gain a reputation for being a highly accurate and reliable rifle. This example was made by AV1 in 1970. Long after the war, a few thousand M/39 rifles were built with leftover parts. The stock has some light wear, as well as repairs to the buttstock. It features the distinctive semi-pistol grip and underside finger splices. The metal retains nearly all of its finish and there are areas of pitting that were present prior to the rifle being arsenal refurbished. The markings are clear. The bore is in very good shape and looks to have been lightly shot. This is a really nice example of the more scarce post-war production M/39 rifles. It would fit into any Finnish or Mosin collection. Please see our photos.
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