My parents were at a friend's house when I arrived, so I placed my gifts under the tree and noticed a wrapped up rifle under the tree. I assumed, as it was long, and untagged, that it was a Mosin 91 that my brother had been scoping out at a local shop.
I was wrong.
When it was time to open Christmas gifts, it turns out the rifle was for me!
Turns out if was a gift from my brother,and Argentine 1891 that I had spied locally several months ago, got excited about, but was gone a few days later when I returned.
She's all matching, about 99% blue, with a gorgeous tiger striped stock that has a few minor handling dings. She's unsanded and retains numerous cartouches, has excellent fire blued parts, and really nice deep bluing.
The bore was a bit cruddy, but luckily, a quick cleaning revealed a shiny bore, and when I took her out for a spin the day after Christmas, she not only shot well (all in the black at 100 taking a 6 o'clock hold), but the post shoot cleaning revealed a perfect bore! I was amazed that the sights weren't putting rounds way high at 2 and 100 yds.
She's got a ground crest, as many do, and the only real issue is that the previous owner put the barrel band on backwards, and when he couldn't get it to fit correctly, used a screwdriver to try to drive the band on, causing a few deep dings in the band that cause it to bind on the stock and prevent removal. I'm going to order a new band, and I'll probably have to cut this band off
Lesse...it's a Lowe. Anything else I'm missing? ah...pictures!
Tiger striping is much more striking in person.
Shot it with some '78 dated FN ammo. Performed very nicely.
Thanks, bro!
More pix!-
http://public.fotki.com/ThePitbullofLov ... ne_mauser/
A pretty good Christmas for me this year!
I can only dream about getting pressies like that! 
