Finnish M/28 SIG Ski Trooper Mosin Nagant 7.62x53R Bolt Action Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $914
WOA#: WY240126MC007
Make: SIG (Barrel make)
Model: M/28 Ski-Trooper
Serial Number: 9904
Year of Manufacture: 1928
Caliber: 7.62x53R
Action Type: Bolt action, internal 5 round magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel shank is marked with a boxed “SA” stamp an “E” with arrows mark, “o”, and “9904”. The top of the barrel shank is marked “SY”. The left side of the barrel shank is marked with a “KE” stamp, and “S99805”. The bolt body is marked “112198”. The bolt knob is marked “o” and “11”. The bottom of the magazine floor plate is marked “5745”. The front of the trigger guard assembly is marked with a pre-1928 Izhevsk Arsenal mark. The buttplate is marked “04” and “156141”. There is an import mark on the right side of the barrel. There are minor proof marks scattered throughout. The left ricasso of the bayonet is marked “Hackman & Co”. The right side of the handguard is marked with a “KE” mark. The top of the tang is marked “68672”. The underside is marked with an “S” and “63303” crossed out.
Barrel Length: 27”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to a base with two protective ears. The rear sight is a windage adjustable v-notch sight escalator in the down position. When flipped up it is a sight ladder that uses a sliding v-notch blade.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two-piece wood stock features a straight grip, nose cap with bayonet lug, slot in the forend for the included cleaning rod, barrel band, sling eyelet in the forend, finger grooves, through bolt, two sling eyelets in the buttstock, and a metal buttplate. The buttplate has pitting and wear along the edges. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. There is a chunk of wood missing from the toe of the buttstock. There is a chunk of wood missing from the right side of the forestock, behind the barrel band. There are a few thin cracks at the rear of the upper handguard and one at the front. The upper handguard is loose. There are a few more defined compression marks on the left side of the stock. There is wear along the edges of the cleaning rod channel. The LOP measures 13.5” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original to arsenal refurbishment
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is defined. There is moderate to heavy erosion in the bore.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 4 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 70% of its metal finish as arsenal refurbished. There are scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. The finish on the barrel shank is thinning. There are a couple impact marks on the left rear side of the receiver. There is pitting and areas of surface rust on the magazine. There is pitting on the bolt body. The barrel band has impact marks and spots of surface rust. The nose cap is missing the front interior piece, which is causing it to be loose. The bolt and action show usage wear. The screw heads show moderate to heavy use. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about 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 an M/28 bayonet and an “SA” marked canvas sling.
Our Assessment: The M/28 was the Finnish Civil Guard’s response to the need to develop a new rifle to replace the M/91 pattern rifles in their inventory. Like the Finnish Army’s M/27, the M/28 featured a shorter, heavier barrel and a windage adjustable sighting system. For the barrels, the Civil Guard decided to enter into a contract with SIG in Switzerland rather than a domestic supplier. Though they would later have Tikka manufacture barrels as well. While it was quickly supplanted by the updated M/28-30 design, the M/28 would see service throughout the Winter and Continuation Wars.
This example is from near the end of the first SIG barrel contract, which puts the production date at the start of 1928. The stock is what is known as a “Ski-Trooper” because of the two sling eyelets in the buttstock which allow for the rifle to be slung across the front of a soldier while on skis. There are a few cracks in the upper handguard, which is loose because the nose cap is missing a piece. The metal retains most of its refurbished finish, though there are areas of surface rust and pitting present. The bore is in rough shape with quite a bit of erosion and fouling present, but with some time and effort it may turn into an adequate shooter after a deep cleaning. The markings are mostly clear with the Civil Guard district number that the rifle was assigned to on the barrel shank. The rifle comes with an M/28 bayonet and a Finnish Army (“SA”) marked canvas sling. This would fit into any Finnish, Mosin, or Second World War era collection.
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