I think the general ubiquity of the Mosin Nagant 91/30 and how clunky it seems compared to guns like the 1903 Springfield or Mauser K.98k.
Truth be told, it was state of the art in 1891 and compares favorably with its contemporaries.
The PV-1891 (Mosin-Nagant) was 51.5" long, 9.2 lb. loaded. 5 shots of 7.62x54mmR.
The Austrian-Hungarian Empire issued the Steyr-Mannlicher M.88-90. 50" long, 9.2 lb. loaded. 5 shots of 8x50mmR Mannlicher.
The French issued the Lebel Model 1886. 51.2" long, 10 lb. loaded. 8+2 shots of 8x50mmR Lebel. The +2 comes from one in the chamber and one on the cartridge elevator.
The Germans issued the Gew.88 (the commission rifle). 49" long, 8.7 lb. loaded. 5+1 shots of 7.92x57mm.
The Italians issued the Mannlicher-Carcano Mod 91. 50.5" long, 8.9 lb. loaded. 6 shots of 6.5x52mm.
The UK issued the Lee-Metford Mk I. 49.5" long, 9.9 lb. loaded. 8 shots of .303 British.
When the Mosin was introduced, the US was still searching for a new service rifle. The Mosin compares very favorably agains the Springfield M1873 (the trap-door). 51 7/8" long, 9.2 lb. loaded. One shot of .45-70-405.
The US had not issued the Krag-Jørgenson M1892 when the Mosin was introduced. 49" long, 9.6 lb. loaded. 5+1 shots of .30-40.
How many of these guns were still front-line issue come World War One?
Truth be told, it was state of the art in 1891 and compares favorably with its contemporaries.
The PV-1891 (Mosin-Nagant) was 51.5" long, 9.2 lb. loaded. 5 shots of 7.62x54mmR.
The Austrian-Hungarian Empire issued the Steyr-Mannlicher M.88-90. 50" long, 9.2 lb. loaded. 5 shots of 8x50mmR Mannlicher.
The French issued the Lebel Model 1886. 51.2" long, 10 lb. loaded. 8+2 shots of 8x50mmR Lebel. The +2 comes from one in the chamber and one on the cartridge elevator.
The Germans issued the Gew.88 (the commission rifle). 49" long, 8.7 lb. loaded. 5+1 shots of 7.92x57mm.
The Italians issued the Mannlicher-Carcano Mod 91. 50.5" long, 8.9 lb. loaded. 6 shots of 6.5x52mm.
The UK issued the Lee-Metford Mk I. 49.5" long, 9.9 lb. loaded. 8 shots of .303 British.
When the Mosin was introduced, the US was still searching for a new service rifle. The Mosin compares very favorably agains the Springfield M1873 (the trap-door). 51 7/8" long, 9.2 lb. loaded. One shot of .45-70-405.
The US had not issued the Krag-Jørgenson M1892 when the Mosin was introduced. 49" long, 9.6 lb. loaded. 5+1 shots of .30-40.
How many of these guns were still front-line issue come World War One?