M38 Carbine - first one.

[ccyooper]

Hello, first post. Recently picked up a Russian carbine at a local auction and doing research I stumbled upon this forum. I’ve learned a lot but hoping the experts here will tell me what I really have. The M38 is a 1941 Izhevsk. It’s in about 90-95% condition with a few blemishes on the stock. The numbers are all matching with plenty of cartouches (all izhevsk) on the wood and metal. The stock doesn’t appear to be laminated like the typical other rifles I see but in my research I’ve read about early or small laminates. The stock has the M44 bayonet addition, so is this an M44 stock or an M38 stock that has been modified? I’ve read that some were. Also the serial numbers are original and not force matched or etched if that helps. It is not counterbored. I can add more pictures Bottom line is that it appears to be a nice clean carbine. Regards

[tomaustin]

picture 3.....foto the small engraved area and post

welcome aboard....Tom

[ccyooper]

Roger, it’s just CAI import stamp.

[racerguy00]

Nice m38. Probably sits in a later m44 stock like most refurbs are. Numbers are force matched but that's the norm for refurbs. I like it.

[Junk Yard Dog]

This is one of the Ukranian imports from the late 20th -early 21st century hoard, they were all refurbished post WW2 by the Soviets. Whatever stock it had on it in 1941would have been removed during the refurb process and replaced with whatever was at hand when they reassembled all the parts back into rifles. It is a hardwood stock, not laminated, and has the M44 cutout that its original 1941 stock would not have had given the M44 didn't come along until 1943. It was typical for later M38's to have the M44 stock to start with as well as them being used as replacements during the refurb. Looking at the tool marks on that receiver I would say it's post June 1941 production as things got very hectic after the German invasion 22 June 1941 and final finishing processes were dispensed with to speed up production. Welcome to the board, and nice rifle.

[ccyooper]

Thank you for comments and information.

[RudyN]

You have a nice M38. It is quite a bit nicer than mine.