m44 russian

[roc]

I have m44 russian 1948 ser. ??3803. thequestion marks are some kind of letters that are probably russian. I think it is a rebuild because on the side of the reciever it says m44 russian c.a.i georgia ut or vt. dose anybody have any history on it and dose it have any kind of saftey that may be a secret because i cant find it.

Information

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[Aragorn243]

The words you are seeing that say m44 russian cai, etc is the import mark. That's the company that imported it into the US. The safety is that big round knob on the back. Pull it hard to the rear and turn it to the left. It isn't easy but once you figure it out it will go a lot better. I should say this isn't exactly the safety, but it is how you put it on safe. It is a mechanical means of preventing the charging portion of the bolt form going forward. Most of these rifles have been rearsenaled but nothing wrong with that. The bolt and the receiver should have the same serial number although the bolt is probably not original to the rifle. On the 91/30's the serial number is also on the butt plate and the bottom of the magazine. Not sure if the 44's are the same or not but believe they are, most of these parts are interchangeable.

[Aragorn243]

As for history, This is a carbine version of the 91/30 infantry rifle. Design began in 1943 and acceptance in 1944 thus the m44. Production ended sometime between 1948 and 1956 with 1948 being the last confirmed year by Terrance Lapin who wrote the book on them that I have. That's Soviet manufacture, a few other countries produced them longer than that. They have been a reserve weapon since the SKS was developed and given or sold to some third world countries like Cuba, Grenada, and Afghanistan. If it has Spanish markings anywhere it may have gone the Cuba route.

It is probably a reserve rifle kept and sold by the Ukraine after the break up of the Soviet Union but that's just a guess based on where most of them seem to be coming from these days.

The Palestinians and Nicaraquans have also used them.

[roc]

aragorn243 I appreciate you help. all the serial no.s are where you said they sould be except for the bolt. someone had etched it on the bolt with pencil grinder. the serial no is even stamped on the stock and the no. 1948 is stamped on the top. now for the question I know everyone asks is you have any idea what it would be worth. I tried on the intnet but got tiired of looking. thank you.

[Aragorn243]

On value, I can't really say with any great accuracy. I've been seeing the 91/30's selling anywhere from $79-$99 at the bigger "box" stores like Dunhams and Cabelas. Gun shops are selling them for around $129.

As for the 44's. I simply don't see them much, at any price. My dad in an effort to get a Soviet rifle like mine managed to snag one with a few boxes of ammo for about $120. He didn't know he was getting a rifle different from mine. I think he got a fair deal on it although the muzzle had been reamed which I've heard is fairly common for these types. (it restores the crown and accuracy). I saw a fellow who was carrying one around at a gun show who offered it to me for $250, which I thought was excessive.

It all depends on condition like anything else. I believe they are currently "worth" more than the 91/30's but still are not a high value rifle. If I had to make a guess, I'd say anywhere between $125-$175. I know if I found one in good condition in that price range I'd consider purchasing it so that is what they are "worth" to me.

But, I've sat and watched guys bid 91/30's up at auctions to $290 quite consistently and its the same rifle someone paid $89 at Dunhams a few weeks prior to the sale. I was sitting with a fellow that told me he has 29 Nagants and he was as dumbfounded with the bids as I was. Nothing unique or special about them. Condition was actually a bit worse than I've seen at Cabelas and they didn't even have matching forced matched serial numbers.

I think that like everything else, you sit on it a while and it will start going up in value. They are definitely less common in the US than the 91/30's.

[Aragorn243]

My dad gave me the M44 this past weekend. Very nice gift as far as I'm concerned. Odd thing is, he went out the day before and bought a 91/30. I figured he just wanted out of the surplus rifle bit. Had a bugger of a time getting the safety to work on his new rifle. It would pull back but would not turn to the left. Took it apart, looked at it, saw no problems, everything seemed to line up correctly, compared it to the bolt of the M44, was the same.

Finally decided to disassemble the firing pin assembly as that was the only thing that didn't look the same (it was turned a quarter turn further) and found that it was jambed in there tight. The lines lined up on it but I thought perhaps it was simply turned one half turn too far and that seems to have corrected the problem. Works fine now. The firing pin has to float in the charging handle a bit. If it's tight, it won't allow it to turn to the safe position. When in the fire position, the lines all line up, when in the safe position they are a quarter turn off.

[TDH]

In No. Ohio most to 9130's are going for $100 or less. The M44's are a bit more expensive. normally in the $200 to $250 range. Though I got mine for $110.