Brief Operational History

When the Mosin-Nagant Dragoon rifle was accepted in 1891 as one of the variants of the Mosin-Nagant infantry rifle.  The rifle was 2.5 inches shorter and about a pound lighter than the infantry rifle.  It also differed from the infantry rifle other small ways, such as by having different barrel bands secured by flat retaining springs.  Exact production numbers for the rifle during these early years are difficult to come by, but it is believed that 421,025 dragoon rifles were made between 1891 and 1908.

The Dragoon rifle was first issued to troops serving in Dragoon cavalry units, and saw its first combat action during the Russo-Japanese war.  The rifle was highly regarded by the troops who used it.  Still, the old black powder cartridge that the rifle used was seen as being underpowered.  This led to a round of modifications being made between 1907 and 1910.  The first of these being a new rear sight that took the ballistics of the new smokeless powder cartridge into account.  Another change was the addition of a handguard in 1910. 

The rifle would later be used during the Great War and Revolution that followed.  Experience in combat showed that the rifle was a sound design, but that some of its components could be simplified for ease of manufacture.  

In 1922 the Red Army decided to reduce the number of rifles in service to a single design.  On October 3rd of that year the Revolutionary Military Council declared that they had selected the M-91 Dragoon rifle to be the standard service rifle of the Red Army, until a new rifle could be designed.  All production on other variants of the M-91 rifle ceased, and by 1924 the Dragoon was the only rifle in production.

Also in 1924 the Artillery Committee Extended Board began working on a new universal rifle.  Designers and infantry representatives worked together.  They were ordered to use the M-91 Dragoon as a base to work from, and only make changes that could be done without complicating production.  Improvements to the bayonet were also attempted.

Introduction of the new rifle was delayed for many years because of problems in the Soviet industrial sector.  Production of the M-91 Dragoon continued during these years, but ended in 1930 when the M-91/30 infantry rifle finally entered series production.

Even though production of the M-91 Dragoon had ended, the rifle still saw extensive service in the Winter War and during the Great Patriotic War.  This was because it was almost identical to the M-91/30 in service at the time, and because the Red Army was in need of every rifle it could get.  It was phased out of active service by the end of the Great Patriotic war.

Tactical Use and Limitations

The Mosin-Nagant Dragoon rifle had a number of features that made it an excellent weapon.  The first was that it was smaller and lighter than its infantry counterpart.  Its service during the Russo-Japanese war proved that it offered much the same performance as the infantry rifle.  It was rugged, accurate, and well liked by the troops.  It had few significant shortcomings.

It was such an effective weapon that in the 1920's it was chosen to replace all other versions of the Mosin-Nagant 'three line' rifle.  By 1930 the Dragoon would be manufactured, in a somewhat modified form as the Mosin-Nagant M-91/30. 

In battle the rifle was used by Russian Dragoons.  These were a type of cavalry that could be used in a cavalry role or dismounted as infantrymen.

Method of Operation

The M-91 Dragoon rifle is a manually cycled bolt action rifle.  After firing, the user pulls the bolt handle up to unlock and cock the action, then backwards to eject the spent cartridge.  When the bolt is pushed forward it strips a round from the magazine and chambers it.  The weapon is now ready to fire.

Deployment Chronology

The Mosin-Nagant Dragoon rifle is a rifle with a long and interesting history.  It was originally designed to replace the older single shot rifles then in use by the Russian army.  In its later years the rifle replaced all other variants of the Mosin-Nagant rifle.  It was later replaced in service by a modified version of itself - the M-91/30.  In this section you can read more about the weapons the M-91 Dragoon rifle replaced and those weapons that eventually replaced it.  You can find out more about each weapon by clicking on the links below.

Sources Cited

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you.  We hope you can find them as useful as we have.

• Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, by Ian V. Hogg and John S. Weeks, published by Krause publications 2000

• Soviet Small-Arms and Ammunition, by D.N. Bolotin, published by Finnish Arms Museum Foundation 1995

• The Mosin Nagant Rifle, by Terence W. Lapin, published by North Cape Publications, 1998