M44 Finish Question

[mdrim13]

Does anyone know what the original finish used by the russians in 1944 was for the mosin nagant m44 carbine? Was it the standard red shalaque or could they have used an oil finish? My gun has an oil finish and I was wondering if this was the work of bubba or perhaps the original. The gun is covered in Polish marks so is this something they could have done? Thanks to all who have imput

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[Stevo]

Is it a Polish M44?

[mdrim13]

its a russian gun but has marks that indicate that at one point it was in polish hands....is that possible?

[Aragorn243]

Finish on Russian rifles seems to be another of those that no one can quite agree on.

Prior to WWII, Russian or Soviet rifles were probably finished like everyone else, what is described as a military oil finish.

What is agreed on is that during the refurbishment process, these rifles were also coated with a varnish or shellac. The timing of this process is not exactly clear. My book says it began sometime during the war years, WWII that is. But doesn't say if all were done at this time or if new production 91/30's were done at this time.

New M44's are listed as mostly being produced with the shellac over oil finish with mostly meaning not all so it is possible that your rifle never had the shellac or that the Poles removed it. But again, this isn't exactly clear.

Common sense would seem to say that the shellac was never meant as a wartime protection as it flakes off so easily and was more of a storage protection done after the end of hostilities but who knows. They did definitely coat their rifles with it along with all the Russian Capture K98's they refurbished.