I purchased 2 mosin-nagants about 20 years ago from a local gun store that is now long gone. I bought a 91/30 long barrel with detachable bayonet and a carbine length rifle that had no bayonet. Both were caked in cosmoline but cleaned up nicely and look unused.
Over the last couple years I have taken both of them out to shoot as 54R ammo seemed to be readily replaceable when no other rifle ammo was available at Rural King.
I prefer the weight and carry ability of the carbine but had to add a limb saver slip on kick pad as it kicks like a mule but shoots extremely well, as good or better than the 91/30 when I do my part.
I tried to do a little research and discovered that the carbine versions were called M38 and M44. The M44 had a folding bayonet like my type 56 SKS and M38 had no bayonet. I think the model year was the reason for the naming of the rifles. The one I have is marked 1944 on the receiver but has no bayonet like an M38. It doesn’t even a mark where one would have been.
Surely there are others that appreciate these old cheap surplus firearms. If so has anyone came across one like this or is it a cut down commercial 91/30 and not an M44?
Over the last couple years I have taken both of them out to shoot as 54R ammo seemed to be readily replaceable when no other rifle ammo was available at Rural King.
I prefer the weight and carry ability of the carbine but had to add a limb saver slip on kick pad as it kicks like a mule but shoots extremely well, as good or better than the 91/30 when I do my part.
I tried to do a little research and discovered that the carbine versions were called M38 and M44. The M44 had a folding bayonet like my type 56 SKS and M38 had no bayonet. I think the model year was the reason for the naming of the rifles. The one I have is marked 1944 on the receiver but has no bayonet like an M38. It doesn’t even a mark where one would have been.
Surely there are others that appreciate these old cheap surplus firearms. If so has anyone came across one like this or is it a cut down commercial 91/30 and not an M44?