[tiekka]

Pick this up at a local show. Russian M91/38 Hex in an Elm M44 stock. Receiver is matching 1906. Still carrying the Crests. Import mark is labeled M38 CAI right where the bayo would have been. This should prove it was not imported as a M44 and altered. Butt plate not matching, Bolt electro pencil matched.
Does anything else stand out?

 

[Greedo1977]

Very nice piece! It amazes me that these M91’s must have been well taken care of when they were converted to M44s. They always have real crisp markings.

 

[panzerfaust44]

How is it that the imperial Russian markings did not get ground off under Soviet rule??

 

[racerguy00]

Very nice piece! It amazes me that these M91’s must have been well taken care of when they were converted to M44s. They always have real crisp markings.

Not all. There are a few heavily pitted and reblued ones as well as some that look like the markings were worn or buffed off out there. But yeah, the majority are pretty nice.

 

[racerguy00]

How is it that the imperial Russian markings did not get ground off under Soviet rule??

I don't think the Soviets did that on mosins very often. On imperial dated receivers recycled into dragoon and 91/30 production for example I don't recall ever seeing a defaced crest beyond stamping over with the new arsenal crest. And Imperial date exdragoons seem to.be untouched also.

 

[AKBLUE]

The 91/38 came in various configurations.
This 1899 dated example in a modified pre war stock.

Once thought to be cut down by a country other than Russia/USSR., so no need to scrub the imperial markings.

Not a frequent but still a good shooter 123 years after manufacture.

 

[Dallased]

Bill remember.that 1943 Izhevsk with the bad bore and broken stock you coveted. Let's trade now even up

 

[tiekka]

I think we can do that. I'll kick in my 91-54 as well

 

[Nirvana]

I think it’s safe to say that they picked the best guns for conversion, hence their overalls general condition. There is no point in rebuilding a gun with a smooth bore.

 

[RyanE]

How is it that the imperial Russian markings did not get ground off under Soviet rule??

It's very possible these were never in the Soviet Union. Bulgaria disposed of a lot of their WWI captured M91 after 1918, but perhaps not all of them.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I’m trying to remember the story here. The tony star between the date and the serial number is significant as to its origin. Someone will chime in for sure.

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Any 91/38 is a find, and yours looks like a splendid example. It took me a long time to find one for myself.

 

[RyanE]

I’m trying to remember the story here. The tony star between the date and the serial number is significant as to its origin. Someone will chime in for sure.

They are Bulgarian cutdowns of old M91s to M44 pattern carbines. The bayonet lugs were removed at some point, perhaps for export to the US (not uncommon even on bolt guns).

 

[AKBLUE]

Seems there is a mixed opinion on the Bulgarian connection to modufying the rifles to Model 38 spec.

At least from some opinions I have read about in recent years.
Dunno?

The 91/38 I have., did come with one if the Bulgarian universal purpose leather slings.