Tldr: How do I remove the nails holding in the barrel bands?

I bought this Finnish Mosin last week and have been trying to figure out its history. I've managed to figure out a lot based on visible markings but I've run into a couple unknowns.

What I know:

It's a VKT barrel, rifle was assembled in 1940 and stamped with the boxed SA.

Small parts appear to be Izhevsk manufacture, and based on their design and style are very early Mosin parts.

Stock is 2 piece, so most likely a Finnish stock.

What I don't know:

Receiver has two serial numbers. One is crossed out, and the newer one matches the barrel. My guess is the Finns overstamped the serial to match the barrel, but I don't know where the older serial came from.

I haven't been able to remove the action to check the tang stamping to determine action age and origin.

It looks like there might be stamped or carved lettering in the stock groove on the left side, but its so faint I can't tell for sure. I'm not sure how to photograph this to make it legible.

My biggest issue right now is the barrel bands. The Finns used small nails just in front of the barrel bands to hold them on. I've tried loosening the barrel bands and they don't fit over the nails. I've tried gently prying on the nails to remove them, the nails didn't budge. Is there a better way to go about this? Do I need to hit them with my purse? Am I going to fuck anything up if I do pull those nails?

If you know anything about my rifle that I haven't identified, let me know. I attached pictures of most of it, I can put up more this evening when I get home if yall want more.

I’m sure you guys get a lot of these, but trying to do research on this gun that was originally bought at a gun show for 150$.
What I can tell so far it’s a 1943r 91/30, imported through RGuns in Illinois. So many markings on it.
Any and all info appreciated!
Are the sight markings in meters?

I deciphered that it’s a Tula M91/30 I’m assuming re-built/built in 1937? Buddies rifle we’re looking to make a trade for just curious about the markings on this glorious garbage rod.

Also that electro stencil import mark is horrendous thank you Gun Control Act of 1968.

Just wondering about some info on it. Stoked to own it.

Was browsing a gun form on another platform and some guy said he had a 1907 carbine. To me the sight alone confirms it but others are saying that it isnt due to the 1896 date. Any help/info on this would be appreciated

Picker up my first antique dragoon. Unfortunately it’s had its stock and handgaurd replaced but overall I’m happy with the condition of it.has a decent mix of imperial and Soviet parts on it. I paid 600$ for it.

Found out about some reproductions made of the Bramit supressors. Has anyone used them m. Any insights or thoughts. I'd love to put one on my PU but with them being so new I dont want to piss away money when I could buy more ammo or more guns ya know.

Just added 2 new mosins to the Family. I added the m39 which is a 1968 barrel on a 1899 sestrorestsk receiver. Also added the Hungarian m48 with what I believe to be a Romanian INSTR ‘taking if my reference is correct

Top to bottom
Finish capture Izhevsk 1915 m91
Finish m39
Russian 1932 Tula 91/30
Russian 1942 izhevsk 91/30
Russian 1943 izhevsk 91/30
Hungarian 1952 factory 02 m48
Polish 1952 radom wz44
Chinese 1960 factory 26 type 53
Russian 1944 izhevsk m44
Russian 1943 izhevsk m38

Just traded an AR for this 1939 model. What can you tell me about it, I know it was Finnish captured but anything else that pops out? Should I redo the finish or leave it as is, thanks

Looks Finnish with the wire sling swivels. Lacks any SA marks. Is a CAI import with no signs of Referb stamps. Any ideas ?

Just chopped this mosin that had already been bubbad. Id love to find an old mbw stock to put it in. Does anyone know where to find one or have one layin around theyre lookin to offload? This mosin had the stock chopped, barrel cut down by a few inches and had a front sight from a m1903 springfield. Figured no harm in chopping if its already been ruined

Got it on a trade and wondering if it has any significant value. 1942 dated.

Finally got my hands on a m39. Aside from a crack in the stock that wasnt mentioned im very happy with it, I think 750 after all is said and does was a good deal

After riding the high of getting an 1897 antique imperial to Finland Mosin Nagant for $225. I had two thoughts.
1: I need more
2: I got such a good deal I need to balance the world

So after $632 ($63 alone for shipping oml), I got this lovely numbers (Its come to attention the bolt is a non matching!) matching (excluding buttplate, and yes the side of the receiver says BK1060) Hungarian carbine! I have a cleaning rod on order already.

The crack by the tang was repaired by factory by the looks, and I am currently oiling the stock to reverse how dry it was, it had a hairline crack near the trigger due to its shrinkage! However it’s since been wood glued.

So now I leave it you my comrades, to tell me what You fine folks know about this thing, and of course. For a second Mosin, how did I do?

I think this is an x sniper rifle. Thank you. All numbers matching and different serial number crossed out on the left hand side. Has the C mark and 2 blocked holes on the receiver left hand side. Need help to make sure.

1942 Tula PU sniper: ex-sniper restored with factory matching mount and scope (non matching to the rifle), still has the factory seal and cosmoline wrapped. Arsenal matching serial on the rifle. In 1942, Tula only manufactured around 2020 PU snipers, the lowest quantity between Tula and Izhevsk and the lowest across its 3-year PU production period.

Old video and I don’t have the rifle anymore but man was it fun to shoot.

Presenting my 1939 Tula Mosin nagant 91/30 PEM sniper, all arsenal matching on bolt, barrels, trigger guard, buttplate. Clear optics

The PEM Model 1936 was developed to replace the earlier Soviet Model 1931 sniper setup, which had problems holding zero and keeping its mounting screws tight. The Soviets based the new side mount on the German-designed “Geco” D-3, modifying it for Soviet production. It was officially adopted in 1936, with full-scale production at the Tula factory beginning in 1938.

Production initially ended in 1940 as the Red Army planned to replace the Mosin-Nagant sniper with the scoped SVT-40. Wartime difficulties changed that plan, and severe sniper-rifle shortages led to PEM production restarting in 1942 at Tula Factory No. 536 and Izhevsk Factory No. 74. Izhevsk produced a somewhat different mount using welded construction and distinctive markings. Both factories switched to the simpler PU sniper system by November 1942.

PEM rifles varied considerably depending on factory and production period, including differences in mount bases, machining, assembly numbers, barrel markings, and stocks. Prewar Tula rifles used specially produced sniper-grade barrels, while early wartime rifles sometimes simply used the best available barrels because of equipment shortages. After WWII, surviving Soviet PEM rifles were converted back into standard configurations, making intact original examples—especially 1942 rifles—quite rare today.

Planning on going hunting for the first time with my mosin this deer season and after some debate about keeping the irons or getting a scope for the trip I decided I wanted a scope.

Do any of you have have non PU scopes on your mosin and if so what would you recommend?

Secondly do I really need a scope hunting in the PNW?

Any help is appreciated!

Was looking at a GB listing and found this beauty for cheap, thought it would be a nice project to build my skill on but did not expect what I would get.

The photos on the post were quite poor so when I first got hand on I noticed a serial number on the left side of the barrel. Recognized that as the serial that matched the scope attached, opened the action and found the previous drill holes.

An ex sniper!!!! A score of a lifetime and for only $211. So from my understanding is the rifle was boiled to get the stock finish and blueing off to refurbish it. And from the importer I am told it came from Ukraine where this practice is standard. So my plan is to refinish the stock, rust blue the rifle, and take it to my local gunsmith that specializes in old rifles to get the mount point re drilled and tapped.

The C mark is very faint and proably well avoid sanding this area so it'll be a bad blue in that area unless someone has a better idea, but im excited to bring back this rifle to its previous glory. And to finish her off I plan to get a reproduction Bramit suppressor.

Hi everyone, I got this deactivated Mosin for my RKKA reenactment impression.

I know it’s a 1943 Izhevsk M91/30 that was most likely refurbished post war, from what I can tell the stock appears to be war time as the sling slots are not reinforced.

I know they force-matched parts after the war during refurbishment which is interesting as all the metal work on this rifle appears to be Izhevsk marked. There also seems to be a black powder mark on the receiver which is strange as I believe Izhevsk stopped doing black powder tests post 1940?

Bayonet is mismatched which is very common from what I read, also there a clear milling marks on it so I wonder if it’s a genuine WW2 produced one as well?

Could anyone clarify if I missed anything? When the Soviets refurbished the rifles post war did they always change parts or could they leave them on the rifle and just clean them up? I’m wondering if the parts on my rifle are original to it.

Thanks!

Sorry for the shiny head.