Erin had her modified 91/30 get a photoshoot from Oleg Volk.
I’ve kept all my Mosins as stock as I got them. Some have miss-matches, others have some modifications. I suspect all of these alterations were done by military people earning military pay to do it, so I consider it kosher.
While I wouldn’t personally do to one of my rifles**UPDATE** See Update Below, what Erin did, she sure seems happy about it, so why should I give a shit, nor should she care what I think. Sounds like its a crazy fun rifle for her to shoot, and isn’t that the whole point?
Also on the other hand I have Mosins I have never shot, and likely never will…and that’s the whole point. Just having a White-Army Tula rifle, or a Westinghouse with US Military alterations is reward enough for me. I also have a bunch that I shoot the doors off of, and that too is a joy.
Also I’ll point out that I know vets with artificial joints and limbs, and with skin grafts and other repairs. Do we call such soldiers “Bubba Jobs”? Nope. They’ve just been worked over so they live with a little more joy. Doesn’t make them any less of a war hero!
**UPDATE** Just talked with Erin, and all modifications to her rifle are 100% reversible, so this is NOT a “Bubba Job”, and I apologize for making such statements. What Erin did was 100% awesome, as its the best of both worlds. She has a fun-to-shoot gun AND can convert it back to a collector’s item whenever needed. Well played!
I’ve made minor modifications to my 91/30, such as better iron sights and a Timney trigger, but it’s nothing that I can’t take out and return the gun to original condition.
But I agree with what you feel and with what Erin did. It’s your gun, enjoy it!
And the worst that happens is that in 50 years, someone gets to enjoy doing a restore on her rifle when Mosins are as rare as Springfields and Krags are now!
In Soviet Russia, rifle fight against self and win every time!