Worth buying M38 Mosin Nagant?

[VegasAR15]

Today I just purchased my first Mosin Nagant. It is a M44 all numbers matching for $100. The only problem is the guy that I bought it from also had a M38 that he said I could also purchase for $100. Is it worth going back tomorrow and picking up the second one? I need to find some sort of AA for guns I think.

 

[Cosmoline]

Most of the M38's I've seen have been beat to hades and back. If it's nice and not hacked up by bubba, $100 is a good price. Frankly for non-altered M38's $100 is a good price even for a ratty one.

 

[Will_G]

I would agree the M38 is worth $100.00, for sure, if it has not been "hacked up by bubba." I have seen them going for as much as $150.00-175.00 in good condition in Alabama. For that matter you got a good deal on that M44. M44s sure seem to be going up in price lately and $100.00 for an all-numbers matching one is outstanding. I'd be interested to know what year and arsenal it is!

 

[ronbuick]

My understanding is the M38's were for the REM's and usually do not get much use as opposed to the M44, buy it if you can for that price, it is a good deal if it has not been used as a hammer or club or!!

Ron

 

[VegasAR15]

I am new to Mosin Nagants so my knowledge is limited. All the numbers seem to be matching but I do believe it has been rearsenalled because upon closer inspection I noticed that it is counterbored. Some of the finish is flaking off, but other than that it looks to be in good order, it has not been modified at all. I do not yet know the arsenals offhand, but it is the triangle not the star. The M38 is in the same shape, although not sure if it has been counterbored. I think I will be calling him to tell him I will pick it up tomorrow.

 

[leadcounsel]

Provided its in good functional and cosmetic shape the M38 is worth up to twice what he's asking. I love the M38 carbine.

 

[Will_G]

Arsenal mark of a triangle rather than a star would indicate an Izhevsk. Tula used the star; for a LOT of information in deciphering marks, see the Mosin Nagant Master Barrel Reference. Enjoy those Mosins!!

 

[AH-1]

if in good cond buy it.
pete

 

[dobeman]

if it is in a correct M38 stock (not a M44 with bayonet notch), I would buy it. Most M38s are counterbored, I wouldn't worry about that, esp if the bore is in otherwise good shape. Also check if the stock laminate or solid.

 

[Cosmoline]

My understanding is the M38's were for the REM's and usually do not get much use as opposed to the M44,

Actually the M38's saw a lot of use. They were lighter and easier to maneuver than the 91/30. Plus the "rear" of the Red Army had a way of becoming the "front" real quick during the opening years of that war. So a lot of M38's ended up getting shot in battle--a lot. Which is why so many had to be rearsenaled and counterbored. The M44's, coming in late, only saw the tail end of the war. Most were made after the end of the war which is why they're in better shape than the M38's.

http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/shooters_look.htm

 

[Powerglide]

I have dealt and used Mosins for years.They will do anything a new gun will do.Period. And for cheap and fun, they can't be equaled.And for the unique part, they are the talked about Russies!

 

[JR47]

The Model 38 was meant for artillery crews, linemen, motorcycle riders, and the likes. They saw a lot of action. Much like the M1 Carbine, they became a favorite due the smaller size of the weapon.

There weren't as many Model 1938 carbines produced as Model 1944s. A true Model 1938 stock has zero provision for a bayonet.

 

[mgregg85]

I just bought an izzy 1944 m44, I believe all the numbers match up, I know the bolt matches, not sure what else to look at I guess. The only negative was that the guy had refinished the stock but it does look pretty nice. You can still see the cartouches.

It was a gun show, he was asking $110 for it and I offered $100 and he took it. I've been looking for one of these little carbines for a while and I was happy to get it for that price.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Always check out the M38's. I asked to look at one when I was in a pawn shop and it turned out to a mislabeled 91/59 that was in perfect condition. Bought it for $100.

 

[VegasAR15]

Just picked up the M38 today. For both of them it was $200, that included the M44, M38, a sling for each, about 50 rounds of Bear ammo, and one accessory kit. Each of them seem to be matching numbers, except the M44 has a number crossed out and a new matching one on the magazine floorplate, and the M38 has the same thing on the metal end of the buttstock. The M38 has the cutdown stock, as it does have the groove where a bayonette would go. They are both counterbored but have otherwise decent rifling. Hopefully I didn't make out to bad. Here are some pictures, not the best.

My next question is, would it be an absolute sin to sand down either of these and refinish them?

 

[ronbuick]

YES,

 

[.45&TKD]

would it be an absolute sin to sand down either of these and refinish them?

I wouldn't. It would have to be a lot worse for me to mess with that finish. It's not like there is nice wood underneath there.

I do have a $35 Chinese T-53 (like an M-44) that I'm planning to refinish because it has no finish and looks like it was dragged behind a tank and left outside for 50 years. But all my other Mosin's I've left alone. Of course, it's your rifles, you can do what makes you happy.

 

[Opoche]

Heck, it looks nicer than mine and I payed alot more than you did with next to no finish on it. Not really sure if the fact that mine was not counterbored and has caps in the white was worth the extra $$, but I'm never looking back. Great carbines. Good deal Vegas. Looks pretty nice.

 

[AH-1]

the 91/59 are great rifles also.

 

[Franco2shoot]

I love the purists that bleed whenever someone asks "Should I refinish?" My 2 cents, its your baby now. Do what you will with it. At 100 bucks each, keep one pristine and make the other shine like a new penny. I took one and sat in the backyard with a can of gasoline and a rag wiping off 60 years of cosmoline and finish. A good scrubbing with hand soap followed until I could no longer smell the gas. I followed this with 6 to 8 coats of varnish, and it now looks like a Parade rifle, but shoots great.

KKKKFL

 

[VegasAR15]

I think I will just leave them like them are. I am going to eventually buy a couple of 1891/30 nagants off of aimsurplus when I get around to applying for my C&R license. I will buy at least two of them, I'll leave one and refinish one. I just think it would be a fun project to do on a weekend.

 

[Storm]

I just picked up an M44 (1945) for $99. The stock is pretty ratty with damage to the handguard and a chunk out of the buttstock heel. The bore is as good as I've seen on a milsurp, that is up until I picked up a K31 yesterday. I ordered a "new" stock for the M44 and have also restored the old one better than I thought I could get it. M44 and the 38 are getting harder to find and I don't see prices ever getting much better than that. I'll have $160 in mine with the "new" stock and considering the condition of the action/bore I think that it's worth it.

My understanding is that the 38 and 44 are virtually identical except for the bayonet. And while I think that the bayonet is cool and adds interest to the piece, since the 44 was "tuned" to be shot with the bayonet extended, my preference for a shooter might be the 38, assuming that it matters.