I'm not sure where this is most appropriate to be at so I'm posting it here. I have a friend who called me today and a friend of his is selling a mosin. I shot this particular gun a few times a few years ago when the guy who's selling the gun and I happened to both be at a little gun shoot. I wanted it then so he offered it to me first. I got the guys number and called him and he said it's an M44 carbine that was produced in 1944, all the numbers are matching and it comes with the bayonet, sling, a couple ammo pouches, and the oil can. He said he'll take $200 for it. I don't know a lot about mosins, but for a gun with matching numbers assuming it's still in good shape and shoots fine that seems like a pretty good deal. I'm gonna go look at it tomorrow and plan on buying it.
Do y'all who have more experience with these things think it sounds like a good deal? 3 years ago when I saw it, it was in good shape. Who knows the condition now but from what I remember of the guy he wasnt the type to let his guns get all nasty and in bad shape.
Anything in particular I should look for that might determine if it's worth more or less than $200? I figure I can grab it now to play around with and in +/- 5 years flip it for a profit as these guns keep getting more rare.
Is there something I can do to determine the wear and tear the barrel has? Ill ask to shoot it to make sure it's still decently accurate and functions properly. I might make a low ball offer of like $180, but if this is a good deal I don't wanna be "that guy." Thanks for any info y'all can provide.
I went by and saw it this evening and bought it. The gun is in beautiful shape. The stock isn't cracked or nicked anywhere, not a spot of rust. The only places the paint shows anywhere is on the bayonet. The barrel is in good shape, I looked down it and the bore is nice and shiny clean, no nicks dings or rust spots in the threads. The only bad thing is, and I forget the exact terminology, but whatever it's called when they shave metal off and rethread the inside of the last inch or two of the barrel. I don't have a cleaning kit for it so I'll order one for it so I can shoot it. He loaded the ammo pouches with 2 dozen rounds of tula ammo which from what he said super cheap corrosive stuff so I don't want to shoot it and not clean it. I'll take pics and upload in a few minutes