Mosin M44 bayonet

[Gottahaveone]

I recently acquired a nice 91/30. I liked it so much that I want a carbine version. I've been looking for a M38 because I have no need/desire for a 3ft pig-sticker to be permanently mounted but all I seem to find are M44's. Is it so difficult to remove the bayonet from the M44? How obtrusive are the remaining parts of the mount? Thanks in advance for your input...(and if you have a M38 that you don't need, PM me )

 

[Kentucky-roughrider]

The M44's sights are designed to be used with that pig-sticker out and locked not folded.

The M38 was used by Soviet cavarly and the M44 was bought out because the ground pounders were stealing the troopers' carbines. Which they thought had better handling.
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[tribbles]

I suppose if you really wanted to, you could grind off the ends of the pin holding the bayonet in place. Then you'd only have the bayonet lug sticking off the side of the barrel (a lot like an SKS's lug, only in the horizontal plane).

But then you'd run the risk of losing the bayonet at home, and the whole reason the Soviets affixed it to the gun was so those damned peasant conscripts wouldn't lose it in the field.

Me, personally, I'd leave it on, since it only adds to the charm that the M44 has. (So does the bayonet tip biting the fingers of your left hand, but then again, Soviet military doctrine wouldn't have let soldiers fire with a folded bayonet.) Besides, if you ever take it feral hog hunting, what better backup to have against a PO'ed pig than a pig-sticker?

 

[Gottahaveone]

what better backup to have against a PO'ed pig than a pig-sticker?

If the porker is only po'ed after I smack him with a 7.62x54r, then I'm going to be way too busy looking for a tall tree to bother with affixing a bayonet

Seriously, I didn't realize it was semi-permanently pinned to the mount, I assumed it could be removed with a couple of screws. Guess I'll get used to getting my left hand jabbed.
Thanks for the input....

 

[Hoppy590]

the blade itself can be removed with a screw. the ear'ed lug/mount is pinned to the barrel and is a PITA to take off.

buy a M44 and hold it with the bayonet. its not in the way, and theres no negative to leaving it on there. if you dont want it, dont extend it, or take the screw out and take the blade off. just dont go hacking up a rifle.

 

[Hoppy590]

http://www.surplusrifle.com/mosincarbine/rifledisassembly/index.asp

you can see the lug which stays on the barrel in figure 6

 

[Gottahaveone]

you can see the lug which stays on the barrel in figure 6

Thanks for the pic. I can live with that. And don't worry, I've owned milsurps for years with nary a hack yet
I might not like the shape some finishes are in, but I figure they earned those nicks and scratches and I'm not going to be the one to strip their history from them. I'll see if it bothers me and if so I'll just remove the blade.