The Estonian Use Of The Mosin

Nagant Line Of Rifles/Carbines

From Brent Snodgrass

An Independence War photo done in the studio showing two Estonian freedom fighters.  Notice the bandoliers with 54R ammo. 

The cockades are the Estonian tri color - blue, black, white.

Estonian soldiers of the 9th Regiment in the early 1920's with a mix of uniform types but all armed with the M91 Mosin Nagant. Photo Josh Anderson

Another Independence War period photo showing a great mix of arms.  Mosin Nagant M91's, Japanese Rifles, as well as a mixture of LMG's

Photo Brent Snodgrass .

Estonian troopers in 1921 armed with the Mosin Nagant M91.  The slings are interesting as these are older British slings. 

The soldiers have the Estonian national cockade on thier caps.  Photo Brent Snodgrass

1930's photo of an Estonian unit during Winter traning.  The soldiers are armed with Mosin Nagants outfitted with bayonets.

A mix of rifles used in Estonia as shown by the Military History Museum in Tartu.  The first rifle on the left is a Remington made M91, a German GEW 98, a Japanese Type 38, a British P14, and the Mosin Nagant on the far right is a Finnish made M28-30. It is not clear when the Finnish rifle came to Estonia.It might have come to Estonia from an Estonian that once served in Finland or could have come much later, as Finlanddid send arms to Estonia in the 1990's.  Most of these later arms were older designs that were no longer in Finnish service.

Two versions of Mosin Nagant M91-30 manuals in the Estonian language.  The top photo shows a full manual printed in 1948 while the lower two photos are of a smaller basic handout printed in 1945.  These were made to assist Estonian soldiers that became members of the Red Army during Soviet occupation.

Brent Snodgrass Collection

Arms from a Forest Brothers cabin. - 1952

Forest brothers in the 1950's armed with a mix of Soviet arms including a SVT40 and a DP28.

Estonian soldiers in the 1920's armed with the Madsen LMG.  The soldiers wear the Model 1925 Tunic.  The Estonian Army was not large but was a well armed force.  The Estonian soldiers were armed with rifles, submachine guns (an Estonian made copy of the Bergman), light machine guns, and handguns. - Photo Brent Snodgrass

The Mosin Nagant also saw service in Estonia after WW2 as a part of the Soviet Union.  In the photo are Soviet (Estonian) soldiers in training. 

Notice the second rifle which has a bent bolt of some sort but does not appear to be a sniper rifle.

An odd version of Mosin Nagant rifle which has been reported as an Estonian National Guard rifle.  It is possible this rifle was indeed made by a Kaitseliit armory but in speaking with those in the Estonian defence network they have not been able to confirm if this rifle is indeed Estonian in origin.  It does not fit the records of barrels or rifles made by Arsenal but if this was done outside of normal production records of such a rifle might have well been lost or never documented. So is this rifle Estonian? It might well be as it does not seem to fit anywhere else however I can not state this as fact -It is a fine and interesting rifle and I hope in time it can be directly linked to Estonia. I can not help but notice the KL.36 is simular to the ARS and date markings seen on Estonian rifles.  Also the KL marking was used by the Kaitseliit on handguns so it is more than possible this rifle is indeed as stated.- My thanks to the owner for sharing the rifle with Mosin collectors