So a few years ago I saw a deal from Classic arms for Mosins for $99.99 well I knew the end was near so I started buying them as I came across extra cash. They where described as grade B so I wasn't expecting anything but shooters. I did however happen across a couple of hexs and some other dime a dozen rifles. My last order I opened the box to find a 1944 Izhevsk ex sniper . Needles to say I was happy with my find and promptly went to try it out. The dam thing shoots pretty good for a mosin so after much though I decided to bring it back to it's original glory as best I could. After much searching on the internet to find all the correct parts like a original bent bolt handle , that was tough. I set about trying to remove the scope base mount plugs from the receiver. Now I have worked as a ASE master tech for dam near 30 years and in a LGS fixing all the trades and customer installs and never Have I run into such hard steel on a firearm outside of a spring. None of the tools in the arsenal would touch those plugs so I had to order a couple of solid carbide drill bits to do it and it killed one of the $36 buck a piece drill bits in the first hole. Well long story short after a couple of years of start and stop I finally got it done. The scope is a reproduction but I did pick up an original for it also. I just came in from sighting it in and I am all smiles and grins.