1941 Izhevsk M38 with Egyptian Markings

[neal45]

I’m always on the lookout for something unique and I found it this week. Besides Russian History and Military Weapons, I am interested in Egypt in many ways and have visited there twice. While I don’t want to expand into later Egyptian weapons, the Mosin is different.

These marked Mosins are not very common. I had a friend translate the information on them from Karl-Heinz Wrobel’s book, Volume 2 and I hope KH doesn’t mind me posting it. So here the relevant info from his Egyptian Marked Mosin page:


After Egypt got closer to the Soviet Union during the cold war, a large amount of M. 1891/30 rifles, among them many from Hungary, and many M. 1944 from various (manufacturing) countries made their way to Egypt. They were used without alteration, although Arabic numbers were written on the right side of the butt with white or yellowish lacquer. The - in a very British way - “Railway Works Department” (RWD) named factory manufactures replacement barrels. Large quantities of ammunition of the 7.62x54R calibre were manufactured in Egypt. The arms were sold in the 80s after Egypt got closer to the United States.

It looks like Egyptian Marked M38s are not that common but here is mine. The rack number is 148 (or 841) but I'm not sure about the other charcters. I have included some Egyptian cartridges that I have had for some time. It is the nastiest Mosin ammo I have ever used.

The carbine bolt is a mixture of parts and the buttplate (not shown) does not match. It appears to be an early Century import. It failed the field headspace test but that is irrelevant to me since I have enough Mosin shooters to keep me busy.

The handguard shows a nasty dent and crack but the apparent crack in the buttstock is just in the shellac.

The stock is the M44 type with a bayonet groove, sling slots are late war/post war, and there are no refurb marks.

[Lee-online]

That is a unique looking rifle with those marking. Very interesting for sure.

Were these imported from Egypt directly or via another Russian country?

[neal45]

I have not been able to find anything more on these puzzling Mosins.

[racerguy00]

I like it! I sold an m44 with similar but far less extensive markings a while back. Definitely a story there that we can hopefully figure out.

[Longcolt44]

Not only has that been there and done that, it got a free t-shirt, excellent.

[qz2026]

Looks like this one was used hard. Very interesting piece. Nice Neal

I'd love to visit Egypt and the entire ancient Mesopotamian area. But, alas, I don't think that's in the cards during this lifetime... Maybe Egypt while they have a hard nose president.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Now that is an interesting M44, I shot thousands of rounds worth of the Egyptian 8mm years back, it was no different that any other 8mm except for the occasional dud. I wonder what they did differently with the 7.62x54r.

[joe7170]

Zeebill has a rifle very similar to that, with the Arab writing. His is in very nice shape as well.

[Gunowner99]

Pretty cool stuff.

[NLMosin]

Russian, Albanian, Hungarian, Chinese, and now Egyptian? Wow I got to get one of those!!!

[neal45]

I just check and noticed that we don't have an Egyptian in the Other Countries M44s. What about putting this Mosin in that showcase?

[racerguy00]

I think that's a great idea Neal. Mosins marked like this don't turn up often, and very few of those are m38s. It's a great carbine.

[Istaqa]

Very cool. I spotted a similar rifle at a gun show in Council Bluffs Iowa yesterday. I just bought a carbine last weekend or it would have come home with me. The stock markings where very similar. The cocking knob was modified like this:

1206151229.jpg

This is one of my own cocking knobs, but it was modified in the same way on the Egyptian stock marked rifle.

[SA1911a1]

Thanks for posting that one. You have improved my knowledge and damaged my psyche. (now I have another variation to lust over) Perhaps, I can make up for it by increasing your knowledge on Egyptian ammo.

There is a reason why the Egyptian ammo is so nasty to shoot. Where we extract most of our nitrates, for making gunpowder, from pine stumps, the Egyptians use camel dung. The stuff you scrape out of your barrel after shooting this ammo, does miraculous work when spread on roses or turnip greens. As a matter of fact, I just spread some myself.

[ground ape]

Very cool. I spotted a similar rifle at a gun show in Council Bluffs Iowa yesterday. I just bought a carbine last weekend or it would have come home with me. The stock markings where very similar. The cocking knob was modified like this:

1206151229.jpg

This is one of my own cocking knobs, but it was modified in the same way on the Egyptian stock marked rifle.

I'm sorry this newbie does not understand this od, can someone explain? Thanks all.

[racerguy00]

I am not sure what is meant by a modified cocking knob based on that photo. Looks normal to me.

[ground ape]

Is it a way to make the safety more user friendly? I learned the other day that the Finns put finger rings on some of their cocking knobs.

[steelbuttplate]

I read Egyptian, on the stock it says, my camel likes to have his ball rubbed Ya don't see them much in pawn shops

[racerguy00]

Is it a way to make the safety more user friendly? I learned the other day that the Finns put finger rings on some of their cocking knobs.

I've never seen a legit Finn cocking knob ring. All I've seen were added here. I think the cocking knob pictured is just a normal variation. I seen nothing unusual with it

[djbuck1]

I just check and noticed that we don't have an Egyptian in the Other Countries M44s. What about putting this Mosin in that showcase?