How hard to remove bayoned from MN M44?

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, I have left my bayonet on my M44 until now, and now I would like to seriously sight it in and get it ready for the fall. I'm contemplating removing the side-folding bayonet, and see that it is held in with a screw, but my question is this, is the screw staked, or difficult to remove?
Has anyone else done this? Is this a difficult task, or does it make a difference in accuracy? I won't be using the iron sights, I have installed a LER pistol scope on a rear sight mount.
Thanks so much in advance, for your help and advice!

 

[Cosmoline]

It's very easy and takes about a minute. Just unscrew it.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

The screw has some tention on it, so you may have to pry it a little bit with the screwdriver.

 

[bill larry]

On one of my M44's, it just screwed off....nice and easy...the other is staked in three places and will never come off unless I drill it out....just check carefully

 

[Cosmoline]

Are we talking about the bayonet or the whole mount assembly? The bayonet itself *should* be easy to remove, since they expected to break or bend them in action against the Capitalist yellowdogs and needed to be able to quickly put new ones on. The whole assembly is another matter, and requires a good deal more effort and tools.

 

[ball3006]

The M44 bayonet.....

makes a dandy rifle holder while you open a beer. Why do you want to remove it? Just buy a 91/30. It does not have a mounted bayonet. It is usually more accurate anyway due to the longer sighting radius......chris3

 

[CU74]

M-38

Or buy the M38, which was the forerunner of the M44. The M44 is basically the M38 with the addition of a bayonet - same Mosin Nagant action, same barrel length, same ball of fire from the muzzle.

 

[Avenger]

Okay, the bayonet is on the rifle for several important reasons. First off is that the bayo is IDEALLY positioned to allow the muzzle flash to give an impaled marshmallow that perfect "crispy exterior, slightly gooey interior" that you just can't get with a regular campfire. And 30 year old surplus ammo powder, when fired, adds a certain dash of zest to the otherwise somewhat bland flavor of the average marshmallow.
Second is the bayo's great utility in range maintainence. You can use it to retrieve fallen paper targets, for grooming the field (gotta keep the range lawn looking pretty, right?), as a posthole digger for new target stakes, and it makes a pretty good screwdriver for the wood screws in your target frame (assuming they are flathead screws, of course).
Third is possibly the most important. After an afternoon of shooting, who hasn't experienced that itchy sensation in the small of the back? You know, that one little spot that you just can't reach? This is when the bayo truly shows its utility. Note that this activity is only recomended for the advanced MN44 user, and DEMANDS a careful check of the chamber for live rounds, because it is TRULY embarassing to have to put, "Shot self in buttocks while scratching back with bayonet" on any sort of hospital form.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Well, folks, thanks for your encouragement. It unscrewed without ANY difficulty! Don't worry, I'll probably put it back on before going hog hunting! Thanks again!

 

[07Lway]

I agree with Avenger, the bayonet is useful. I use it to pick up trash that people have left at the range , and just yesterday I used it to scratch my foot (The bolt was taken out, checked it 100 times, safety first, ect., ect.) when my lap was full of parts I was using to clean it (A cleaning bench? Whats that?).

 

[Limeyfellow]

Just make sure you resight it now. The M44 is sighted in with the bayonet extended, so now its removed you need to adjust its POI quite a bit.

 

[Mike U.]

I don't know about that marshmallow thing. Every time I fire the rifle the marshmallow flies off in flames kinda downrange and off to the right. At a high rate of speed I might add. And, the guy next to me doesn't seem too amused by it all. I think it had something to do with that piece of molten marshmallow on his forehead...

What am I doing wrong??


Good to hear you got your bayonet off easily. Mine was peened into place and starting that screw to move nearly herniated me.

 

[Avenger]

Mike, you're either using too large a marshmallow, or improperly impaling them. You have to twist the mallow once it is on to properly seat it. Headspacing is once again an issue with the MN in this situation as well, placing the mallow the proper distance from the muzzle is CRUCIAL, as you are quite likely to encounter just the problem you mentioned. Brand selection is important as well, you want a mallow that is firm but still somewhat soft. Old Hungarian ammo may be good, but surplus Warsaw Pact-era marshmallows are not noted for their flavor. Corrosive primers are also not recommended, as they impart a bitter flavor and can lead to what seasoned medical professionals refer to as "a rumbly in the tummy." There is also the issue of tooth decay, although really it's hard to tell whether the primers or the marshmallows are more of a danger.

I'm glad the Soviets never thought of the whole marshmallow idea, as the thought of hundreds of thousands of conscripted teenaged soldiers in the midst of a SERIOUS sugar jag would certainly have affected the balance of military power in the Cold War and, quite frankly, just plain gives me the willies.

BTW just out of curiousity, I just checked and discovered that the bayonet tip is indeed the same size and shape as a #2 flathead screwdriver. Which means that you can use one M44 to field strip another M44, albeit with less than absolute gracefulness. Now I'm forced to wonder if this little tidbit of design is intentional, as it does seem like typical Soviet military thinking of the period (submersible aircraft and circular battleships spring to mind with disturbing ease), or if it just means that a screwdriver tip is indeed the perfect shape for piercing flesh, which I have absolutely ZERO trouble believing.....


On the serious note, Limeyfellow, is the bayo removal affecting accuracy from personal experience? I haven't noticed a bit of difference with mine removed at all.

 

[rangerruck]

get your grinder ready...