[Ron W]

Several people here have reported seeing a "GR" in Cyrillic stamped on some Mosins, M44s I think. I had asked my father-in-law about it. He was in the Soviet military. Today after Thanksgiving Lunch he said he remembered what it was. He says it stands for "Governmental Reserve." He saw this mark on machineguns and other equipment for reserve troops. He was in the military in the mid '70s.

 

[v i t]

Several people here have reported seeing a "GR" in Cyrillic stamped on some Mosins, M44s I think. I had asked my father-in-law about it. He was in the Soviet military. Today after Thanksgiving Lunch he said he remembered what it was. He says it stands for "Governmental Reserve." He saw this mark on machineguns and other equipment for reserve troops. He was in the military in the mid '70s.

Sounds very plausible. Gosudarstvenyi Reserv

 

[7.62x54r]

Row 7 here for those interested in a picture. http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinMarks04.htm

I've seen it on a lot of M44s in the recent imports.

 

[craig61a]

'rp' marking

I asked about these sometime ago in the forum and nobody had any idea, other than there were lots of similiarly stamped rifles coming in at the time (about 4-5 years ago). Nice to have a fairly reliable suggestion as to what it means. Here's a photo of one I've got.

 

[Nick]

Maybe, maybe not.

First: gosudarstveniy rezerv = state reserve, not governmental. Government = pravitel'stvo

State reserve - as opposed to private reserve? What other reserve could it be but state in the USSR?

 

[ij70]

Maybe, maybe not.

First: gosudarstveniy rezerv = state reserve, not governmental. Government = pravitel'stvo

State reserve - as opposed to private reserve? What other reserve could it be but state in the USSR?

You are right Nick. Gosudarstvenniy (State) makes more sense then the original suggestion. Also, I think that is what Ron's father-in-law meant.

I am reminded of State Gold Reserve and State Diamond Fund, I think I got them right, from the days of USSR.

Ron, this is really good theory, I really like it, but I suggest caution.

 

[rocker98]

Hmmm....interesting!

I notice that the two pictured on Ted's site, and the one I have, are refurbished, and dated 1944. The one pictured above, refurbished and dated 1947.

I am wondering what would have been the criteria in order to become a reserve weapon, and when.

 

[ij70]

Hmmm....interesting!

I notice that the two pictured on Ted's site, and the one I have, are refurbished, and dated 1944. The one pictured above, refurbished and dated 1947.

I am wondering what would have been the criteria in order to become a reserve weapon, and when.

I have seen it before and I think I own one or two. I don't think there was any system in picking, just a simple transfer of inventory from, for example, an army storage for active units to storage for reserve units.

 

[LVSteve]

Ron, maybe your father-in-law knows what some of the other odd marks mean. "Triangle 25" is one that springs to mind immediately.

 

[Poot]

Several people here have reported seeing a "GR" in Cyrillic stamped on some Mosins, M44s I think. I had asked my father-in-law about it. He was in the Soviet military. Today after Thanksgiving Lunch he said he remembered what it was. He says it stands for "Governmental Reserve." He saw this mark on machineguns and other equipment for reserve troops. He was in the military in the mid '70s.

Do you mind asking him what the 'PM' marks on M91s and 91/30s (until the late '30s) means?

 

[cbanker101]

Row 7 here for those interested in a picture. http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinMarks04.htm

I've seen it on a lot of M44s in the recent imports.

the "rp" or "kp"?

 

[rocker98]

"rp" or crylic GP.

 

[cbanker101]

"rp" or crylic GP.

cool. My 1943 M44 has that mark.

 

[Ron W]

cool. My 1943 M44 has that mark.

Mine is a 1944 Izhevsk.

 

[ij70]

I would think that proper way to use English letters would be: GR. Russian letters would be: rp.

 

[OldIronMan]

Done by a Russian Guns & Roses fan, perhaps?

 

[rocker98]

I would think that proper way to use English letters would be: GR. Russian letters would be: rp.

You are correct. Said that back arse wards didn't I

 

[rocker98]

I have seen it before and I think I own one or two. I don't think there was any system in picking, just a simple transfer of inventory from, for example, an army storage for active units to storage for reserve units.

Actually, what I meant by "why and when" was more when, I guess. When did this mark start being used, and why did they start marking then. Since these have only been seen "so far" on M44's is what makes me ask. Surely, there must have been other weapons in reserve at the time, or was there? If the M44's were reserve, (so far 1943 - 1947, anyone have a 1948?) did they have better condition M44's, SKS's, AK-47's? Is this a Soviet mark? A satellite states mark?

Maybe I'm thinking to much...

 

[ij70]

Actually, what I meant by "why and when" was more when, I guess. When did this mark start being used, and why did they start marking then. Since these have only been seen "so far" on M44's is what makes me ask. Surely, there must have been other weapons in reserve at the time, or was there? If the M44's were reserve, (so far 1943 - 1947, anyone have a 1948?) did they have better condition M44's, SKS's, AK-47's? Is this a Soviet mark? A satellite states mark?

Maybe I'm thinking to much...

One thing is for sure, it is Soviet mark since Ukraine, back then, was part of Soviet Union and did not have its own armed force, regular or reserve.

When is a good question. We know that SKS was still in inventory of regular units (not reserve) in the 80s (Air Force in this case). My personal guess is that AKM were manufactured in mass in the 60's. Then we have conversion to AK-74M in the 70's. So, I would guess that mosins were move to reserve status in the 70's, by that time Soviets had AKM, SKS was on the way out and AK-74M was on the way in. That also coincides with dates in the packing lists found in the crates of mosins.

 

[rocker98]

One thing is for sure, it is Soviet mark since Ukraine, back then, was part of Soviet Union and did not have its own armed force, regular or reserve.

When is a good question. We know that SKS was still in inventory of regular units (not reserve) in the 80s (Air Force in this case). My personal guess is that AKM were manufactured in mass in the 60's. Then we have conversion to AK-74M in the 70's. So, I would guess that mosins were move to reserve status in the 70's, by that time Soviets had AKM, SKS was on the way out and AK-74M was on the way in. That also coincides with dates in the packing lists found in the crates of mosins.

Exactly my point. If Mosins were moved to reserve in the 70's, why don't we see this mark on all models? Why just the M44 (so far)?

Watch, tomorrow I'll go to Big 5 and there will be "rp" marked 91/30's and M38's.