Topic: Mikhail Kalashnikov

[Libertas]

Chinese made?

[Alphabet Soup]

Chinese made?

Yep.

My SKS is Chinese, my Saiga is Russian, and my Mauser is German. I'm just an equal opportunity firearms enthusiast!

[AlanS]

Libertas, the last time I looked, Russians were going for about a buck fitty. The Finns (when found) were going four bills and up.

[Libertas]

Libertas, the last time I looked, Russians were going for about a buck fitty. The Finns (when found) were going four bills and up.

Thanks Alan.

[Glock32]

Yes the Finnish rifles are the cream of the crop.  They captured a bunch of Russian rifles and stripped them down to basically the receiver, bolt, and magazine and replaced everything else. They rebarreled them, put them in two-piece stocks, and redesigned the trigger and sear mechanism for a much cleaner break. They also ground off the hammer and sickle stamp on the receiver with obvious disgust.

The one I have is a M39 like this one:




The M28 is another sought-after Finnish Mosin-Nagant.  That's the model used by Simo Häyhä during the Winter War between Finland and the USSR.  He has the most confirmed kills for any sniper in history at 505. Later in the war he got shot in the face and had half his jaw blown off. He survived and managed to live a full life afterward. One of the most badass guys that people have never heard of.

[AlanS]

The M28 is another sought-after Finnish Mosin-Nagant.  That's the model used by Simo Häyhä during the Winter War between Finland and the USSR.  He has the most confirmed kills for any sniper in history at 505. Later in the war he got shot in the face and had half his jaw blown off. He survived and managed to live a full life afterward. One of the most badass guys that people have never heard of.

His accomplishment came with OPEN SITES! Of course his average shot was around 300 yds, I think, but it's still a great accomplishment.

[Libertas]

The Finns were fierce and had to be, being so outnumbered, and as far as winter-fighters go they are among the best ever.

[AlanS]

.....and as far as winter-fighters go they are among the best ever.

Yeah, the Germans came up a little short there.

[Libertas]

.....and as far as winter-fighters go they are among the best ever.

Yeah, the Germans came up a little short there.

And the French.  Russian winters?  Pah!

Oops!

[Glock32]

They were both arrogant and assumed they could whip the Russians before winter set in. I don't think either were able to appreciate the vastness of Russia, and the Russians' ability to buy time by temporarily ceding useless, scorched earth to the enemy.

The Germans were caught so unprepared in the winter of 1941 that they had to have collection drives back in Germany for winter clothing and furs. German infantry were subject to Russian winter still equipped with summer gear, they had to build fires under the oil pans of their tanks and trucks to get them to start. It's one of the major factors that prevented them from capturing Moscow. They were so close they could see the spires of the city.

I can't imagine how miserable it must have been to fight on the Eastern front during winter.

[Libertas]

The oil thing was big...and not enough fuel to keep things warm and move forward...classic over-extension...you outrun your supply lines and risk them to destruction and have nothing local to forage?  Strikes one, two and three...you're dead!