1898 M91

[Vity]

I got very interesting rifle today, it was made in1898. It is missing cleaning rod, some parts were replaced. Other than that it's very nice. I couldn't find any import marks. I paid $530 for it, not sure if I overpaid. It has really strange 'C' mark not sure what it is. Also, I'm not sure if hand guard bands are correct type for this rifle . Can somebody help to identify? Thank you in advance.

[SA1911a1]

That is a nice rifle and I don't believe that you overpaid. The "C" is attributed to being a Serbian property mark and the defacement of the Imperial markings is also consistent with past Serbian ownership. (if you wrote "Serbia" in Serbian Cyrillic, it starts with a C.) The marking adds to the history of the piece as far as I am concerned. There was a time, a few years ago, that Serbian Mosins got the stink eye from collectors, but I think that that has passed.

[Vity]

Thank you!

[willyj73]

Looks like a Romanian import.

[Vity]

You mean, import from Romania?

[steelbuttplate]

The barrel bands look correct, be very careful with the screws in those, they don't work like regular screws and break easily. Does the stock have a cross bolt ?

[Vity]

Yes,it has cross bolt.

[Vity]

Front band is missing back pin. The screw is there, but back pin is missing. Back band assembly is complete.

[Junk Yard Dog]

You mean, import from Romania?

Yes, many of these rifles had a long journey that ended in communist Romania sent there as military aid in the early days of the Cold War. Check the stock for tiny Bulgarian pinecone stamps that often turn up on these. Being 1898 it's technically not a firearm to the BATFE and may have escaped the import mark, such marks could be very tine when these were imported over 30 years ago. 1899 and up would be a firearm under GCA68. Nice rifle.

[Vity]

I was able only two tiny marks: one on the bad stock and another next to crossbolt. Boss of them hard to read. I attached some pics of them.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Does look like a pinecone stamp. Russian aid to Serbia after 1914 possible,or captured from Russians during same war, reissued by the Bulgarians during the Great War, then sent to Romania during the Cold War. Lot of history in these rifles

[Vity]

This rifle has really cool history. Thank you for help!