Molot KO-91/30

[Fedaykin]

Agreed Sandgroper, I think the whole AIA Enfields debacle has left a bad taste in many a persons mouth. On the other hand the provenance of the AIA rifles right down to where they were actually built was murky to say the least. The Molot KO-91/30 clearly come out of one factory, true the source of donor Nagant are a mystery but considering Russia is still awash with them as least we know they haven't come out of some workshop in the Phillipines or Vietnam (which is what I have heard about AIA Enfields).

[Sandgroper]

Exactly.

As far as the AIA's are concerned I've read that they complied with Australian law regarding manufacture but only just and that is down to the fact the rifles were assembled in Australia.

I also heard the the only reason they were made was to prevent a ban on the importation and manufacture of 7.62x39 due to the lack of SKS's handed in after S/A were banned in '97.

[Blighty]

Other than the scope mount and scope not a single newly made part as far as I can see. Cleaned up and stamped as a hunting rifle to get around US laws banning importation of milsurp rifles from Russia. Trigger looks in the 'white' unlike the normal run of the mill refurbs so may have been breathed on but that's it. Really worth paying for someone else to clean the cosmolene off?

The barrel on the 'scoped rifle looks like it might be a replacement and is shorter than standard ( woodwork in front on front sling escutcheon has been chopped back). Front sight hood looks strangely elongated - weird.

If you rely want a tight unused 91/30 track down a Hungarian.

[Fedaykin]

Have a look again Blighty, they are certainly not just cleaned of their cosmolene. Different stock, different scope mount, machined changes to the receiver, different barrel (at least on the (91/30M), different finish and different markings.

They also do a (91/30MS that is able to take the hot SVD sniper ammo.

Problem is you have said exactly what comes up on the Nagant forums by purists (not that this is a personal attack just an observation) who glance at them then and go "just cleaned up of their Cosmolene" which clearly isn't the case.

When it comes to Mosin Nagant it is almost like people don't want anything except original numbered PU snipers or Finnish M39 exist.

[Blighty]

Was busy editing my last post so missed your reply.

All the woodwork started out as standard. Look at the changes. Nothing more than chopping bits of wood off. At most the change in finish is a sand job. Brass end caps were war time until replaced later by steel.

Scope mount is obviously newly made (and partly mounted hard up against the woodwork).

Profile of receiver hasn't changed and no way newly made. Maybe newly stamped but wartime stampings will still be there.

Difficult to compare with the newly made Enfields as they really were all new.

[Fedaykin]

Other than the scope mount and scope not a single newly made part as far as I can see. Cleaned up and stamped as a hunting rifle to get around US laws banning importation of milsurp rifles from Russia. Trigger looks in the 'white' unlike the normal run of the mill refurbs so may have been breathed on but that's it. Really worth paying for someone else to clean the cosmolene off?

The barrel on the 'scoped rifle looks like it might be a replacement and is shorter than standard ( woodwork in front on front sling escutcheon has been chopped back). Front sight hood looks strangely elongated - weird.

If you rely want a tight unused 91/30 track down a Hungarian.

But you are missing the point, I don't want a military example. I am attracted to getting one from a factory with some kind of warranty that I can put a modern scope on. I am sure a Hungarian 91/30 might well be tight as well but would you be happy changing the stock out and a modern scope? Would I? Probably not and I don't want the hassle hence the attraction of these.

I am trying to find some pictures of the Molot stand at a shooting show recently, the KO-91/30 were entirely refinished not just cleaned up. Can't find it today my google-fu is poor.

Edit, I said in my first post that they don't use new receivers. I personally don't have any issue with that.

What puzzles me is why Nagant purists find the idea of these such an offence when they are marketed as hunting rifles and not pretending to be snipers.

[Demonic69]

How much are they going for? If it's more than a 91/30 with an archangel stock I can't say I'd go for one.
Not a bad idea though

[Fedaykin]

No UK importer, there is a place that sells them with scope for Aus$1125:

Looking at the picture on his site I think it looks very handsome:



Note: I don't know anything about the Australian shooting scene so can't comment on how good this dealer is, he certainly has an amusing set rules about contacting him :lol:

[Fedaykin]

Punched that figure into currency converter and out comes £615.

Frankly even if that didn't include a scope that is a good price in my opinion.

Maybe I just like shiny things too much!

tongueout

Just to continue my musings these rifles fall into an odd grey area in my opinion that of refurbished or new. I actually think they are neither, the term re-manufactured is probably a lot fairer. Kind of like that company that will sell you a new old 911. The Singer 911 can't be called new as it uses an old shell and certain parts out of the old 911 yet you can't call it refurbished as it is a ground up build using new parts alongside the old. It is re-manufactured in that it is the sum of new work putting together old and new.



The Molot 91/30 are using a mix of old and new parts (probably more old), totally refinished and then assembled as a complete re-manufactured item.

For me as long as they are not saying they are something they are not (and I do realise they do put "new" on their website) like a PU sniper with matching numbers (faked) and as there is hardly a shortage of receivers and other parts to form part of the re-manufacturing process then there is nothing to particularly fault them on.

[ovenpaa]

'Re-manufacturing' may not be a bad thing, tidy the threads up, square the receiver face off and lap the lugs, add a reasonably chambered barrel and tidy the trigger operation is always a good start and I totally agree, they are not trying to pass the rifles off as something they are not, never have been and never will be.