How to tell difference in an M27 and an M28?

[cruddymutt]

Im looking into expanding my Finn Mosin collection and am looking at getting both an m27 and an m28. Am I correct that the m28 will have the "SY" marking on the barrel where the m27 will not?

[Beetle Bailey]

Yes. The M27 was for the army and the M28 is for the Civil Guards. "SY" denotes the Civil Guards. There are very rare M28's with the Sako gear wheel instead of the SY.

Good luck on the search - I found my M28 sitting in a gunshop mismarked as simply a Russian Mosin Nagant. I asked to see it and the guy behind the counter picked it up and noticed it was actually a Finn (guess someone else in the shop put the tag on it). The rifle has seen better days, but still had a decent bore so I happily picked it up.

[cruddymutt]

Thanks. I have seen m27 in m28 stocks and vice versa. m28's with m27 barrel bands and what-not. Now I know what the barrel marks should be at least.

[Flyin Brian]

A few other differences:

M27- Set screw towards the rear of the front sight blade
M28- Set screw towards the front of the front sight blade

M27- Barrel has the year of manufacture stamped on top
M28- Barrel does not have year stamped on top (may have a tiny 2 digit year stamp on the underside)

M27- Rear sight plate held on with screws at the rear of the sight (horizontal, going the same direction as the barrel)
M28- Rear sight plate held on with screws on the top of the sight (vertical, perpendicular to the barrel)

M27- stock has a hinged front band or nosecap (may have "popsicle stick" supports on later style)
M28- stock has a one or two piece nosecap without a hinge.

2 other odd features on M27s are the winged bolt connector found on some M27s, and also the small tabs on the sides of the rear sight slider meant to block the elevation numbers from being used since they are not correct. Not all M27s have these features but I've never seen these on any other models.

[Flyin Brian]

Here is a photo of 4 of my M28s. The bottom 2 are Tikka barrels and the top 2 are SIG barrels. They made slightly fewer Tikkas, so those are sometimes priced a little higher.

The top one is a little different than the rest

[jms]

Here is a photo of 4 of my M28s. The bottom 2 are Tikka barrels and the top 2 are SIG barrels. They made slightly fewer Tikkas, so those are sometimes priced a little higher.

The top one is a little different than the rest

Nice. And you have to rub in the top one.

[mosinnagantm9130]

The top one is a little different than the rest

You're killing me here!