Today’s video features probably my favorite milsurp I own. This is a Russian Contract Model 1895.
At the outset of WWI, Russia was desperately short of rifles. Remington and New England Westinghouse had procured contracts to manufacture the Mosin Nagant m/91, but productions was estimated to be months away. Winchester had a rifle that could be chambered in 7.62x54r in weeks. Russia then procured a contract to fill the gap until Remington and NEW could begin production of the m/91. Two contracts were procured for a total for 300,000 rifles.
Russia required changes in addition to be chambered in 7.62x54r. This included being capable of loading from a stripper clip, rear sights would be graduated in Russian arshins, sliding cover on butt plate over compartment for disassembly and cleaning tools, a quick-detachable swivel for a variety of sling configurations, and must accept and be provided a bayonet. Of these changes, the addition of the charging bridge for loading with a stripper clip gives the Russian contract rifles their most distinctive profile.
These rifles would go on to be heavily used by Russia for the remainder of WWI and beyond. They were used during the Russian Civil War and against British and American Expeditionary Forces sent to North Russia in 1919. During the Spanish Civil War as many as 20,000 Model 1895’s would be sent to forces opposing General Franco’s Nationalist Army. After the Spanish Civil War, these 1895’s would be sorted, inspected, cleaned and stamped with the MP8 flaming bomb on the butt stock. Mine is one of these examples and was surplused by Spain to the US sometime in the 1950’s or 1960’s.
It’s just an awesome rifle to shoot with a tremendous amount of history. For those interested in learning more about these awesome rifles I would recommend the book "Winchester Model 1895 - Last of the Classic Lever Actions" by Robb Kassab & Brad Dunbar.
