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German used Polish wz.91/98/26 Mosin-Nagant rifle

Pat

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I've had this one for a few years but am just now getting around to posting it up. This is a Polish wz.91/98/26 Mosin-Nagant conversion rifle, built on a 1895 receiver and converted to fire 7.92X57mm by the Poles in the interwar years. Imperial Russian and early Soviet Model 1891 Mosin-Nagant rifles were captured in the Polish-Soviet war of the early 1920s by the Poles, who used them in a conversion project in the 1930s in an attempt to standardize on the 7.92 cartridge, at a time when the Mauser FOW was being adopted by the Poles as the standard for that emerging nation. To say the very least, numerous modifications were made to accommodate the different cartridge. In spite of that, the workmanship appears very well executed and well developed.

This particular example was built in Lvov/Lwow/Lviv, as indicated by the 'ARMA LWOW' stamp on the receiver. It was later received for repair or modification in May 1939 (see stock stamp), a scant four months prior to the German invasion. After capture, the bolt was blued and the rifle went on to serve or was stored in an unknown capacity. It was subsequently captured again, presumably by an GI, as it was 'duffel cut' under the rear barrel band. All numbered parts, and there are LOTS of them, are matching. These rifles are a fascinating study of the many interwar 'waste not, want not' policies of several nations who found themselves trying to settle on one standardized design or caliber, or both, following the last, and in anticipation of the next hostilities.

Pat
 

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Additional photos.
 

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Wow, I’ve never seen one of these. This rifle sums up the situation in Poland from after WW1 through the end of Nazi occupation. Crap, now I have to find one.


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I have seen these rifles posted from time to time, I have never seen a full photo spread showing all the numbering. Really interesting seeing all the small parts numbered on a mosin. Not used to that!
 
Well, that's pretty damned spectacular, amazing piece.

Another "If it could only talk" gun!

As you say, an interesting study into updating old guns in the arsenal to more modern standards, much like the French converting the 07/15 carbines into the M34 to fire the new 7.5 French cartridge as a stop gap measure....

While it all sort of makes sense, seems like a lot of work!
 
Excellent piece,on my polish booklet calls it Wz.91/98/25 when i am remember correctly, to this should be mostly used Wz.27 bayonets.But maybe these info is old and obsolete already. b.r.Andy
 
Excellent piece,on my polish booklet calls it Wz.91/98/25 when i am remember correctly, to this should be mostly used Wz.27 bayonets.But maybe these info is old and obsolete already. b.r.Andy
There were three versions of these.

The 91/98/23 didn't have the Mauser style front end, and used the standard Russian bayonet. Never actually seen one before.

The /25 added the Mauser bits and bayonet, and the /26 improved the interrupter/ejector for use with the non-rimmed 8mm cartridge. I think there might have been some very minor changes to the stripper clip feed on the receiver, but I could be mistaken on that.

As for bayonets, I think any of various the non-ringed Polish Mauser style bayonets will fit.
 
Thanks for clarification, about bayonets, polish source speaks that Wz.27 is interchangeable, previous modell must be fitted to the rifle, not fully interchangeable. b.r.Andy
 
Very fine looking rifle Pat! Knowing how many Russian M91 rifles are seen in photos being used by the Germans in WW1, was there ever any similar caliber conversions attempted by them to these like the Polish did?
 
All,
Thanks for the kind words and enthusiasm. This is one of my favorites in the collection.

Stan,
Yes, they did. John Sheehan (JPS on Gunboards) is an excellent source of info on these. I don’t know much about them and don’t own an example, but period photos show them in use with second tier units.

Andy,
RyanE is correct, the interruptor/ejector were updated and upgraded on the /26 model, which mine is. The wz. 27 bayonet fits perfectly, as shown here. The bayonet in the photo is a Perkun produced example I own that was modified by the Germans:

646d8af5e08c0d17aaab7eeb0163658b.jpg


One of the more interesting aspects of these conversions is the bolt. The bolt heads were extensively modified to accommodate the rimless 7.92 cartridge, which did not require the larger diameter and lipped outer perimeter of the 54R bolt heads to facilitate purchase of the latter’s rim. Here’s a comparison of the two bolt heads. The bolt on the left side is from a German depot stamped 91/30, while the wz. 91/98/26 bolt is on the right.

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Interdasting....now you would think they would really ask the question...is it worth it?

Any numbers as far as how many might have been so modified?

Excellent example for a BeuteWaffen publication!

:thumbsup::happy0180:
 
Around 70 thousand were modified and issued to Polish forces, mostly rear units and police. Mostly they were converted by Arma in Lwow, like above example. Small numbers were converted in Central Armory Shop in Warsaw (attached picture of receiver). Second picture shows different stock markings for Armory no 2 in Warsaw.

Jack
 

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A very cool rifle !
It does seem like there was an extraordinary amount of modification work to convert these to this configuration. Wow !
 
Yes the pictured bayonet was blued by Germans, is there a modell type on pommel area? thanks.b.r.Andy
 

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