Excerpt from this Guide:
A Brief history of the
Mosin-Nagant Rifle
1891: Russian Sergei Mosin and Belgian Leon Nagant’s
initial production of the Model 1891 at the factories in Izhevsk,
Tula, and Sestroryetsk. Throughout WWI contracts were issued to
Westinghouse and Remington for over 3 million M91s. During the
Russian revolution these contracts were cancelled and rifles were
sold to U.S. civilians.
1925 ~ 1927 The
Finnish Civil Guard produced a M24 which is very similar to the
Russian M91. The M27 and improved M28 were adopted with a 27” heavy
barrel and were produced from 1927 ~ 1940. M28/30 & M39’s followed
with improvements in the barrel bands and pistol grip type stocks.
These rifles are very accurate and desired by all Mosin Nagant
collectors.
1930:
Introduction of the M91/30 with updates on the front sights, barrel
bands and round receiver.
1938 ~ 1945 The
M38 was adopted as a 40” carbine and was built at Izhevsk until 1945
and did not have a bayonet attached.
1942: The PU
version of the M91/30 was adopted with a side rail scope mount.
By the end of WWII, approximately
17,475,000 Model 91/20’s were produced.
1943~1948: M44
carbine was adopted and incorporated a side-folding bayonet.
1950’s: M44’s
are manufactured in Poland, Hungary, Romania, and China. These were
designated as Type 53. Hungary and Romania also produced a limited
number of M91/30s. Czechoslovakia shortened M91s and these are
designated as M91/38s. They are recognizable by the early dates and
hexagonal receivers. M91/30s were also cut down, probably by the
Soviet Union and are known as M91/59s.
