Over the years Ive had a passion for old rifles. Mainly military surplus. Some of these rifles have been in some horrid situations that non of us would willingly wish for.
One rifle that I had bought that was from the former Yugoslavia changed the atmosphere of my room. I started to have a reoccurring dream that I was fearing for my life about to die in a small clearing surrounded by tall grass as I was hiding. Like the kind deer would make. It was hot I was looking out towards the Tall grass lying on my back in a light green uniform.
This dream reoccurred atleast 6 times with no variations. It seemed like it was my last memory on a loop. Each time I clutched that old bolt action mauser like my life was about to end. I would awake sweating as if it was Summer in my cold room. The dreams ended after I sold it.
A few weeks ago a man brought in just another Mosin Nagant as it looked. He had it on a sling. It was a trade show so there where plenty of other guns there looking much more attractive. Something small inside of me prodded my interest. It sat for awhile with no takers. The owner only wanted 200$, I found out. As I inspected it and saw 1906 on it, I was floored. I knew to me it was worth more than 200$. I didn't have money and my curiosity and asking the owner to hold it attracted other sharks towards the end having some one else by it.
That rifle haunted me . So i brought 300$ weeks latter to find out who bought it, and I offered them 250$ for it. He mused on my offer for a spell, than decided to sell it to me, he was going to re sell it as most people do at another show for 325$. He was taking it that day to try and sell it.
After getting it home I was excited to clean it up. To remove the cosmoline the dirt and to treat any rust. It took some time and I still wasn't sure what it was, was it Finnish? Was it a Cossack rifle? It turned out I found later a 1906 Imperial Tula Mosin. It has so many rings like a tree telling its age and scars to prove it. It gave me warm vivid goose bumps as I held it after it was cleaned up and back together.
There are bullet strifes on each side on the front ends at different points probably caused as the gun was being cycled in-between shots in a trench. Its very long. Atleast 52 inches. The upper handgaurd was replaced. The bullet track would have shattered it. Probably replaced twice.
The Buttstock has the initials HwH. Also what looks like OtiN or OtvN fainter closer to the trigger guard is also scribbled. Apon further view it was H w H but a failed attempt compared to the second one wich was very deep. The first being almost over lapped and choppy. Maybe he knew he was about to die and carved it in deep as a final momento in a bottle to some sensitive soul would tell his story of his failed heroism to stop the Red Monster.. Photos will solidify this story and would show my faulty description , but currently not seeing how to paste so the description continues. The owner also carved deep notch into the top and bottom of the neck a pre pistol grip/hand stop to better hold onto the rifle.
But the most remarkable experience was just before bed late one night as I was about to fall asleep with light from the other room faintly illuminating the first part of my room, I saw a thick pair of Reddish deep red brown colored leather gloves reaching towards the rifle that is in the middle of my old collection . They looked new, clean and very animatedly real. It was on the same level of the rifle on display in my collection. . The light only illuminated the gloves the rest of the dark room would reveal nothing more of the visitor.
It wasn't startling given my life has been full of supernatural phenomenon . It was only for a split second they where visible as they reached out to retrieve the rifle in the same fashion I would to remove it from the display.
Since then ive researched what the uniform of an Imperial Russian soldier looked like, or Russian names with H. I found a photo of Peter the Great wearing a similar pair. Ive written a short story about Nicholas the 2nd the last Emperor of Russia years ago but its not published. Coincidentally its a supernatural story. Maybe it will be published on here.
One day maybe I will get the full story untill then only the scars and the ghost can give me hints. I will research further and wait to see what else unfolds.
If I only I can figure a way to attach photos....
https://rumble.com/v2f9fas-mosin-tula-1906-imperial-part-2..html
Best way possible
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