1960 Type 53 with Likely Vietnamese Heritage

[Phosphorus32]

The 1960 Type 53 is one of the few firearms that can be claimed with good confidence to be Vietnam bringbacks, even in the absence of good war trophy papers. A 1960 Type 53, no import marks, patina/corrosion above the woodline consistent with the appearance of Vietnam bringbacks, and some good bluing but also some pitting below the woodline. This specimen has all 1960 T53 parts (letter prefixes) but mismatched except for the magazine floorplate and the receiver, both A3350. The bolt has a C block SN. The buttplate is not serialized but the stock does have a D block SN, both features being consistent with a 1960 Type 53. The rusty bore appears to have some rifling remaining and a few cobwebs. A lot of rust/oil staining on the stock. I haven't cleaned this carbine, and I likely will leave it that way, in its historical completeness. Opinions on oiling it to inhibit further rusting are welcome. I suspect that'll be a slow process now that it already has a surface of corrosion and since I live in an arid climate.

Hearsay section: The story from the seller at the gunshop in NJ was that this was a consignment from the executor (neighbor) of the estate of a Vietnam Vet who died without close relatives. Rather sad if this is the case. I asked the proprietor to contact the executor to see if I could correspond with him regarding any further information. He said he asked and the executor said he had no further information, which I interpret as he didn't want to be contacted.  I just wanted to find out the name of the vet to avoid losing his historical attachment to this firearm. C'est la vie, c'est la guerre.

[running-man]

Now that is one awesome piece of history right there Jon!    Too bad the trail went cold so early in your search, but I'd bet you are likely correct in your assumptions on it.

And just look at that Chinese Cyrillic ￠!  Or wait, maybe it's a sideways omega symbol! (Sorry, I just had to) 

I think I see a star stamping on the metal of the top of the cocking piece (that's what numrich calls it anyhow, no idea, I've no clue when it comes to Mosins)?  Any stars on the stock anywhere?  If so, these would be exceptionally consistent with the letter series Type 56s. 

[Greasemonkey]

Nice Mosin One day I'm sure RM will own such a nice piece of history such as that 

Wait...uuhhhmmmm.... where is the customary fence? Did you move, fence fall down? Borrow the neighbors yard?  Oh , I see, it's RM's, but your posting it incognito for him so he don't hear a buncha stuff   It's RM's backyard....


ME... I'd oil it, oiling is not technically cleaning it, it's putting further damage on hold...How is the bore, shuck one in it, blow them bore spiders out, it's a Mosin, it can handle it?

fricken gun of the week club members..what else you got, I'm gonna introduce Jimmy to your UPS man

[Loose}{Cannon]

Holy gun buying spree you rich biotch.   

Looks great... For a mosin?   Bwahahahahahahah. 

Yeah, hows the bore? 

[John Galt]

Looks like a rich piece of history there!  If it could only talk, I bet the stories would be amazing!

[Phosphorus32]

Hey Joe, No stars anywhere. Looked it over with a lighted magnifying glass and nothing. There is what appears to be a 7 on the bolt body forward of the bolt handle. Besides the SN on the bolt body, that's it for marks on the bolt pieces, whereas Russian pieces would have the arsenal on the bolt body, bolt head, cocking piece and connector (and sometimes the extractor). There is a 2 stamped in the stock just in front of the buttplate. Otherwise very few markings on these compared to Russian M44s

The c is obviously a French ç carefully placed there by an MIA French lieutenant captured by the NVA at Dien Bien Phu and forced to work in Haiphong uncrating weapons for shipping south   

Holy gun buying spree you rich biotch.   

No poor biotch (why I'm not keeping the M)

Although, this one was fairly inexpensive (and a bit unexpected). 

Funny story: A week ago Sunday I was sitting in bed before lights out thinking, I'd really like to have a Vietnam piece someday, let's punch in 1960 Mosin in Gunbroker... Hey, there's one ending tomorrow morning and it's at $150. Aw heck, I'll punch in $160...you are high bidder at $155.  Next day at work I get to thinking that auction ended this morning. Sure enough, $155 took it   

Looks great... For a mosin?   Bwahahahahahahah. 

Yeah, hows the bore? 

Yup bore is corroded and traces of rifling are observable.  Passes the bullet test with flying colors if I use a 7.92.57

7.62x54 sinks in up to the casing 

[Phosphorus32]

Nice Mosin One day I'm sure RM will own such a nice piece of history such as that 

Wait...uuhhhmmmm.... where is the customary fence? Did you move, fence fall down? Borrow the neighbors yard?  Oh , I see, it's RM's, but your posting it incognito for him so he don't hear a buncha stuff   It's RM's backyard....


ME... I'd oil it, oiling is not technically cleaning it, it's putting further damage on hold...How is the bore, shuck one in it, blow them bore spiders out, it's a Mosin, it can handle it?

fricken gun of the week club members..what else you got, I'm gonna introduce Jimmy to your UPS man

I switched up my photography backdrop and used the stone wall (cuz it was in the shade).

Yeah, maybe oil would be okay. No need to shoot it though, especially after the bullet test. It'd probably keyhole at 10 yds 

Just saw your 4 pt text comment 

Looks like a rich piece of history there!  If it could only talk, I bet the stories would be amazing!

Thanks John!  I wish I could chase down more of its history but I'm pleased with the historical picture it presents 

[Greasemonkey]

Dang...I was hoping RM had evolved and turned over a new leaf in collecting.

It might shock ya, and not keyhole, or it goes bang and the bullet just falls out the bore.

And if you see some crazy guy wearing a football helmet, 2 left combat boots with a pink leotard with a bright yellow tutu with purple polka dots chasing your UPS man, ignore it, it's Jimmy intercepting you next package.

Yeah..I'm a little biased about Mosins I woulda bought it, one thing that kind of shocking is how weathered/pitted the metal has gotten, yet the stock doesn't show it as bad in the way of handling marks, a majority of the wood is clean and it's pretty devoid of dings/dents and use one would expect to see in a hard used weapon.

[Phosphorus32]

RM was quite enthusiastic,  but I think that was  because it's a Vietnam bring back, and in spite of it being a Mosin 

It appears to me that the darkening on the stock is primarily iron oxide staining and perhaps some oil darkening. It is surprisingly free of big dings.  The interior of the handguard is very dark, consistent with rust and/or oil staining as well. Based on the pattern of staining of the stock and the corrosion of the metal I would guess the stock has been with the gun all along.

I'll have my eye out for Jimmy  If I hear Katy Perry blaring from the cab of a rusty '56 Ford flat bed you can bet my head will be swiveling

[running-man]

RM was quite enthusiastic,  but I think that was  because it's a Vietnam bring back, and in spite of it being a Mosin 

Most definitely!  It could have been an 8 track tape deck from Vietnam and I'd have been equally impressed!  The short carbine length canoe paddles aren't all that bad actually, they look nice and proportioned.  The 10 footers, not so much.

I did find a photo of *Vladimir with his Mosin on the western front during WWI:


*May not actually be Russian or a Mosin-Nagant

[Dannyboy53]

P32 you lucky rascal, I'm green with envy!  I also would not hesitate to lightly oil the old gal.

[Greasemonkey]

RM was quite enthusiastic,  but I think that was  because it's a Vietnam bring back, and in spite of it being a Mosin 

Most definitely!  It could have been an 8 track tape deck from Vietnam and I'd have been equally impressed!  The short carbine length canoe paddles aren't all that bad actually, they look nice and proportioned.  The 10 footers, not so much.

I did find a photo of *Vladimir with his Mosin on the western front during WWI:


*May not actually be Russian or a Mosin-Nagant

WHOA!!!!!!  It's a black and white photo of RM in a Halloween costume posing with a M91 Mosin Nagant, I had heard/read he was a vertically challenged person, but never dreamed he was that challanged   

[Dannyboy53]

Dang it! If he's hunting with that thing, by the time the shot left the barrel the game would be gone. 

[Phosphorus32]

P32 you lucky rascal, I'm green with envy!  I also would not hesitate to lightly oil the old gal.

Thanks Danny!

RM was quite enthusiastic,  but I think that was  because it's a Vietnam bring back, and in spite of it being a Mosin 

Most definitely!  It could have been an 8 track tape deck from Vietnam and I'd have been equally impressed!  The short carbine length canoe paddles aren't all that bad actually, they look nice and proportioned.  The 10 footers, not so much.

10 footer    Nah!, the M91 and M/24 are a handy quick-pointing 515 lines, or 1.84 arshins, or 130.8 cm, or 51.5"...uh, only about 4 and a half feet...uh, with mandatory fixed bayonet still less than 6 feet. Okay, they're great for the wide open steppes but suck in dense forest...

Vladimir: "Ivan, look out behind you!" 
Ivan: "Thanks, let me take two steps forward, point my rifle skyward, then when I get by this tree I can turn around and lower it...dang, tangled in the branches...to point it...BANG...gasp, gurgle, the other direction"

[MEBears]

What a deal! You never know what a GB search will turn up. Those Mosins are pretty sweet too.

[Phosphorus32]

What a deal! You never know what a GB search will turn up. Those Mosins are pretty sweet too.

Thanks...and thanks again! (My Chatellerault M91 and Finnish M/24)

That T53 was a bit of a surprise find and win 

[escobert]

Very cool. Too bad you couldn't find out the vets name and more about him.  I'm thinking of grabbing a T53 for my finace. Just waiting for the right one :p