Model
1907 Mosin Nagant- Characterized by an almost full length stock, 1.17
inches from the end of the barrel, an open blade front sight, and a rear
sight marked in arshini, from 400 to 2000. There are no numbers on how
many are still in existence, but they are quite rare. I have been told
that there were imports of this gun in the 60's from Finland I think.
This carbine is sometimes erroneously referred to as a model 1910.
The
Finnish Ulaani Carbine-Ulaanikaribiinit
One of the first
modifications of the Russian M1891 by the Finns to obtain the compactness
of the M1907 was the Ulaani. These modifications were made to old
damaged M91's for use by the Calvary Department of Kirkkonummi (Kirkoonummi
is a town in Finland). The modification included the cutting of the
barrel to aprox. the same length as the 07 which is 20 inches, and fitting
a front sight of the Arisaka type. The rear sight was retained but was
remarked in meters from 400 to 1200. The stock was shortened to a
length that was shorter than that of the 1907 but I have no exact measurement.
The original barrel bands were used and the standard slotted metal escutcheons
were used in the stock for the sling. I have heard rumors that
there were many different lengths of barrels because only the bad part
of a barrel was cut off but I have no written documentation of that fact.
You are not likely to find one of these guns as there are no known examples
in U.S. collections
Model 91/24 Finnish
Mosin Nagant- M 91/24 rifles were cut down to 24 inches in barrel
length and a wing protected front sight was added. There was no bayonet.
Model 27 Finnish-
This Mosin Nagant carbine is fabricated from a model 1891 Russian action
and a new Finnish or cut down Russian barrel 23 inches long. The stock
is again a new Finnish or cut down Russian, with a through the stock sling
slot and a swivel on the bottom of the butt. The front sight is a blade
type with ear protectors and the bolt handle is bent down with bolt clearance
cut into the stock. Very rare!
.
Model 1938-
This Mosin Nagant carbine is 40 inches in length and has a stock that is
3.25 inches shorter. The front sight is of the hooded type with a wire
pin post instead of a blade. The rear sight is graduated in meters from
100 to 1000. Many of the M38's on the market at this time were fitted with
a laminated stock from an M1944, during an arsenal refurbishment, after
WWII. Carbines that have been refurbished will sometimes bear a refurbishment
mark which is a small square with a line through the center. This model
saw extensive use, even the ones that have been refurbished show plenty
of wear and mixed serial numbers.
Model 1944 Mosin
Nagant- Manufactured by Russia during and after WWII, Hungary,
Poland, and Romania after the war. Overall length is 40.4 inches, barrel
length is 20.47 inches, front sights are wire pin post, rear sights are
graduated 100 to 1000 meters. Unlike the 07, 38, 91/38 and 91/59
this carbine is fitted with a side folding bayonet. These guns were
also made using M91 receivers. Saw one at the Houston show on 8/14/99,
that was dated 1945 with an early model bayonet lug. ( part
of a militaria display)
There are two versions
of the front sight and bayonet, the early version bayonet mfg. from 1943
to sometime in 1945 and the later version from 1945 to 1948 or maybe as
late as 1960 as I have now documented a Russian stamped with that
year. Every time I think I have this gun figured out I find one that
throws me a curve. I just purchased two Russians through the mail
dated 1946, that have the early small front sight and the later bayonet
lug. These guns are in excellent shape and do not appear to have
gone through a rebuild. They also have a diamond stamped in the stock
with NEC4 in it and a circle cartouche a little larger than the size
of a quarter with CCCP oriented in it like the four points of a compass,
and a smaller circle inside that with the hammer and sickle in it.
I also have a 1946, with an earlier serial number, that has the larger
front sight. All three guns are from the Izhevsk arsenal.
Hungary:
The
Hungarian model was manufactured by FEG, in Budapest, from 52 through 55
and can be identified by 02 stamped on the barrel. The 02 will also
be found on the stock.
Poland:The
Polish M44 designated the KbKs Wz 48 can be identified by an 11 inside
an oval on the barrel which is the mark of the Radom Arsenal. It
was manufactured from 1951 through aprox. 1962. The stock is usually a
little heavier than the other M44's and is made of Beech wood.
Romania:The
Romanian M44 has a mark similar to the Izhevsk arsenal mark, an arrow inside
a triangle ,only without the feathers. It also has the letters RPR
inside a floral wreath on the barrel. I am not sure how many years
it was made but I have only seen 1954 and 1955.
Model 91/59 Mosin
Nagant-
All reports indicate they were made in Bulgaria from M1891 and M91/30 Mosin
Nagant rifles during the Cold War. Further information from some
of our Arms and Military contacts in Bulgaria indicate that they have no
knowledge and do not think they were manufactured in Bulgaria. Even
further investigation indicates I was right the encircled T is not a Bulgarian
mark as we were told but a Czechoslovakian firing proof that can be found
on numerous Czech arms including the CZ38's that Germany sent to Bulgaria
during WWII. They were rebuilt in Czechoslovakia!! The 59 looks
like the 38 with a longer rear sight that was from the 91/30, milled to
remove the meter marks from 1100 to 2000. The stocks appear to have
been cut down from rifles, with the sling slots having escutcheons that
screw in and the simple fold over type, along with plain slots in the wood.
I have one with a stock from a model 44 and also have stocks that are made
from both beech and birch. I also found from a Russian friend that
the 91/59's were sent to North Korea for their use.
Model 53 Mosin
Nagant- This carbine is a carbon copy of the Mosin Nagant M44, manufactured
in China on machinery furnished by Russia in the early fifties. (1953)
Chinese markings, the stock and sling seem to be the only differences.
I have found that many of the bayonets on Chinese guns are of Russian
manufacture, possibly from guns or parts furnished during the Korean War
or when they received the machinery. The carbine was manufactured
from 53 through 61 and many were given to the Viet Cong during the Vietnam
war. The receiver will be marked with one of three factory codes
all for the same factory, 26, 26 in a triangle or 296
Model 91/38 Mosin
Nagant- This carbine closely resembles the 91/59 and the M38.
It is manufactured from an M91 rifle , occasionally an M91/30, cut down
to the same length as the 91/59. The front and rear sights are the
same type used on the Model 44, although the bayonet lug has been removed
from the front sight, sometimes very crudely by grinding. The
stock is usually from an M44 although I have seen at least one without
the bayonet groove. The theory that the carbines were made/refurbished
in Czechoslovakia and have a T inside a circle on the receiver to indicate
so has been the accepted thinking, but Karl-Heinz Wrobel has talked with
Czech arsenal techs and they told him that they were not made in the arsenals.
North Korea
There are some
North Korean marked M44's, but I cannot find out if they were made in Korea
or elsewhere and just marked with the Korean star inside a circle on the
left side of the receiver. We do know that China supplied arms and
materials to Korea during the Korean Conflict.
Good reading
material:
The Mosin- Nagant Rifle by Terence W. Lapin and Rifles of the White Death by Doug Bowser.
