[jleiper]

Looks like I am going to have to be the one to rain on the parade.

According to my references, Sestroyetsk didn't begin making the M1891 rifles until 1892. Production ran from 1892 to 1918. That would place the tang somewhere between 1910 and 1918.

First what are your references?
Second according to most references, Tula and Izhevsk didn't make rifles until 1892 either and some even say they used tooling from Chatellerault! I have personally had 91 dated Tula and Izhesk rifles in my hands. Your references are most likely wrong.
Joe

 

[jleiper]

Ted will probably change his production dates when he sees this receiver. Lapin has too many mistakes to be reliable for anything, and he hasn't corrected them in his later editions.
When you physically see a rifle that changes the production date range, you have to accept it over some one's opinion. A good example is the Nagant revolver, production didn't start until 1899 according to almost every sounce. How do you explain the 1898 dated cutaway in the Tula Museum and examples of deactivated revolvers in Russia with 1898 dates and serial numbers in the 14XXX range?
If the rifle was from the range of 1910 to 18 it would have a 910 to 918 tang date and the arrow would be offset to the side, not centered.
Joe

 

[jleiper]

I'm just tired of people quoting sources that defy what is in front of our eyes. Ted, at least has always been willing to update the data on his site. He still has some errors, but they don't seem to be permanent like your other source. I believe that it is a Sestroretsk 1891. I've always wondered why that factory would lag behind the others.
Joe