[Cpt Nagant]

I was just at Cabelas because they were having a sale of Mosin Nagant 91/30s for $100 so I thought I check it out. When I got there they had 4 of them all made in 1942 and when I picked them up and looked at them I noticed some small details. Like the bolt was smaller and some of the other parts on the gun was smaller and I was wondering why? I have a 91/30 made in 1941 and the blot is huge compared these ones. Did they make them smaller because of cost or what?

 

[mauser655]

I am aware of some minor changes in some of the parts but not in the way you are describing. Bolts are interchangable amongst all rifles so would all have to be the same size with the same parts and dimensions. As I said, I have seen some minor changes in more recent rifles and in refurbs. Minor differences in bolt handles, stock retainer springs, butt plate etc. You'd have to post some pictures so we can see what you mean. I have Mosin's from a variety of years and I am not aware of any major differences in the rifles parts.

 

[Cpt Nagant]

I did't have my phone on me to take pictures. But if you have a Mosin Nagant 91/30 made in 1941 and 1 made in 1942 do you see some changes?

 

[bch7773]

I did have my phone on me to take pictures. But if you have a Mosin Nagant 91/30 made in 1941 and 1 made in 1942 do you see some changes?

no big changes. especially not to the bolt.

 

[Cpt Nagant]

whoops type-o. Did they do that because of cost or what?

 

[assaultrecon28]

I know what you mean, the bolt on my "43 tula looks alot bigger that my "36 tula

 

[ij70]

I was just at Cabelas because they were having a sale of Mosin Nagant 91/30s for $100 so I thought I check it out. When I got there they had 4 of them all made in 1942 and when I picked them up and looked at them I noticed some small details. Like the bolt was smaller and some of the other parts on the gun was smaller and I was wondering why? I have a 91/30 made in 1941 and the blot is huge compared these ones. Did they make them smaller because of cost or what?

It is true.
View attachment 323641

 

[daveccarlson]

Do you mean the cocking knob at the rear of the bolt? The early type had a larger diameter disc, relieved at the bottom, while a later type had a smaller diameter, and was knurled all around the surface. It is a minor change.

 

[Handsome Devil]

M91/30s are not my usual interest, but it would stand to reason that some changes might of been made, partially because of wartime material shortages as well as late stage production modifications. But as already stated the interchangeability had to remain so any changes would be minor. After so many years and millions of rifles produced they wouldn't want to loose the interchangability of this series of rifles. An interesting topic
just the same. For me any mfg changes in production are interesting.

Cannot contribute to the later 91/30 questions, but the only difference I have seen in older bolts is some have a much larger knob on the bolt body/cocking handle {for lack of better words}. Some have a stepped shaft near the base of bolt body. Some appear to have a center point hole in the bolt knob {like it may have been centered in some sort of fixture or possibly a lathe?}. Bolts from the more early rifles which are usually mismatched and from various mfg are a study in themselves. Interesting. Cheers, John.