This is supposedly a Vietnam bring back the dealer says he can get the bring back docs but they're not in my hand so i can't confirm this. The receiver area has none of the normal stamps ( there are a few Izhevsk bits throughout ) Size wise and sight wise it appears to be identical to my M38 Izhevsk barring the stamping and escutcheons so I don't think it is a 91/38. Any thoughts as my Facebook groups have no idea. Also it's in a M44 stock.
http://imageshack.com/a/img537/1707/hFTHpu.jpg
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Oddball minimally stamped M38
- Junk Yard Dog
- Owner/Founder

- Posts: 48861
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- Location: New York
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
Welcome to the board, has the right look for a VC carbine, they did have some SOviet weapons along with the more common Chinese. That stock looks dark enough to be a Chinese type 53, or maybe it's just filthy. Also has the look of a Balkan used rifle. Wait for the documentation. Wartime M38's were often lightly struck, could be someone scrubbed off the markings and restamped a simple number on it. Very cool looking carbine, it is not uncommon to find M44 stocks on the M38's, the Soviets substituted M44 stocks on these during the post war refurb.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
- bunkysdad
- Administrator

- Posts: 10778
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:22 pm
- Location: Mesquite Texas near Dallas
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
It really looks unusual to me. The barrel doesn't really look scrubbed, and the patina looks old and un-messed with. No numbers, except the 1925 serial on barrel and mag well, no stamps, dates, proofs, even the bolt has no number, just the few strange stamps. What does the front sight look like? And the end of the stock by the muzzle? I just really like the look of this one.
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mathaisxr7
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2015 12:45 pm
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
The stock is definitely not Chu wood, I am guessing Bulgarian M44 (the stock has the circle 10 commonly associated with them though I'm not sure on the pentagon with the 1 in it ) The front sight is the standard M38 sight not the larger M44 style sight (this leads me to believe it is NOT a 91/38 as well as it not being a hex )
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
Somewhere I saw a picture of Chinese shooting Mosins. What struck me was the wire hangers in the rear sling slot just like this one. Could very well be a Russian that got to VN via China. I think it's kind of cool. No way a 91/38. Definitely unique.

- BuckeyeSgt
- Posts: 4506
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:48 am
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
Is that a circle 10 on the stock?
Некто кроме нас
US Army 90-94 98G Russian
Army Reserves 94-98 37F
US Army 90-94 98G Russian
Army Reserves 94-98 37F
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mathaisxr7
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2015 12:45 pm
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
Affirmative, Circle 10 Bulgarian stock with a pentagon around a 1 overlapped.
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
I think it looks like the inspection mark from the factory rather than a Bulgarian circle 10.
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mathaisxr7
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2015 12:45 pm
Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38
With this one who knows.


