Mosin-Nagant M1891
Tula Arms Plant / Izhevsk Arsenal / Sestroryetsk Arsenal · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1891
Also known as: 3-line Rifle Model 1891, Vintovka Mosina obr. 1891 g., Three-Line Rifle, Tryokhlineynaya Vintovka, M1891 Infantry Rifle
Overview
The Mosin-Nagant M1891 is the original full-length Russian Imperial infantry rifle adopted in 1891, chambered for the newly developed 7.62x54mmR smokeless powder cartridge. Designed by a commission pairing Russian Captain Sergei Ivanovich Mosin's bolt and receiver with Belgian designer Leon Nagant's interrupter-driven magazine feed, it became the standard service rifle of the Russian Empire and served through the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, the Russian Civil War, and into early Soviet service. The M1891 features a distinctive hexagonal receiver, a five-round internal single-column magazine loaded via stripper clips, a cock-on-close bolt with two front locking lugs, and an exceptionally long 800mm barrel that gave it formidable reach and velocity. Sights were graduated in arshins (a Russian imperial unit) rather than meters. Known for its rugged simplicity, tolerance of extreme cold, and battlefield reliability, the M1891 was the direct predecessor of the 1930 modernization (M91/30) and remained the longest-serving rifle pattern in Russian military history.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4220 g (148.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1306 mm (51.42") |
| Barrel Length | 800 mm (31.50") |
| Sight Radius | 687 mm (27.05") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 810 m/s (2657 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3400 J (2508 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1920 m (2100 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 241 mm (9.49") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x54mmR · primary — also known as 7.62x54R, 7.62x53mmR, Three Line Rifle Cartridge, 3-line Cartridge
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Bolt Safety
- Features: Stripper Clip Compatible, Magazine Cutoff Interrupter, Integral Bayonet Lug, Two Piece Stock, Cock On Close Bolt, Hexagonal Receiver, Arshin Graduated Sights, Permanently Attached Cleaning Rod
Variants
- Mosin-Nagant M1891 Dragoon — Cavalry
- Mosin-Nagant M1891 Cossack — Cavalry
- Mosin-Nagant M1907 Carbine — Carbine
- Finnish M/27 — Finnish Variant
- Finnish M/28 — Finnish Variant
- Finnish M/39 (Ukko-Pekka) — Finnish Variant
- Mosin-Nagant M91/30 — Modernized
Service history
Operators
- Imperial Russian Army · adopted 1891 · as 3-line Rifle Model 1891
- Red Army · adopted 1922 · as Vintovka Mosina obr. 1891 g.
- Finnish Defence Forces · adopted 1918 · as M/91
- Polish Armed Forces · adopted 1918 · as Karabin wz. 91
- Romanian Land Forces · adopted 1916 · as Model 1891
- Czechoslovak Legion · adopted 1917 · as M1891
- United States Armed Forces · adopted 1917 · as U.S. Rifle, 7.62mm, Model of 1916
- Kingdom of Serbia · adopted 1914 · as M1891
- Kingdom of Montenegro · adopted 1895 · as M1891
- Bulgarian Armed Forces · adopted 1917 · as M1891
- Spanish Republican Forces · adopted 1936 · as M1891
- Chinese Nationalist and Communist Forces · adopted 1920 · as M1891
Conflicts
- Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Russian Civil War (1917-1922)
- Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)
- Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
- Winter War (1939-1940)
- Continuation War (1941-1944)
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Production
Estimated total produced: 9,400,000 · Production years: 1891-1930
Approximately 9.4 million original M1891 pattern rifles produced before the 1930 M91/30 modernization; includes roughly 3.27 million contract rifles made by Remington Arms (1.47M) and New England Westinghouse (1.8M) in the United States during WWI. Total Mosin-Nagant production across all variants exceeds 37 million.
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Designer: Sergei Ivanovich Mosin and Leon Nagant
Discontinued: 1930
Notes
The M1891 is distinguished from the later M91/30 by its hexagonal (octagonal-profile) receiver, arshin-graduated rear sight, longer 800mm barrel, and the use of older-style blade front sight without hood. Early production rifles were made at Tula, Izhevsk, and Sestroryetsk arsenals in Russia, but domestic capacity could not meet wartime demand. In 1915, desperate Imperial authorities contracted Remington Arms (1.47 million rifles) and New England Westinghouse (1.8 million rifles) in the United States to supplement production. The Russian Revolution in 1917 led to cancellation of payment, stranding roughly 750,000 completed Remington and Westinghouse Mosins in the United States. The U.S. government purchased the surplus and designated them 'U.S. Rifle, 7.62mm, Model of 1916,' issuing them to training units, the American Expeditionary Force Siberia, and later selling them as civilian surplus - the foundation of the Mosin's long American civilian presence. Finland captured and retained large numbers after independence, eventually refining them into the celebrated M/27, M/28, and M/39 variants.
Background
When the Russian Empire couldn't produce enough rifles during WWI, it contracted American factories Remington and New England Westinghouse to build 3.27 million Mosins on credit. The 1917 Russian Revolution cancelled the contracts mid-delivery, leaving roughly 750,000 completed rifles stranded in the United States. The U.S. government bought the surplus, issued them to the American Expeditionary Force Siberia sent to fight Bolsheviks, and eventually sold the rest to civilians - accidentally seeding a century-long American love affair with the humble Imperial Russian rifle.