280,000 of these rifles were originally manufactured under contract with the Imperial Russian government. After the fall of the Russian monarchy, the Russian contracts were terminated and these rifles were purchased by the U.S. Ordnance Department, where they were used for training purposes as well as with the American Expeditionary Forces both in North Russia and in Siberia between 1918-1919, to enable the troops to utilize stores of 7.62x54R Russian ammunition. Inverted "V" blade front and adjustable notch rear sights with the increments graduated to "32" Russian arshins, standard "imperial eagle" crest above the maker's mark and "1917" date on the breech of the barrel, hex receiver, polished straight handle bolt, smooth American walnut stock with grasping grooves, an eagle head stamp on bottom ahead of the trigger guard housing, circled Russian inspection stamp on the left of the buttstock, and a smooth steel buttplate. Matching serial numbers on the barrel, bolt and floorplate, with non-matching number "1309524" on the buttplate. Includes a socket spike bayonet numbered "581985".