Just won an auction on this M38

[Aldebaran]

To understand my enthusiasm here, you first of all have to know that the availability of military surplus rifles in Denmark is extremely scarce compared to what you fellows “over there” are used to. Due to strict regulation and control, collectors are very few and sellers even fewer but they do exist. (I think we have one or two small (part time) companies importing and selling surplus).

Well, last week I discovered an Internet auction on what was described as “Mosin Nagant 91/30”. After having checked out the pictures on the website of the auction house, I was, thanks to frequent visits to this great forum, able to see that it was an M38. They did correct their mistake after a few days of auctioning and some other bidder and I let the price crawl up. Bottom line is that I won the auction and ended up paying $185. Cheap, I believe, as that is also the usual price you pay over here for your typical “out of the crate” 91/30 wartime Izhevsk refurb.

So far the only downside is that the number on the bolt doesn't match. You couldn't tell from the pictures on the website of the auction house. Still very pleased with it though.

I just picked it up yesterday and still need to check and clean it. It's a 1941 Izhevsk. I'm not sure if it's a refurb. I can't find the usual “refurb box” from the Ukrainian arsenal stamped on the stock. There is an other box, or two boxes, in a circle – could that be it?

It does have an interesting inscription: “L.Z.A.Li” stenciled on the receiver. Googling that leads to various interesting meanings. One of which suggest it's a German capture (referring to the Linz Ordnance Depot, Austria or “Luftzeugamt, Linz”). This would make good sense as Denmark was occupied by the Germans from 1940-1945 and they left a lot of weapons behind as they left in 1945.
But perhaps someone here knows something about this?

Photos always help, so here they are:

[Mountain Man]

Neat rifle. Seems to have character and I bet an interesting past.

[Ban-One]

You paid $185 for a beauty like that!!!! I'd say you did very well. That little carbine is gorgeous!

[Sirex]

Very nice!!! But the question is, can you buy ammo over there to make it go boom? And of course another question is, do they have firearms ranges over there where you can test it out? Looks very nice, congrats.

[redspoon]

Aldebaran a warm welcome to the forum Very nice carbine you have there. The timber looks great, looks like some type
of spanish sling hanger on the front. If indeed it is a German capture, that would be a big plus. Don't see them that often.

[Junk Yard Dog]

That looks like an original M38, not a refurb, the only time we see them over here is if the have Finnish markings on them, rarely otherwise. You are probably correct about the German wartime use, they did use captured weapons , and your information on this would be better than ours. We are paying over $200 for a M38 refurb, the Finn marked non refurbs go for three times that, any of us would have paid $185 USD for that M38, that's a nice find

[ponycarman]

Thats a great looking rifle for the price. Gorgeous!

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[desdem12]

Really a great looking rifle and a great price. It has really nice patina on it. Glad you got it. Looks like it might have an austrian sling hanger on it but my eyes are bad. Sweet.

[BubbaDX]

That is a really great looking rifle, congratulations on your purchase.

[Cajun]

Great job scoring that rifle!! Lovely stock and clean!! Im envious!


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[Three_Dogs]

[BuckeyeSgt]

Heck ya, for that price we usually find them in a M44 stock. That was a great buy.

[etprescottazusa91]

Beautiful rifle, decent buy also

[Ironnewt]

Welcome aboard and enjoy that great looking carbine. For what it's worth, I checked Lapin's 5th edition of "The Mosin-Nagant Rifle" and it had no info on the L Z A Li marking

[Rongo]

Welcome to the Forum.

You got a real Gem for a great price... Congrats.

[Aldebaran]

Thank you all. It's good to hear that you think I struck a good deal here.

I spent the latter part of the afternoon today cleaning it and checking up on on its general condition. Obviously it hadn't been cleaned for many, many years. It was full of very old oil but no traces of cosmoline.
Condition is good. A nice bore, no rust and firing pin protrusion and headspace is OK

I also tried doing some further research on the “L.Z.A.Li” inscription. Now I doubt it has anything to do with Linz in Austria. I visited a few German forums where this inscription previously had been brought up, but the Germans didn't know of it either. Thanks for trying to clarify it for me Ironnewt.

Now I look forward to taking it to the range. And, @Sirex, we do have ranges here. Hunting is fairly common in Denmark. I use Hungarian surplus ammo in my 91/30 and will be using that in the M38 too

[zeebill]

Welcome! That marking has come up somewhere over here on a post or two on another forum. I am currently searching for your information. Nice looking rifle with a few questions to be answered about it! Congrats on a great buy! M38's are not found a lot over here as someone posted and un refurbed ones are very rare. I have not seen but maybe a handful of them! Most of the M38's found that are refurbed have been very heavily used and are on the ragged edge of being decent shooters over here. Thanks for posting your rifle and sharing pictures with us! Bill

[tincansailor]

you got a real beauty and a great price too!