Romanian M44: Wrong Stock

[B24]

I can barely look at the gun now. All I see is this aborted fetus sitting in my gun cabinet. My God... I need a Romanian stock so bad. I have adds literally all over the internet with a WTB on one. I just feel so bad for this pitiful rifle... Bubba mutilated it and left it to die, it's history erased...

I feel your pain, about 18 months back I found a Finn 34 Izhevsk 91/30 that has this awful looking thick coat of
poly. Its even sitting in a two piece Finn spliced stock with Finn escutcheons and sling hangers. I'm going to
strip it one of these days and pine tar it or use Tom's mix on it. For $150 I couldn't let it pass because it was
a Finn.

[Earl Burlin]

I can barely look at the gun now. All I see is this aborted fetus sitting in my gun cabinet. My God... I need a Romanian stock so bad. I have adds literally all over the internet with a WTB on one. I just feel so bad for this pitiful rifle... Bubba mutilated it and left it to die, it's history erased...

I feel your pain, about 18 months back I found a Finn 34 Izhevsk 91/30 that has this awful looking thick coat of
poly. Its even sitting in a two piece Finn spliced stock with Finn escutcheons and sling hangers. I'm going to
strip it one of these days and pine tar it or use Tom's mix on it. For $150 I couldn't let it pass because it was
a Finn.

Finally, someone who understands my dilemma. I sure wish Bubba would stop ruining these rifles. If I could find a Romanian M44 stock, I'd pretty much sell my unborn child for it if I had to. I'm prepared to offer top dollar for one.

[Brdm2]

I have a Romanian m44 that has a Hungarian stock, and a Russian bolt. The stock has "tan lines" on it from some kind of band.

It's missing the bayonet though. I need a Romanian bayonet to fit to it. It was probably taken off at some point.

It's a piece of Cold War history. Made to fight NATO and then the Russians should they have invaded. Nothing wrong with it! If it rusty, scrub it off.

And now it's owned by me..best part about it

[Earl Burlin]

So do you guys think I should just throw it into a Polish stock and call it done? At least the Polish stock won't have been refinished by Bubba's dumb ass.

I've tried and tried to locate a Romanian stock, but it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen. :(

[steelbuttplate]

Look on e-bay.......I got one like JYD was talking, pristine '54, but in a Russian stock. The most beautiful jeweled woodgrain stock I ever see on a M-44. I'm gonna Leave it Alone, the ages have been at work on it. No hit with any hammer

[Earl Burlin]

Look on e-bay.......I got one like JYD was talking, pristine '54, but in a Russian stock. The most beautiful jeweled woodgrain stock I ever see on a M-44. I'm gonna Leave it Alone, the ages have been at work on it. No hit with any hammer

Cool, so it would be more correct for me to get an original Russian or Polish stock and set the rifle in it than it would to have it with this refinished Bubba abomination? Thanks!

[steelbuttplate]

You have a unique rifle just as is, I'd leave it alone, or look for a Romy w/ mebe %80 bluing but a good Romy stock, and just switch stocks.

[Junk Yard Dog]

OK, first off have you checked some obscure part of the stock to see if it is shellac or poly on there? Q-tip in alcohol rubbed someplace it will not be noticed will turn the cotton red if it's dissolving shellac, it will stay clear if it's poly. Bubba uses poly, Russians use that red shellac. Romania had access to Soviet refurbished arms, these parts would be in their parts inventory and they would have been used to rebuild damaged rifles. That looks like a typical Soviet refurbished stock, sanding and all, I have similar appearing stocks on many of my Soviet refurbished M44's. If that is shellac on the stock it is likely the stock that M44 was wearing when it was imported and it is correct, that's how the Romanians left it and it should be left alone. Check first, then worry about replacing perfectly good parts, Romanian used M44's are almost all parts mixers, that is a hallmark of 95% of the rifles imported from there.

[qz2026]

Like I said before - enjoy the gun as it is. It's basically as refurbished in Romania, and I think the stock is Romanian. It's just a matter of waiting and watching for a Romanian beater or a stock to show up if you wish to replace it. I, for one, wouldn't put a Polish stock on it even if one of those could be found - probably more difficult to find than a Romanian. Patience is the key here. There are many of the older collectors here that have waited years to find an appropriate stock for some of their barreled actions. Good luck but in the mean time, enjoy your carbine as is.

[Darryl]

There are many of the older collectors here that have waited years to find an appropriate stock for some of their barreled actions.

There are many of the collectors here that look down on "swapping stocks". Lets not forget that either. Certainly it is "altering the rifle".

I also know what the response will be...."I'll put the original back on if I sell it", or "I will tell the new owners it has a replacement stock".....but you know how many times that is actually done? Especially if you have to drop the price because of it. They will keep their mouth shut and get the bigger money from a rookie who can't spot it.

How is that any different then what the guys here are complaining about with the CMP Garand crowd swapping parts out to "make it proper" (in another thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=24285)? Interesting .....isn't it???

Will you take the "high road", or will you take the "low road"?

The forums try to NOT take too much of a stand on this (because it is called "reversible"), but we have had people here that did it just to increase the value of their rifles........ and turn around and sell it. They are not here on the forums anymore. They are on another forum that promotes or tolerates that.

Again, it's your rifle. But I though I'd present "the opposite side" of ths action (Devil's advocate, if you will....).

It's not an easy slope to be standing on...is it?


PS: I'd love to hear both sides of this important issue. As I said, I'm just playing Devil's advocate here. It helps to listen to all sides of an issue when you are trying to run a forum like this. Believe me, we have "discussions" about things like this as Administrators. Mostly we agree, but not always.

.

[Earl Burlin]

OK, first off have you checked some obscure part of the stock to see if it is shellac or poly on there? Q-tip in alcohol rubbed someplace it will not be noticed will turn the cotton red if it's dissolving shellac, it will stay clear if it's poly. Bubba uses poly, Russians use that red shellac. Romania had access to Soviet refurbished arms, these parts would be in their parts inventory and they would have been used to rebuild damaged rifles. That looks like a typical Soviet refurbished stock, sanding and all, I have similar appearing stocks on many of my Soviet refurbished M44's. If that is shellac on the stock it is likely the stock that M44 was wearing when it was imported and it is correct, that's how the Romanians left it and it should be left alone. Check first, then worry about replacing perfectly good parts, Romanian used M44's are almost all parts mixers, that is a hallmark of 95% of the rifles imported from there.

'

It is shellac, but it's Bubba's shellac... not Russia's. :(

[Longcolt44]

" It is shellac, but it's Bubba's shellac... not Russia's. :("

American or at least the shellac that is normally sold here is either orange colored or clear. To get a ruby red shellac you must buy red shellac flakes and spend the next two weeks experimenting with dissolving the flakes and then mixing them with clear. Bubba will not take the time or the expense. A small bag of ruby red shellac flakes runs north of $25.00. Bubba will not spend that much on a finish. What you have is a red shellacked stock. If you can't stand it, sell it.

[Junk Yard Dog]

It would appear that you have a real and correct milsurp rifle. This is what the rifle was when last in Romanian military service. I have yet to come across a Bubba who used any sort of shellac. Bubba uses oil based or poly finishes, shellac is used by the Russians pretty much exclusively as it's cheap, easy to apply, but does not last long in field service, this would be why it's not popular anywhere else. Celebrate your milsurp for what it is and don't try and "improve" it. These are pieces of history, they are not expected to be, or supposed to be perfect. Perfection is what you expect and demand when buying a new commercial sporter, it should never be expected in any milsurp antique.

[Earl Burlin]

It would appear that you have a real and correct milsurp rifle. This is what the rifle was when last in Romanian military service. I have yet to come across a Bubba who used any sort of shellac. Bubba uses oil based or poly finishes, shellac is used by the Russians pretty much exclusively as it's cheap, easy to apply, but does not last long in field service, this would be why it's not popular anywhere else. Celebrate your milsurp for what it is and don't try and "improve" it. These are pieces of history, they are not expected to be, or supposed to be perfect. Perfection is what you expect and demand when buying a new commercial sporter, it should never be expected in any milsurp antique.

Wow so you think this is the original finish and not the work of some jerk Bubba bastard? That is good to hear. I was under the impression that it had been refinished. It certainly is shellac on it.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Shellac would be Bubba's dead last choice, it would be anyone's dead last choice for a stock finish unless there was nothing else available. Shellac is OK for antique furniture, but it does not hold up well to rough handling, heat, solvents, or water. The Russians used it because it was cheap and easy to apply, dried quick, and was good enough to keep the stock preserved in storage.

[Brdm2]

What did the Chinese use?

[Longcolt44]

I have read that they used some type of oil finish. Their stocks were made from a Chinese wood, Chu wood.

[King Johhny]

There are many of the older collectors here that have waited years to find an appropriate stock for some of their barreled actions.

There are many of the collectors here that look down on "swapping stocks". Lets not forget that either. Certainly it is "altering the rifle".

I also know what the response will be...."I'll put the original back on if I sell it", or "I will tell the new owners it has a replacement stock".....but you know how many times that is actually done? Especially if you have to drop the price because of it. They will keep their mouth shut and get the bigger money from a rookie who can't spot it.

How is that any different then what the guys here are complaining about with the CMP Garand crowd swapping parts out to "make it proper" (in another thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=24285)? Interesting .....isn't it???

Will you take the "high road", or will you take the "low road"?

The forums try to NOT take too much of a stand on this (because it is called "reversible"), but we have had people here that did it just to increase the value of their rifles........ and turn around and sell it. They are not here on the forums anymore. They are on another forum that promotes or tolerates that.

Again, it's your rifle. But I though I'd present "the opposite side" of ths action (Devil's advocate, if you will....).

It's not an easy slope to be standing on...is it?


PS: I'd love to hear both sides of this important issue. As I said, I'm just playing Devil's advocate here. It helps to listen to all sides of an issue when you are trying to run a forum like this. Believe me, we have "discussions" about things like this as Administrators. Mostly we agree, but not always.

.

Great Post Dolk!

[Earl Burlin]

So what do you other guys think? Junk Yard Dog thinks it's original, but is he right?

[Fledge]

So what do you other guys think? Junk Yard Dog thinks it's original, but is he right?

I have learned that JYD is always right....if I know what is good for me