Originally Posted by LVSteve

I suspect that barrel diameter on Mosins varies depending on when they were built. My wartime production 1943 Izhevsk is so rough you can almost use many surfaces as a nail file. My 1936 Tula is MUCH better finished. Although I haven't measured them, it wouldn't surprise me to find the 1943 has a thicker barrel than the 1936, simply because of the lack of polishing work. Now, if all the bayonets are made to the (smaller) pre wartime standards and tolerances, then I can easily see how a bayonet would not fit well.