So the Finns reworked them and now they're worth 5x what a ruskie is.  Is that pretty much accurate?

Where's the best place to get one these days?

The M39 was the end of a cumulative series of new models. The government decided that producing several models was a total PITA, and they hammered the models into a cumulation of features during the 30s. The result was the M39.

That's a quick and dirty history from mosinnagant.net. Go there to read about the history.

The M39 is much more than a reworked M91/30. a reworked 91/30 would be a Finnish 19/30.

The M39 was often made with recycled parts and receivers, however. Most Finnish Mosins I've seen have Russian/Soviet receivers, and many have foreign made barrels. Small parts are commonly of the "parts bin" variety. For example, my 1945 M39 is built on a 1910 Tula receiver and has a Pre-1928 Izhevsk bolt group. It shoots into 2 MOA with Czech surplus and sometimes into 1.5 MOA. The M39 is worth at least double what they sell for, IMO.

You can buy a good condish wartime starter (and it WILL be a starter. these take over your life.) M39 by trolling the used market for good deals. The EE on gunboards.com and surplusrifle.com have them, as do the auction sites.

Right now one of the best deals going on (besides the ones on my Christmas list ) is from empire arms. They have good to VG wartime M39s as low as $200.

Also, check out these M39s built on antique receivers.

I got a 1941 VKT built on an 1897 Ishevsk receiver from Century in early 2000 for $89 shipped.

My rifle is close to 100% except the bluing is worn on the buttplate.

It's amazing to me that these rifles have appreciated so much.

Dennis Jenkins

I shot a Finn M39 and Russ M91/30 the other day.  

Medium load with 123 .311 bullets made for the AK.  (Yeah, wrong bullets.)

Both shot about 2" at a hundred yards.  (Probably the limit of my eye sight.)


Both are nice to shoot.

Empire Arms as mentioned above is a good source, another is here. I just got a nice '67 dated sneak from Pat Burns.