New Type 53

[Santosh]

Any Type 53 experts?? This is totally new to me and I’m really unfamiliar with this variant, beyond its identity as a 44 clone. I’ve attached some pics. Please excuse bubba’s hideous varnish job…the stock is an embarrassing eyesore.
Any explanation or clues re: these markings? I’ve been scouring the internet and Lapin’s Mosin book, but no info there!

[Santosh]

The stock in question

[SA1911a1]

Congrats on your new find!

I am not an expert, but it looks pretty typical to me. I do find it interesting that the original matching magazine base plate serial was lined out. I am not sure that anyone knows what all of the various markings mean. The ones on the underside of the rifle are most likely "inspection" marks. The dot and "3" after the 1955 date means that it was made in March. The recurring "34" is not that uncommon either. I have two all matching rifles that also have a two digit number marked on all of the normally serialized parts. I have no idea what it signifies.

It is quite common for the stocks on the T-53s to come from China looking like they had been dragged down a slag road at high speed. Apparently some former owner just couldn't live with it. It is a shame.

If the bore is in good shape, it should make a nice shooter. The build quality of the Chinese rifles was very good.

[Santosh]

The stock situation is unfortunate. It's incredibly glossy, drippy, and generally not well done. There are two of the circular, two-digit inspection marks (much like the soviet markings) visible, but they are flush with the wood and no indentation is felt running ones fingers over it. It certainly suffered the sander's wrath. BUT, the metal and bore appear to be in great shape, so as a shooter, it will function well.

[fchaus]

Wow, good catch SA1911. That is very interesting about why the mag place is matching the barrel and butt plate but lined out. Hmmmmm. . .

[Santosh]

Wow, good catch SA1911. That is very interesting about why the mag place is matching the barrel and butt plate but lined out. Hmmmmm. . .

I also found that interesting. It doesn’t look faked, but I wonder if perhaps the part was slated for rearsenal? Fascinating stuff!

[Junk Yard Dog]

One of the Balkans imports? That is where the last batch of 53's to be imported came from. These rifles tended to have better condition metal than the earlier Chinese imports from China, and they sometimes had interesting stocks. Albanian homemade replacements, carvings, sloppy refinishing would be something I would expect from that batch. The Soviets slopped shellac all over the refurbs when they did them. Seems the Soviets got pissed at Albania during the communist era so they turned to China for weapons. After the wall came down Albania sold them to other Balkan nations who promptly used them to kill each other following the traditions of century's in that region. After that unpleasantness was over ( for now ) the rifles were sold here as surplus.