1946 Russian M44

[Midmichigun]

Guys,
I thought I would post some of my MosinNagants... since I posted my long rifle, next up is my Model 44. I was seriously looking for a WWII rifle, but most of them were picked over by the time I had $$. However, I was fortunate to luck into a real nice M44. The rifle was cleaned up... but not refinished in any way (by myself or the dealer).


Of course the shellac is peeling!

You can see some arsenal markings.

Everything on the rifle matches.





However, I am missing the following: sling and cleaning rod.
Photobucket locked up... so more photos tomorrow!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Midmichigun]

For anyone not familiar with the concept, here is the folded bayo. attached to the rifle. This assures that future collectors will NOT loose the bayonet!

Additional marks on the side of the receiver.

Sorry for the poor photos of the receiver... however, you can see the "hammer and sickle". The serial number is: UH4769


The serial number on the side is TSN4769

[spinecracker]

Strangely, and by accident, I picked up a Russian 1946 M44 this morining at a local gun show. I had been looking for a Long Branch Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.1 or 1*, but luck was not on my side...

[Midmichigun]

Spinecracker...
BTW, welcome to our SMALL CLUB of 1946 M44's. If you don't mind, what is your SN?
I have to break my rifle down to record cartouches under the wood.
Aside from the wood, my rifle appears to be in real nice condition!
Do you plan on shooting yours??? You appear to have a real nice condition rifle also!!!

[spinecracker]

Thank you. My rifle's serial number is PG4351, and will be a shooter (I was going to take it to the range this morning, but I didn't get much sleep last night and shooting when my eyes are blurry is never good lol). I spotted it at a local gun show yesterday, picked it up and was explaining some features to my wife (she's a keeper) and she said "why not buy it?" (did I mention she is a keeper?). The seller didn't have a clue what he had, so I explained what I knew, (which isn't much, but I do not like screwing people out of money). After some gentle bargaining, I walked off with a fully matching 65-year old rifle - not bad for a Saturday morning lol. The rifle has not been refurbished and every single part is marked for the Izhevsk factory. The cleaning rod is in place. The shellac looks like it hasn't been monkeyed with and is in very good condition, and the only thing "off", besides some small dings (what do you expect on a 65-year old rifle??) is a small forend repair in the region of the bayonet tip when it is folded in (I have been informed that this is common as the bayonet tip could dig into the wood if it got knocked). The butt has been sliced (you can almost make it out in the photo) but that was done at the factory to save on wood (according to someone at the mosin forum at gunboards). Have you looked at the butt under the buttplate? Are there any markings there, whether stamped or in pencil?

[mdrim13]

Have you looked at the butt under the buttplate? Are there any markings there, whether stamped or in pencil?

After reading this post I decided to look under the butplate on my M44. Its a 1944 dated Izhevsk, numbers matching, oil finished stock. It looks alot like spinecrackers. It was my third Nagant but it had a ton more marks than the previous ones. Even the stock is covered in stampings. Anyway I looked under the butplate and there are a couple of stampings and a pencil mark as well. From what i can tell is says either "688" or a character that might resemble "G88." The back of the butplate is completely, and i mean every square inch, in hunter orange paint? Weird? Any ideas on this?

Thanks for sparking my interest,
mdrim13

[tlsher]

[QUOTE=spinecracker;. My rifle's serial number is PG4351[/QUOTE]

I, too, am now a new member of the '46 M44 club. Ironically, my rifle carries a S/N that is ~ 2500 before yours with the same alpha characters before it. Pretty cool!

[spinecracker]

Quick question - what kind of sling would be correct for a Russian 1946 M44? I have been looking at different places online, but I can't get a definitive answer.

[Midmichigun]

Spine...
Mr. Dad posted on one of my topics... and some slings... I haven't checked them out yet, but can tell you that I wouldn't put on what I have on my Mosin M91!!!
If I find an answer... I will let ya know! They kinds seem naked without cleaning rods or slings... but hey... at least we haven't lost the bayonets!!

[jmoore]

Would not the standard 91/30 sling assembly be correct, or was there a separate variation? Had not really thought about it before.