1943 Izhevsk PU

Hey everyone, I figured the sniper rifle forum and the Mosin sections gunboards may have been the best place to ask these questions. But, I basically got a bunch of non-answers (shocker). The knowledge base is much deeper here than on gunboards anyway, I certainly trust everyone here more as well.

It's obviously not an "as issued" rifle. I suspect it was refurbished at post WWII. The "Progress" optic and mount are original as is the rifle itself. It has two different numbers stamped on the left side of the barrel shank and receiver, I suspect these had to do with the original scope. In addition, the rifle's serial number is electro penciled on to the mount with the optic serial number below it. I have seen quite a few in this format, rifle SN on top, optic number below it. This is a CAI import, marked under the barrel.

Was this a post WWII refurbishment conducted in the Soviet Union?

At what point were the optic, mount, and rifle paired? During a refurb or by the importer? Who applied the electro penciled rifle serial number and optic serial number to the mount?

The number on the left side of the barrel shank is the original optic number, what is the additional next to it on the receiver? Was this the second optic to be paired with this rifle, and the one currently on it was the third?

What's a fair value on this thing?

Thanks for the help!

I'm no expert on these. But I have read posts on what to look for on a genuine vs repro PU sniper. Things like flat screws on the scope are dead give-aways for repro scopes. This one looks genuine to me and in like condition to the one you're asking about. I sold for $1400 on GB. A search for PU sniper in completed auctions got 19 hits, many of which are suspect.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/894794340

Thanks for the help. The one thing that really has me curious about this one is the number on the left side of the receiver. The one you posted has the rifle’s SN on the left side of the receiver. The number on this gun is unrelated to the serial number.

That number on the receiver is usually where the importer stamps an SN. Sometimes its the rifle SN copied over sometimes not. One of mine has an unrelated importer SN stamped inside the bolt raceway. Not Soviet in any case.

As for the mount, the EP was usually done in the Soviet Union during refurb. Original wartime Izhevsk mounts were not numbered at all. This looks a little sloppier than usual, but not something I would really worry about on a refurb sniper.

RyanE said:

That number on the receiver is usually where the importer stamps an SN. Sometimes its the rifle SN copied over sometimes not. One of mine has an unrelated importer SN stamped inside the bolt raceway. Not Soviet in any case.

As for the mount, the EP was usually done in the Soviet Union during refurb. Original wartime Izhevsk mounts were not numbered at all. This looks a little sloppier than usual, but not something I would really worry about on a refurb sniper.

Click to expand...

Thanks Ryan, so you think it’s a legitimate refurb? 1k seem like a fair price on it?

mauser1908 said:

Thanks Ryan, so you think it’s a legitimate refurb? 1k seem like a fair price on it?

Click to expand...

Looks legit. 1k seems steep for a total refurb sniper, which are pretty common, but I don't know what these are selling for now.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Yes you have an original refrub PU sniper. As pointed out, the number on the side of the receiver is from the importer. The number on the left side of the barrel is you say the original scope serial number. During refurb they renumbered these in a variety of ways. I will say that your bolt looks odd. Very rough around the bend.

1k is about the going rate for these in today's market.

RyanE said:

Looks legit. 1k seems steep for a total refurb sniper, which are pretty common, but I don't know what these are selling for now.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

mdarnell19 said:

Yes you have an original refrub PU sniper. As pointed out, the number on the side of the receiver is from the importer. The number on the left side of the barrel is you say the original scope serial number. During refurb they renumbered these in a variety of ways. I will say that your bolt looks odd. Very rough around the bend.

1k is about the going rate for these in today's market.

Click to expand...

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. I haven’t made a decision on it yet, it’s well outside what I focus on but to me it may be a cool piece to add as something fun to shoot. Considering it’s not a totally cobbled piece and the price isn’t atrocious.