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Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 1:54 pm
by mathaisxr7
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
http://imageshack.com/a/img901/8194/VrqoO1.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img673/4533/AY3dBL.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img673/8571/rwHZae.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img537/8351/bdDdCG.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/6046/hyJCmm.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img905/1492/05xg9L.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/2633/wRV2xw.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img904/7640/xjB1AT.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/6938/UBRQgg.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img673/1458/6rcGHs.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img673/9212/YyMDuH.jpg

Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 5:23 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
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.

Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:54 pm
by bunkysdad
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.

Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 6:42 am
by mathaisxr7
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

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 10:22 am
by qz2026
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. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:26 am
by BuckeyeSgt
Is that a circle 10 on the stock?

Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:50 pm
by mathaisxr7
Affirmative, Circle 10 Bulgarian stock with a pentagon around a 1 overlapped.

Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:49 pm
by shmlnaaa
I think it looks like the inspection mark from the factory rather than a Bulgarian circle 10.

Re: Oddball minimally stamped M38

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 4:02 pm
by mathaisxr7
With this one who knows.