Welded Breach in Finnish Mosin

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fireman 9731

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I have the chance to acquire a Finnish Mosin for a song. It seems to all be intact with the exception that the breech has been welded up and the bolt head cut/ground down at about a 30 degree angle.

I would like to have one just for its history even if it isn't operable. How hard would it be to ream out the chamber and swap out a bolt head to bring the ol war horse back in action?
 
If that chamber area was welded up, then the heat treating of the metal was compromised. That rifle will never be safe to shoot.
 
It would cost more in gunsmithing labour than the a fully operational Mosin would cost. They ruined it and there's no simple way of bringing it back. If it could even be brought back at all.

If they ONLY welded the chamber you could possibly source a new barrel and just have that screwed into the receiver. Mind you then you'd need a bolt that provides the proper head space with that barrel. Or pay to have it set back as required to fit whatever bolt you might find for it and ease out the chamber again. And with all that as a possible work list you're back up to the cost of a functional rifle just bought from a store or individual.

So unless you get it for free and simply hang it over your fire place I'd say walk on and see what's around the corner.
 
You found a wallhanger. Nothing more. There is nothing wrong with a wallhanger though as long as it is totally inoperable. In that condition I might go ahead and epoxy the bore to further render it inoperable to prevent folks from doing what you are considering. I would also remove the firing pin and tig weld the firing pin hole closed. If you want a shooter then you have (maybe) a stock, trigger mech, reciever, and sights. Now hang the war horse over the door and send us pictures.
 
Yes, I guess it will be a wall hanger. It seems to be entirely correct and complete except for the bolt head and breech. I have several others Mosins but no Finns. I have always wanted one and this one has been offered to me for $50. Seems like a good deal to me. I figure it worth more than that in parts. I wont part it out though. It was supposedly a Vietnam bring-back. Whats the chances of a Finn making it around the world to Vietnam and then back to America?
 
Yes, I guess it will be a wall hanger. It seems to be entirely correct and complete except for the bolt head and breech. I have several others Mosins but no Finns. I have always wanted one and this one has been offered to me for $50. Seems like a good deal to me. I figure it worth more than that in parts. I wont part it out though. It was supposedly a Vietnam bring-back. Whats the chances of a Finn making it around the world to Vietnam and then back to America?
Pics and markings info...it may still be worth it...
 
Its a Finnish M-91. 1941 dated VKT. Unfortunately it also had a hole drilled in the barrel. Seems to of been de-milled, possibly so it could be brought back from Vietnam? I have no other story than just what the person said. I will try to get some pictures up soon and maybe start a new thread.

It really is a shame it was de-milled. The bore appeared to be in very good shape and the trigger was fantastic.
 
Dunno about Vietnam, but it could have passed through the UK collector's market at one point. They have strict laws about demilling weapons.
 
Bud of mine bought a CMP training rifle. The receiver was a like new M1903A3, I got to examine it. I could not see where the tack weld had been, it looked new. Bud rebarreled it and found the head space grew as he fired. He put in a bigger bolt, head space continued to grow. He removed the barrel before the case head ruptured.

There are many different welding processes, but the simplest is a torch in one hand and weld rod in the other. My bud's receiver had been heated to the point that the receiver was annealed soft.

If someone welded the thing, it may have been unsafe before, but now, I would not trust the thing.
 
I believe it was MIG welded. I can still see the wire sticking out of it. I don't have any plans of trying to undo whats been done now that I know there is an extra hole in the barrel.
 
It's your coin of course. But I think I'd just let this one pass and continue the quest for a fully functional Finnish Mosin. Well, unless the stock is in particularly nice condition. That and the sights might make it worth the $50 as a possible parts swap if the one you find down the road has been gnawed on at some point.
 
I don't have any plans of trying to undo whats been done now that I know there is an extra hole in the barrel
You couldn't anyway.

It would be nearly impossible to get a chamber reamer to cut smoothly in that welded mess, even if you could drill it out to get a reamer in it.

rc
 
It's worth more than $50 in parts alone, especially if it has an intact stock and handguard. Plus, depending on how the trigger is mounted you might be able to swap it onto another Mosin.
 
It would cost more in gunsmithing labour than the a fully operational Mosin would cost. They ruined it and there's no simple way of bringing it back. If it could even be brought back at all.

If they ONLY welded the chamber you could possibly source a new barrel and just have that screwed into the receiver. Mind you then you'd need a bolt that provides the proper head space with that barrel. Or pay to have it set back as required to fit whatever bolt you might find for it and ease out the chamber again. And with all that as a possible work list you're back up to the cost of a functional rifle just bought from a store or individual.

So unless you get it for free and simply hang it over your fire place I'd say walk on and see what's around the corner.
All MN rifles have a two piece bolt, only the bolt head would need replaced and head spaced. That aside, no way would I try to resurrect it.
 
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