Russian 3 Line Rifles

Of lines and versts.  Swedes had Bjorks per bump, we had hogsheads per hectare, the Russians had lines per verst or somesuch nonsense.  Adding the metric system didn’t improve the situation any - it just confused it further.

With everyone jumping on the small caliber smokeless powder bandwagon, the Czar too joined the crowd.  The Russian 3-line rifle really isn’t any better, or worse, than what everyone was adopting.  I would say they’re uglier.  I’ve never been fond of the look of the Mosin-Nagant rifles.  Initially they had some made in France but production was setup in Russia.  There are a number of models and, later, they were all cut down to a useful length.  We’re getting ahead of ourselves and into the communist era though so let’s dial back.

The Russians, like everyone, were in great need for rifles during WW1.  Wastage was terrible.  Remington and New England Westinghouse were given significant contracts to build the rifles.  The above example is a Remington.  When the Czar fell the Kerensky government took over.  About 6 months later the communists overthrough the Kerensky government.  The communists always liked to pretend they overthrough the Czar but that’s not the case - they overthrew a leftist government.  They were just more leftist.

The existing stocks of Russian rifles were taken over by the US government - not to “save” the makers from bankruptcy, as is commonly bandied about, but because they both could use the guns and wanted the production lines left running.  The Brits also bought significant numbers of the undelivered rifles.  After the fall of the Russian government the rifles were made outright for both the US and the Brits.  Thus there are really 3 generations of US made rifles - those made for the Russians and delivered, those made for the Russians but taken over, and those not made for the Russians.  This is from the middle group.

Typical bolt action.  The bolt is unique to the guns though.  Pretty clever design really.  Stiffer action than I’d like I think.  The magazine release is a better design than the ‘03 Springfield.

Remington manufactured in 1917.  Russian imperial markings.  The Russians were xenophobic and, well, let’s just say phobias of all kinds of flavors have always found home in Russia.  They had a veritable corps of inspectors at the factories here.

Rear sight is crude but functional.  I’m missing the handguard on this rifle.  Little matter = one will show up eventually.

Romanov acceptance stamp.  So this gun was made, and accepted, by the Russians.

But taken over by the US.

Still searching for an example by New England Westinghouse.  I’m in the long journey of acquiring one of every model US issued or US made military small arm.  With exceptions.  This model of rifle qualifies on both counts as numbers were issued to US troops sent to Russia.

The guns aren’t bad guns.  They’re functional and useful.  The bolt is stiff and the rear sight pretty crude.  In other words - a battle rifle.  Which is what it was supposed to be.  Kind of ugly I think.