If you are going to screw around with something then you screw around with the best, and leave the rest for the kiddy's.
Finnish MN mdl 39... 7.62 X 54R all matching, no import marks, great wood, looks to be unissued condition . Hard to find in this condition.
The Finns didn't have the money nor capability to create their own weapons system, so they used what they had plenty of and that was MN's from every corner of Europe. They subcontracted their barrels as well as produced them themselves. they used the receivers and other assorted parts creating what is considered to be the Cadilliac of MN's. The accuracy of which was on par with the best that Europe had. Total producton on the 39's was 101K. Produced from 1940 through WW2 with small production after the war ceasing around 1973.
All 39's are rebuilds of the earlier 91's.... Total production on the MN's is 37M. Used by the Russians from 1891 through WW2 and beyond, NK, China, N Viet, all the Warsaw Pac or Eastern Bloc nations, the USA during it's Russian incursion after WW1 and during the Spanish Civil War...plus?
All MN's were dirt cheap until a few years ago. Then as with everything else the prices stated to escalate. Today a run of the mill 91 and sub variations start at about $300. Then we start to move up the food chain. Recently a M39 with a Tikka barrel sold for $1763.00. It is a very rare bird indeed.
About 10 years ago I had an inkling to buy a MN with some cheap ammo with the idea of going to the range and popping off some rounds. I thought well that is kind of pointless as it is beneath my dignity as an advanced collector who has better fish to fry. So what has changed is that I have read a bio of Stalin which fills in a gap in my knowledge about the early Soviet period. Which peeks my interest to have a representative. piece. That and seeing a MN posted here. I have always known that the Finnish MN's were the way to fly...but who cared? So as I stumbled across a nice one I decided to go for it, as trying to find another one as nice would be tough. There are some unissued ones out there where the wood (on mine the SN is stamped into the stock) isn't nearly as nice for $700, they also have import marks.
Next stop will be a K31.
Other previously cheap surplus mil rifles that are enjoying a price appreciation among others are the Enfields the No 4 Mk ll unissued in particular, Arisaka's with the Mum intact is prized, and WW1 German Mausers...any GEW 98 or KAR 98 AZ with matching numbers is worth buying (they are very tough to find), a 1916 date is the one most likely to have matching numbers and be a WW1 vet bring back. The Springfield 03's and variations 1917'S, M1 Carbines and Garands...have always had a cache.
In general military surplus stuff is now catching on. The existing supply's have or are drying up.