I missed the boat when classic firearms brought over a bunch of them but I'd still like to acquire a Finnish m39. I was looking on gunbroker and some of the rifles have cracked stocks which is understandable given their age. Obviously a cracked stock is not ideal however is it a deal breaker?

Unless you or someone you know if well-versed in properly repairing a cracked wood stock, then yes, it's likely a deal breaker.

Replacement stocks are tough to find, and expensive when/if you do find one.

Many rifle stock cracks are repairable, but unless you or a buddy can do it yourselves correctly, it's likely not financially reasonable to pay a gunsmith to do it. Just be more patient and wait for a non-cracked M39.


They're fantastic rifles. Easily the best of the Mosin-Nagants. I've owned several, but I'm down to just these two now. Mine like Heavy Ball ammo, which can be tough to find these days, as 99% of the 7.62x54r on the market is Light Ball.

1942 Sako M39
1941 VKT M39

Is it actually a cracked stock or a two piece. If you look at Rogue’s you can see where they were fitted together. My Sako is a two piece and where they join up it looks like “fingers” for a lack of a better term.

Fine rifles and very accurate.

quote:

My Sako is a two piece and where they join up it looks like “fingers” for a lack of a better term.

I believe (and I'm sure Rogue can correct me if I'm wrong) that the "fingers" or "wedge grooves" are an actual arsenal repair. Believe it or not, in the case of many Mosin Nagants, an arsenal repaired stock can actually increase the value.

It would depend on the break for me.

I bought an M44 for $40 that the stock was completely broken off at the wrist. Repaired it better than new.



I have a Lithgow Enfield where unbeknownst to me when I bought it, the rear of the fore stock was mostly mush. 90 years of oil and ancient arsenal repairs had come undone. Saved it, lots of Gorilla glue holding that one together now. Works as a shooter, I wouldn't want to take it into combat.

Define expensive for replacement stocks. Granted, it was a couple of years ago, but I bought a birch stock for one of my M39's that looked unissued/new. It wasn't that much. I do have a M39 stock, with a crack in it that I replaced with the birch stock. The M39 is superior to any Mosin; the aluminum bedding and the trigger, not to mention the barrel's, really put them in a class by themselves.

While I'm at it why do you see some of these rifles with counter bored barrels? What was the purpose for doing this? Does it lower the value on a rifle? Is it less accurate?

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:
Is it actually a cracked stock or a two piece. If you look at Rogue’s you can see where they were fitted together. My Sako is a two piece and where they join up it looks like “fingers” for a lack of a better term.

Fine rifles and very accurate.

Ya it's not near the front end of the rifle. The rifles I was looking at had cracks near the top of the grip by the rear of the bolt.

quote:

Originally posted by Taterporkchop:
Define expensive for replacement stocks. Granted, it was a couple of years ago, but I bought a birch stock for one of my M39's that looked unissued/new. It wasn't that much.

You can't just go out and buy one from a parts retailer any more. They do show up from time to time on eBay or Gunbroker, but the ones I've seen get bid up to several hundred dollars.

For example, there's one on eBay right now for $225. And it's damaged.

quote:

Originally posted by Underworld2086:
While I'm at it why do you see some of these rifles with counter bored barrels? What was the purpose for doing this? Does it lower the value on a rifle? Is it less accurate?

Rifles that had damage to the crown were counterbored to recess a new, undamaged crown further down into the barrel. A counterbored barrel will be more accurate than a non-counterbored barrel with a damaged crown, and generally just as accurate as a non-counterbored, non-damaged barrel.

Some collectors prefer barrels that aren't counterbored. Some don't care. So it can potentially lower the value a little, but it's very common on military surplus rifles, so the impact is generally minimal.

If you're looking for a good M39, hit up Dennis Kroh at Empire Arms. He does a lot of the Finn stuff, and his quality control is first rate.

Great, thanks guys. Just after i pick up three Sweedish mausers.

I used to have a pile of Finn M/N's. Great guns tho the 39 is not a model 20 years later I feel like hauling thru the mountains chasing ridge runners!

I scored when they were cheap. 1942 Sako with an antique receiver, absolutely zero finish & a beautiful stock.

great rifles

I have an M39 B barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Underworld2086:
While I'm at it why do you see some of these rifles with counter bored barrels? What was the purpose for doing this? Does it lower the value on a rifle? Is it less accurate?

Rifles that had damage to the crown were counterbored to recess a new, undamaged crown further down into the barrel. A counterbored barrel will be more accurate than a non-counterbored barrel with a damaged crown, and generally just as accurate as a non-counterbored, non-damaged barrel.

Some collectors prefer barrels that aren't counterbored. Some don't care. So it can potentially lower the value a little, but it's very common on military surplus rifles, so the impact is generally minimal.

Rogue, your answer is not entirely correct.
Yes counter boring the barrel should by necessity include a fresh crown but these barrels were counter bored because the rifling towards the end of the barrel was worn.
If it was simply a matter of refreshing the crown, they would not have needed to counter bore them since a simple re-crown would suffice.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve 22X:

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Underworld2086:
While I'm at it why do you see some of these rifles with counter bored barrels? What was the purpose for doing this? Does it lower the value on a rifle? Is it less accurate?

Rifles that had damage to the crown were counterbored to recess a new, undamaged crown further down into the barrel. A counterbored barrel will be more accurate than a non-counterbored barrel with a damaged crown, and generally just as accurate as a non-counterbored, non-damaged barrel.

Some collectors prefer barrels that aren't counterbored. Some don't care. So it can potentially lower the value a little, but it's very common on military surplus rifles, so the impact is generally minimal.

Rogue, your answer is not entirely correct.
Yes counter boring the barrel should by necessity include a fresh crown but these barrels were counter bored because the rifling towards the end of the barrel was worn.
If it was simply a matter of refreshing the crown, they would not have needed to counter bore them since a simple re-crown would suffice.

Various German rifle barrels were counterbored from the factory during WW2 which provided additional protection against muzzle damage. I suspect this may also have occurred with Finn M/N barrels.

It's actually a good idea and would not be a bad practice on hunting rifles in general.

So I got a m39 off gunbroker but something has me concerned about that gap in the stock and tang of the receiver.
https://drive.google.com/open?...pT19t-bt0z9EMEmHb4wM

Not common, but not dangerous.

https://forums.gunboards.com/s...t-91-30-bad-tang-fit

quote:

Originally posted by Steve 22X:
Yes counter boring the barrel should by necessity include a fresh crown but these barrels were counter bored because the rifling towards the end of the barrel was worn.

Did the Finns issue/use those pull-through bore cleaning chains with aluminum beads as other European militaries did? I.e., was there a particular reason for why the rifling at the end of the barrel was more worn than elsewhere?