"Collectors Forum" - All Mosin Nagant are discussed here. Also the Russian and "Finnish capture" SVT38 and SVT40. This is an excellent place for new Mosin owners to ask questions. We have some of the best experts here looking forward to your questions. If you post a Mosin sniper rifle here, we may or may not move it to the sniper forum.
Preservation forum, please no altered military surplus rifles or discussions on altering in this forum. No sportsters. Please read the rules at the top of each forum
This past weekend I found a Hungarian M44 on line that intrigued me, it appeared to be well used and showed signs of possibly having seen Romanian Military service. What really caught my attention was the shield painted on L/H side of the butt stock with the letters PTTR in the center. A little research showed that PTTR in Rom
ania stood for Posta Telefon Telegraf Radio, ( Postal, Telephone, Telegraph, Radio, the former name of the Romanian Postal services). The reserve was very reasonable so I decided to go ahead and buy it.
It arrived today and so far everything I have seen about this rifle appears to bear out my conclusion that this rifle made it’s way to Romania. The rifle is a mixture of Hungarian , ( stock barreled action, stock trim), and Polish ( bolt & mag housing) parts. The bolt & mag housing have been lined out with an EP, the mag housing was EP’ed to match the rifle, while the cocking knob was EP’ed to another rifle. The stock has been heavly sanded and coated with a heavy layer of shellac similar to another Romanian M44 in my collection. I am still working on trying to find out if the PTTR on the stock any connection to the Romanian Posta Telefon Telegraf Radio.
If anyone has seen this mark before and has any info on it they care to share feel free to post it up.
“The only real power comes out of a long rifle" - Joseph Stalin
Thanks guys, nothing else about this rifle that really stands out from other mix master Romanian M44's other than the painted markings. I have yet to take it out of it's stock, but I really don't expect to find anything under the wood.
It would make sense though to have armed gaurds at communcations and radio installations if you are a repressive Communist Goverment wanting to hold onto power.
Last edited by Miller Tyme on Wed Sep 24, 2014 7:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
“The only real power comes out of a long rifle" - Joseph Stalin
I almost bid on that because of the mark on it I really liked it too. But I wasn't 100 percent sure that it wasn't the work of bubba or something (It absolutely didn't really look like it and you seem to have found a great explanation that I couldn't from my googling when it was still for auction) and I also just really didn't have the money to spare. If it does mean what you've found and I'm sure it does it may be a real gem. It's a nice rifle and enjoy.
Hey is the circle 88 on the magazine pictured a hungarian marking? I have a magazine with a circle 88 on it and have never found where it's from. Also my polish m44 has the mk prefix...perhaps the bolt is polish?
Unique and interesting piece Miller. The Romanian connection might be further understood by looking at the "line out", actual scribbling out of the old s/n on the magazine floor plate. Haven't seen that one before, thus I, for no other reason than speculation, blame it on the Romanians. I've seen the heavy shellac coatings on more than one Romanian M-44 too.
Imagine arming the postal service here Ughhhhhh Of course, virtually every other government agency is armed to the teeth, perhaps the Postal Inspectors are too
Nice find, mailing a letter must be an interesting experience in Romania.
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
qz2026 wrote:Unique and interesting piece Miller. The Romanian connection might be further understood by looking at the "line out", actual scribbling out of the old s/n on the magazine floor plate. Haven't seen that one before, thus I, for no other reason than speculation, blame it on the Romanians. I've seen the heavy shellac coatings on more than one Romanian M-44 too.
Imagine arming the postal service here Ughhhhhh Of course, virtually every other government agency is armed to the teeth, perhaps the Postal Inspectors are too
US postal inspectors are fully armed law enforcement officers, they investigate crimes involving the postal service , it's facilities and employees.
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
Very interesting rifle for sure! You'll have to let us know if you find out anything more about the PTTR shield logo. I tried doing some searches last night, image matching etc but didn't wind up with anything other than what you already said. Have to love a good mystery!
Lotema Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours. -- Richard Bach
The commerce which maybe carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important ~Thomas Jefferson~ (to- Lewis and Clark)
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Papers #29: ...if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens.
Of course, virtually every other government agency is armed to the teeth, perhaps the Postal Inspectors are too 
