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The Mosin Nagant Rifle was a combination of two designers, Sergei Mosin and Leon Nagant, a Belgian, The Mosin Nagant was produced at the armories of Tula, Izhevesk, and Sestroryetsk. The M91 was the basis for several variants, which will be covered later. During WWI the M91 was produced by the American companies New England Westinghouse and Remington, Together the companies made about 3.3 million rifles. Due to the Russian Revolution they were not delivered and many were sold to the civilian market. In 1938 the M91 was shortened into carbine length and given the designation M38. In 1944 this was again done, this time known as the M44. In WWII the Russians used Mosin Nagant Rifles against the Axis. In Stalingrad, snipers used M91s to kill the "fascist beast" as they were called. Famous sniper Vasily Zaistev, chronicled in the 2001 hit " Enemy at the Gates" killed over 300 Germans with an M91/30.
Production of all Mosins in Russia ended in 1948. It is unknown what happened at this time, but by 1949 New rifles were being made in Poland, Hungary, Romania,, and China. Polish Rifles were manufactured until at least 1961. The guns has been used in the Russo-Japanese War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf War, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Iraq-Iran war, Operation Enduring Feedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. With such a rich history it is no doubt Mosin Nagants will be pressed into service for years to come, serving both soldier and civilian alike. It is a very cheap rifle to buy, costing around $100 for a good one. See more details of costs by clicking here. |
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