… and the bolt has matching serial

 

That one looks good, and supports the position that these were mostly Civil Guard rifles. You should have it researched by Mangrove. Didn’t part of the machinery and facilities of this business entity become SAKO a year or so later?

 

You should have it researched by Mangrove

Already did. Research data covers years 1923 to 1936.

 

According to Mangrove, S numbers on metal started to appear in 1924 which is close enough. Since the rifle was kept in service for many years a district master armorer probably stamped them during some inspection, sooner or later. The S numbers on stock were introduced in early 1921 but I'm not sure when they were phased out. Perhaps at the same time when they started to appear on metal? Needless to say that the districts didn't necessarily follow the SY orders by the book! Even the later Lotta period was pretty chaotic and rifles were assembled not only by Suojeluskuntain Asepaja but certain district workshops as well.

The wire hangers were introduced by the SA some time in the 1920s and they are already shown in "Kivääri 91, rakenne, hoito ja käsittely", published in 1926. The Civil Guard sticked with leather dog collars until the m/39 came out. Other than that, I cannot see any additions/replacements that couldn't have been there by 1923 already.

Now I can see that front sight post is actually Finnish but that's OK, CG target shooters started using them in 1921 or so, According to Hersalo.

 

For what it's worth, I have this Civil Guard m/91 with stock S number S60124 which is fairly close to your gun. Not necessarily from the same exact Civil Guard but still from Viipuri district. The same master armorer(s) probably worked both of these guns.

This rifle is a plain jane Westinghouse with factory matching bolt and buttplate. The stock could be original for this gun. The magazine is unnumbered but it seems Westinghouse. Interestingly, there is also S63619 stamped to the left front side of the receiver and left side of the bolt body flat, similarly as in your gun. I believe Mangrove said back in the day that the guardsman had possibly moved to another CG later and therefore the S number got updated. What I find interesting is that the older stock S number wasn't devalidated! Maybe there is some later SY order somewhere in the archives calling Civil Guards simply to ignore these old stock numbers?

 

Fine Finn M91.
Thanks for posting!

 

Cool thanks for sharing, learned of another rare mosin I have to keep a eye out for lol

 

Whats teh highest SAT number ever observed so far?
I handled #240, a 6,5x55 Matchbarrel in an Mauser target rifle.

 

Looks original to me @SilverVeteran - only possible later additions are the wire hangers (likely mid-1920s) and wartime ersatz sling (sometime after 1940). Of course these are only accessories and could have been added as part of the rifle's service, they do not detract in any way from the originality of the rifle itself. I think the most impressive thing is the bolt, which is likely original matching to the rifle based on the font. The stock could very well be original, based on the fact that it is a recycled Russian example (the Finns were not making stocks yet at this point) - might be worth taking it apart and seeing if the date is impressed on the wood underneath the receiver tang. Not necessarily a guarantee of originality, but if the date does not match the receiver then that would be opposite.

Incredible rifle, thanks for posting.

 

As always stunning rifle @SilverVeteran! The history of them is an extremely interesting point in Finnish firearm history and why it’s my most desired (non-scoped) Finnish Mosin. Your example is a really stunning one! As mentioned by other members the only thing I see that was added later on was the wire hangers.

 

Thanks all,

At this point I have to make a little confession. When I received the rifle it only had the rear wire hanger in place. I thought it should have both wire hangers, so I added it 🤦‍♂️ Sling is of course war time replacement sling and I need to replace it with proper one.
So I take away both wire hangers and attach proper sling with dog collars. Got it

 

Can you provide a closer-up of the S number seen on left side of the bolt flat?

 

Okay, I replaced the sling to leather SY 1924 marked which should do just fine (have to admit I personally liked the wire hangers more than these dog collars).
@Airbornetrooper now I learned something totally new… there indeed is same 99r impressed on the wood as in receiver tang. It is much better visible with naked eye than in a photo.
@CH Here is a photo of the bolt flat, crossed CG number is S 59946.

 

@CH Here is a photo of the bolt flat, crossed CG number is S 59946.


View attachment 4381991

Thanks, seeing it better now. It might be worthwhile to further check from the archives which rifle used to carry this S number and if the rifle perhaps got decommissioned some time during its service in the Civil Guard. That number is also within Viipuri district S number range by the way.

 

An amazing Rifle Sir!!

 

Amazing gun! It looks all original but nobody has experience with many of these, so impossible to prove one way or other. Certainly early features present. Interesting that there is no meter renumber.

I disagree with the assertion that most went to the CG - the numbers don't show that. Only about 1/3 do.