Well I have looked at many of these rifles and talked to many far more knowledgeable people than me about them. They seem to run in two classes to me and what I have learned about them. The really beautiful rifles that in all likelihood never left the boat or even got on it and the rifles that got over there and were used very heavily and maybe even saw some action. I saw a couple really nice ones over the years for very high prices that really blew my sox off but I thought I couldn't afford so I past. Talked to a bunch of people and sorted through what they told me and decided I wanted one the showed me honest wear and tear which to me indicated the rifle was over there in Russia and used. My take on this rifle which I bought overlooked on a on-line auction was it had the been there and done that look and even showed maybe battle damage around the one side of the receiver by the Russian proof. What really sold me was kind of strange for some to interpret maybe but the distinctly Russian stock repairs near where what could be battle damage was the major reason I went after this rifle. By the way the upper hand guard will stay the way it is and I will not change it the least bit even though it may have been fixed more recently by the look of it. These upper hand guards are almost impossible to find if they are missing off the rifle by the way so keep that in mind if you are ever seriously looking at one of these. This came out of a state that is very tough to buy from and I was mostly scared about that but things worked just fine to my relief. The bore is shoot-able and yes I will try it out later this year maybe in the fall. This was out of an inherited collection that was being sold by a dealer on-line for a commission so I was very please to find good pictures that showed the stock repairs and dings from use and the hand guard repair and at least some of the Russian proofs. I even found the Russian proof on the butt stock after a couple of hours of searching and comparing. It is tough to make out and for the pictures Chuck took I could not find it as it is partially marred by the dings and dents but if I have what I am looking for in front of me I usually can find it though. I have sure been lucky the last few years in finding things I never thought I would own and this was high on the list after about 5 years of looking I found the one I wanted and got it for about 16 Mosins which was far less than I would have paid if I bought one of the pretty ones years ago. Now that I am getting to be an old fart I am either moving so slow from age or I have actually developed some patience I guess? That remains a subject open for debate I guess though?

Great Day at Chuck's house and well worth the 190+ mile trip each way for sure. He is so dang good taking pictures and when he sets those multi-frame pictures up his fingers move like blurs, he is years younger than me and I am intensely jealous of his talents at times I am afraid. His two boys, err make that young men are just a real pleasure to be around and he has every right to be very proud of them. They are still kids and I forget the joy I had of watching my own discover things and learn like they are doing now. Ah yes life is good at the Sharpshooters Retreat I call home! Bill ELT