Mosin-Nagant M1891

Serving throughout the First World War and the Russian Civil War, the M1891 Vintovka Mosina, or Mosin-Nagant as it was known in the West was a pretty ordinary rifle. It was reliable, simple to use and to train with, but it had serious defects. All models prior to the M1944 were zeroed in for firing with a Bayonette, which made the already long rifle to be almost as long as an average mans' height, awkward to maneuver and carry, especially in the woods and trenches. The horizontal bolt action was also difficult to unjam, slower to reload and made the rifle uncomfortable to carry. The safety switch, while very simple in construction, was uncomfortable to operate and required the rifle to be removed from the shoulder to apply or disengage the safety. This is pretty typical for all Russian Mass Produced weapons: cheap, simple, reliable and adequate for intended mission - but that's all.