[KVL]

I have heard it said that the DPRK manufactured a copy of the Mosin 91/30 called the Type 30. Does anyone know if that was the case? If so, did they make any other Mosin models?

 

[fernleaf]

I've seen no evidence to say that they did.

They are not mentioned by Vic, tuco or kh on MN.net, nor by Ted on 7.62x54r.net.

But having said that, if the DPRK ever did manufacture Mosins, there's a good chance we in the West would probably never hear of it...

 

[gun_nut_73]

Not as far as I know. Just a WAG, but perhaps your source was been thinking of the Chinese Type 53, or maybe the stamp that has been seen on a few Mosin Nagant rifles that has a 5-pointed star in a circle that closely resembles the North Korean flag.

 

[daveccarlson]

The DPRK KPA in 1950-1953 was armed with very many 91/30s, M38s, and M44s from the USSR. Given U.S. airpower during the Korean War, I'm not sure what sort of industrial output was possible apart from underground plants and facilities, perhaps. When small arms were developed in North Korea, I think that PPSh41s [Type 49] and SKS carbines [Type 63] were first, with the former starting production just prior to the June 1950 outbreak of the Korean War. It may well be that the North Koreans had facilities to repair and rebuild Soviet-supplied Mosins.

 

[Igloo]

I've heard it mentioned by a veteran before, but who knows. Perhaps this recent influx of Type 53s might show some NK workshop stamps in the very least?

 

[rocker98]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_55/ai_n32097776/

http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/contents.htm

 

[doughboy1953]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_55/ai_n32097776/

http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/contents.htm

In the first edition of Lapin's book on Moisin (North Cape Publications?: hipeshooting from memory here) he reports that there are reports of N. Korean production but he is not sure of it. He also indicates a number of European countries probably refinished exRussian rifles and put their own Warsaw pact codes on them, but probably didn't build the receivers themselves.

 

[milprileb]

Has anyone actually seen a photo of M38 being used in Korean War ?

There is a ton of evidence for 91/30 and M44 rifles in that war.

I think Dave is right , NK began weapons production post Korean War.

Never heard of or personally seen any NK weapons coming out of Indochina Wars , any one seen any ?

Does anyone on this board actually own any Mosin rifle known to be from Korean War? Last time I asked
that it was thunderous silence.

 

[rocker98]

Marines boarding USS Bayfield (APA-33) at Hungnam, for transportation out
of North Korea.
Note details of the Marines' packs. Man at left is carrying a
Russian Mosin-Nagant carbine in addition to his M1.
This photograph was
released by Commander, Naval Forces Far East, under date of 20 December
1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval
Historical Center.

milprileb, The carbine appears to be an M38. I don't think I have seen any combat photo's of M38 usage by the north though...

 

[milprileb]

Rocker: that sure looks to be a M38 !

Thank you. Now you got a SKS shot from Korean War ?

 

[rocker98]

Wet your whistle with this one while I look.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?52706-North-Korean-SKS-Now-here-s-a-story-with-pictures

 

[rocker98]

Interesting link. I believe these are pics of Chinese troops in North Korea... pretty cool. http://forum.globaltimes.cn/forum/showthread.php?t=5618

Found this too.

A2941 - Men of the 29th Inf. Proudly display
trophies captured from North Korean forces
on the battle line in Korea, 8/24/50.
http://www.realwarphotos.com/army

AWESOME WEBSITE! http://realwarphotosgalleries.ifp3.com/#/page/home/

I'd be happy as a clam in a sea bed if I was that man in the floppy hat milprileb That's another M38... he does have the biggest grin, doesn't he. That's what I'm lookin for right there. You want SKS's, head north of Korea in 1956. I think the Soviets gave them to China first. If there were any, they would have been Soviet made. Oh what a find that would be. Doubt that ever happened. I always find my self looking. Even my dads photos. He was a road and bridge builder. Saw everything but SKS's. But, we can dream, can't we?

 

[Michael Jon Littman]

That last photo is interesting. I'd like to know more about it...

 

[martin08]

Well, I wouldn't call this "manufacturing", but the pics are interesting. Not mine. It belongs to soloxplorer of RMNF forums.

 

[martin08]

Sorry about the size of the pics above. Oops. I just checked back in, and they are HUGE. Here is a photobucket link that may better show the Star in a Circle mark (North Korean?) on a refurb M91/30. Again, not mine, but too interesting not to link to this thread.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/derickg123/z-misc/DSC_7527.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/derickg123/z-misc/DSC_7526.jpg

 

[rocker98]

martin08, I had one of those. Lost during the great rocker98 cash flow crisis of 2008 - 2011.

MJL, the link just below the pic will take you to the page where there is more info and pics for the 29th Inf. Div. There are also pics for other units during the war.

 

[Fatherandersonthepaladin]

I don't think we'll ever get full confirmation of our suspicions until the Hermit Kingdom is shut down permanently and we get access to their military records.

Even then, there's no telling WHAT kind of record keeping they engaged in (see also: Russia), so we may never truly know what that star is or whether or not it's really a Korean arsenal stamp (remember, Vietnam used a similar stamp on their Type 1 SKS, so it's possible that they had a hand in refurbishing these Mosins).

That said, I'm going to go ahead and say that they more than likely never produced Mosins. The smart money is on them refurbishing ones that were given to them by Russia.

 

[JoeB]

I think that PPSh41s [Type 49].... were first,... starting production just prior to the June 1950 outbreak of the Korean War.

I agree, PPSh's were made in NK prior to the KW. According to the South Korean book 'Bukhan inmingun daesa' (History of the North Korean Peoples Army), the 'Pyeongcheon' arms factory was founded in Pyongyang in September 1947 (that's actually prior to the official establishment of the DPRK) initially making SMG's and handguns. An NK propaganda photo dated Dec 12 1948 is said to show Kim Il Sung on an inspection visit to the factory, with other senior NK leaders standing around him holding PPSh's said to be made there. The book doesn't say what kind of handguns the factory made at that time, presumably Tokarevs. The factory was said to later, still prewar, have made mortars, grenades, small arms ammo and artillery shells, being renamed 'Factory No. 65' in February 1949. There's no mention of rifles being made there pre-war.

Joe

 

[Fatherandersonthepaladin]

I agree, PPSh's were made in NK prior to the KW. According to the South Korean book 'Bukhan inmingun daesa' (History of the North Korean Peoples Army), the 'Pyeongcheon' arms factory was founded in Pyongyang in September 1947 (that's actually prior to the official establishment of the DPRK) initially making SMG's and handguns. An NK propaganda photo dated Dec 12 1948 is said to show Kim Il Sung on an inspection visit to the factory, with other senior NK leaders standing around him holding PPSh's said to be made there. The book doesn't say what kind of handguns the factory made at that time, presumably Tokarevs. The factory was said to later, still prewar, have made mortars, grenades, small arms ammo and artillery shells, being renamed 'Factory No. 65' in February 1949. There's no mention of rifles being made there pre-war.

Joe

A few of the Toks have recently come out of the woodwork (with at least one having pictures posted on the boards), but I would assume that the Hermit Kingdom probably attempted to make some handguns of their own design at some point as well. Especially since the fall of the wall.