Mosin Nagant M44 bayonet lug

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Does anyone know if the bayonet lugs on M44 Mosin Nagants are easily removed?

I have one that is of no redeeming value except to see if I can salvage the gun by sporterizing it (the stock is shot, there is little, if any, bluing on the metal, no numbers match, etc.).

However, it has a pin in the bayonet lug as if it has something to do with attachment to the barrel but if you look at the front of the lug where it seats on the barrel looks like there is no 'seam' as if it is welded.

In fact, the connection looks as if its a convex shaped as if it were welded and then ground in the curved shape.

I looked in Numrich's schematics and all they show is a diagram for the 91/30 and, of course, they have no bayonet lug.

Their listing of parts shows no replacement bayonet lugs so I'm thinking the lug is not removable.

If that is the case I have no idea if I might go forward with the sporterizing or leave the M44 in a so-so condition.

Any thoughts??????????

 

[JA]

The barrel is turned down to a smaller diameter where the bayonet lug is and turned down again where the front sight is. The bayonet lug is pressed on the barrel using a hydrolic press. Then a hole is drilled for the pin. The drilling for the pin cuts a groove in the barrel that the pin rest in keeping the lug from ever moving. The same is done for the front sight.
Your best bet if you just can't stand the bayonet lug is to cut the ears off. As removing the pins then pressing the front sight off,then pressing off the the bayonet lug,then pressing the front sight back on and repinning it is a lot of work.

 

[Clark]

The bayonet lug is easy enough to get off the rifle, but then it has no front sight.

You could then grind the lug part off.

 

[Thrash1982]

You could buy a MN M-38. It's identical to the M-44 but doesn't have the bayonet.

 

[Big_R]

I bought a beater M44 and hacksawed the bayo lugs off. A bit of time with a good mill-bastard file smoothed everything out nicely, finishing it off with a bit of emery cloth (what I use for plumbing copper pipe). A little cold blue and it looks like it was meant to be that way. I think the rifle handles a lot better without the bayo.

Ryan

 

[JeffC]

Check out this link.....

http://www.surplusrifle.com/carbinenagant/oddsandends3/index.asp

Scroll down to excursion to hell

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

After all the reading (and, Jeff that is one interesting article) I've decided to just leave the danged bayonet lug on.

You see, all I'm looking for is a good open sighted take along for the front of my quad when I ride out in the back wilds of the Bradshaw Mountains and such.

So, I'm gonna take this M44, clean the stock up some and refinish it and then use some Brownell's moly coating for the steel (now I've got to find that site that advertised sand blasting in a can, lol).

So, I guess the lug, though useless, most likely won't get in my way.

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[Clark]

I drove out the pins, drove off the lug / sight, and put a cut down sight back on