[Ken in Iowa]

I happened upon this baby the other day. When I saw the pictures with screwed escucheons in the front only, I knew I had to have it.

When I received the rifle, what I had suspected was true. This stock has a toe splice! When I removed the barreled receiver, you could also see that the stock had once been inletted for tang steps, but Ivan took his chisel out to remove them so the stock would accept a later receiver without steps. At least he did a fairly good job of it.

Anyway, this appears to be a stock originally from early 1941 at the latest, given the tang steps, Izhevsk lineage and screwed escucheons. Toe splices are quite uncommon on M38 stocks, but this is the earliest one I have seen one.

BTW, I had spotted a 91/30 with screwed front escucheons only at a gun show. Like mine, Ivan had removed the tang steps to fit a later barreled action.

 

[Shyquestor]

Looks like the front lower handguard is a splice 'o matic job too; perhaps an older piece with the SIEs was used in the fix? fix

 

[Ken in Iowa]

Looks like the front lower handguard is a splice 'o matic job too; perhaps an older piece with the SIEs was used in the fix? fix

No Shy, the nose splice is forward of the SIEs.

 

[Shyquestor]

The deep scratch/cut coming from the right of the SIE right screw threw me off--was thinking it was a 3 piece fix. Still, a nice piece of work with a toe and nose job.

 

[DudleyDR]

Here's a similar, oddball stock on a M91/30. DDR

 

[Pahtu]

I passed on a M38 this summer that had screwed escucheons in the rear and a bent metal tab in the front - I probably should have bought it(on sale for 89 bucks) but, the barreled action was a 1943 & I already have a 1943 - Oh well, can't have em all =+) (Ted, don't read that last statement...LOL...)

Pahtu.

 

[Ken in Iowa]

I passed on a M38 this summer that had screwed escucheons in the rear and a bent metal tab in the front - I probably should have bought it(on sale for 89 bucks) but, the barreled action was a 1943 & I already have a 1943 - Oh well, can't have em all =+) (Ted, don't read that last statement...LOL...)

Pahtu.

I have one similar to that with screwed rear and pressed fronts. It is obviously a cut-down M91 or 91/30 stock.

I had one dealer at a gun show actually let me swap stocks on an M38! The one I got was a 1944 with a great bore, an excellent M38 stock and a handguard with brass endcaps. Even the cleaning rod was unique in that it had a spiral tip. I left him with a 1942 with a worn, dirty bore in an M44 stock.

 

[Denny]

I have one similar to that with screwed rear and pressed fronts. It is obviously a cut-down M91 or 91/30 stock.

I had one dealer at a gun show actually let me swap stocks on an M38! The one I got was a 1944 with a great bore, an excellent M38 stock and a handguard with brass endcaps. Even the cleaning rod was unique in that it had a spiral tip. I left him with a 1942 with a worn, dirty bore in an M44 stock.

Good job Ken! I don't think I have ever seen that happen at a gun show. Denny

 

[rocker98]

Speaking of interesting splices...1944 M38, Izhevsk

View attachment 11770

View attachment 11771

View attachment 11772

Gary

 

[creepiE]

This is a 1943 M44 I bought a while ago. Must have been an M38 stock?

 

[Pahtu]

Creepie - does that stock have a groove cut into it for a bayo? - If not, the stock may be worth quite a bit more than what you paid for the rifle! =+)

Pahtu.

 

[Ken in Iowa]

This is a 1943 M44 I bought a while ago. Must have been an M38 stock?

It probably was. There are even examples of the earliest 1939 M38 stocks modified and fitted on M44s.

 

[creepiE]

Yes, there is a grrove. I lined it up with a 91/30 stack, and it is not the same (slot wise) must be an M38.

 

[Ken in Iowa]

Good job Ken! I don't think I have ever seen that happen at a gun show. Denny

That dealer and I have a good rapport. I have done a lot of business with him in the past so he was comfortable with me doing it.

As I recall, I almost sold a rifle for him as I was behind the table making the switch.