All laminate M38 stocks with a wrist cross-bolt and a milled recess for the M44 bayonet are post-war refurbishment replacement stocks.

Real M38 laminate stocks do NOT have a recess for the bayonet and often do not have the cross-bolt at the wrist unless it was added post-war.

If you look in the November Purchases thread you will see a proper wartime M38 in a proper M38 laminate stock to compare to.

While 1942 and 1943 are the most common years for M38 carbines, I wouldn't feel bad about getting one. In fact, I have three M38's that are either 42 or 43 including the above mentioned laminate

In the long term, the laminate stocked guns will likely be worth more b/c they are far less common than the hardwood stocked examples, but that value increase will likely take many years b/c right now the Mosins are everywhere and not drying up soon.
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