The Russian rifle known as the "Rifle Model 1891/30" (vintovka obrazets 1891/30 goda) or what we commonly call in mil-surp speak - the Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 rifle was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1930. The 1891/30 was an improved version of the Russian Model 1891 infantry rifle that was designed by Russian Army Captain Sergei Ivanovich Mosin, with major design contributions from Belgian arms designer Leon Nagant. It was carried during WWI, the Russian Revolution, and by the end of WWII over 17,000,000 1891/30 rifles had been manufactured and used in defense of Mother Russia. The 1891/30 was the main battle rifle used by the communist forces in Korea against the UN Allies and was found on many North Vietnamese during the Vietnam war.
The most commonly found Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 rifles were manufactured in either the Izhevsk and Tula Arsenals, although records show the rifle was made at many arsenals in Russia. The table below will help you identify which rifle you own.
