Another Kossuth Crest sniper rifle

This is a place to post about the classic Russian bolt action rifle.

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Miller Tyme
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Another Kossuth Crest sniper rifle

Post by Miller Tyme » Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:21 pm

Well Big Brown just dropped off my latest "Hungarian" PU sniper, and this one has a special twist.

I found it on Gunbroker, had to wait a week for it to run its course. Only one other late bidder who might have been thinking it was a "Nam bring back" which the seller alluded to. (No, I don't think it is) Bad pics probably cost the seller as the Kossuth Crest was not very visible at a glance unless you knew what and where to look.

There are 2 lines of thought on the Kossuth Crest, the 1st is it is a firearm used by the anti-communist forces during the 56 Hungarian Revolution since the crest was their symbol. Personally, I don't buy it as the last thing anyone would have had time to do is stamp rifle receivers with their crest.

The 2nd line of thought, and the one I subscribe to is it is a sort of "Lease Lend" style marking applied by the Hungarian Army to small arms the Russians supplied to them. It is thought that this marking was scrubbed after the 56 Revolt since it was the symbol used by the opposition, which would explain why so few have surfaced.

This is the 4th so marked PU sniper found to date in the US (I own 2 of them) 3 of the 4 are all parts matching except for the scopes, but all 4 are 43 Izhevsk's and all are from the same S/N block. There is also a 45 Izhevsk M44 that is also stamped with the Kossuth Crest and it to resides in my collection.

This rifle itself is a beautiful mixmaster of Russian and Hungarian parts, like my 1945 M44 stamped rifle and has a pristine bore.
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“The only real power comes out of a long rifle" - Joseph Stalin
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Niner
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Re: Another Kossuth Crest sniper rifle

Post by Niner » Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:27 pm

Does it have any import marks? Any guess as to how it got into the US?

Very rare find from what you are telling us. Good for you to have it and most of it's US owned relatives.
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Miller Tyme
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Re: Another Kossuth Crest sniper rifle

Post by Miller Tyme » Fri Sep 09, 2022 4:51 am

No import marks, (though none of my Hungarians do) and it seems to be thought that most made there way here from Canada. These Hungarians just seem to hold a special allure for me. :lol:
“The only real power comes out of a long rifle" - Joseph Stalin
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