Mosin–Nagant

Lore & Background

The Mosin–Nagant was developed following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, during which Imperial Russian troops armed with single-shot Berdan rifles suffered heavy casualties against Ottoman troops using Winchester 1866 repeating rifles, particularly at the Siege of Pleven. This demonstrated the need for a modern repeating infantry weapon. Various weapons were tested by the GAU of the Ministry of War, and in 1889 the Lebel Model 1886 rifle was obtained from France, along with a cartridge and bullet model but without primer or smokeless powder; Russian scientists, including Dmitri Mendeleev, solved those problems.

In 1889, three rifles were submitted for evaluation: Captain Sergei Ivanovich Mosin's 3-line (.30 cal, 7.62 mm) design; Belgian Léon Nagant's 3.5-line (.35 cal, 9 mm) design; and Captain Zinoviev's 3-line design. Trials concluded in 1891 with a split assessment. Nagant's rifle had a more complicated mechanism and required special tools for disassembly. Mosin's rifle was criticized for lower quality of manufacture and materials due to artisan pre-production. The commission initially voted 14 to 10 to approve Mosin's rifle, and after further tests under the commission's supervision, the bolt-action of Mosin's design was ordered into production as the 3-line rifle M1891.

Technically, the Mosin uses two front-locking lugs that lock horizontally, a multi-piece bolt body, interchangeable bolt heads, and a push feed recessed bolt head. The bolt is removed by pulling it fully to the rear and squeezing the trigger. The bolt lift arc is 90 degrees. The rifling is right-turning, 4-groove with a twist of 1:9.5" or 1:10". The 5-round fixed magazine can be loaded individually or with 5-round stripper clips. Production began in 1892 at Tula Arsenal, Izhevsk Arsenal, and Sestroryetsk Arsenal, with an order for 500,000 rifles placed with a French arms factory.

Reader's Guide

The Mosin–Nagant's significance lies in its immense production—over 37 million units—and its long service life, from the Russian Empire through the Soviet Union and into the present day. It has been used in numerous conflicts worldwide. The colloquial Western name 'Mosin–Nagant' is persistent but erroneous, as established in Nagant's legal dispute. Nagant filed a patent suit claiming entitlement to the winner's sum, arguing he was first to apply for international patent protection over the interrupter, though he borrowed it from Mosin's design. Mosin could not apply for a patent as an officer of the Russian army; the design was a military secret. The commission paid Nagant 200,000 Russian rubles, equal to Mosin's premium, to avoid scandal and retain Nagant as a contractor. The Tsar himself removed the word 'Russian' from the rifle's official designation. Only since 1924 was the rifle officially named 'Mosin's rifle' in the USSR. The most common variant is the M1891/30, a modernized design introduced in 1930 that incorporated some details from Nagant's design, notably the attachment of the magazine spring to the base plate and the form of the interrupter. Nagant's only contributions to all rifles after 1930 were the clip for loading cartridges and the magazine spring attachment.

Did You Know?

• The Mosin–Nagant is one of the most mass-produced military bolt-action rifles in history, with over 37 million units produced since 1891.
• The rifle's development was spurred by Russian losses to Ottoman troops using Winchester 1866 repeating rifles during the Siege of Pleven in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878.
• Dmitri Mendeleev, the chemist famous for the periodic table, helped produce the smokeless powder for the rifle's cartridge.
• The colloquial name 'Mosin–Nagant' is considered erroneous; the rifle was officially named 'Mosin's rifle' in the USSR only from 1924.