Lucky Me - Found A Tula M44 and 1891/59

[The Bolt Man]

Lucky Me - Found A Tula M44 and 1891/59.

Now I will appreciate any additional information forum members can provide about these two rifles.

The Tula model 44, dated 1944, has the Tula star, year date and serial number on the barrel. There is a refurb mark also. Close inspection indicates the refurb work must have included removal of surface rust. The barrel marks and front portion of the receiver appear to have been sanded or ground, causing a thinning of the marks. The rear receiver tang where the manufacturers mark and date usually appear has been nicely ground out. All the numbers match, but the bolt and magazine floor plate are forced. The butt plate is new with the number stamped. The bore is quite frosted and the muzzle is counter borred.

I am unable to determine the origin of the receiver with the few remaining marks. The receiver is round. The stock is in nice shape and dark. The handguard is on the light side.

The 1891/59 is one I am especially proud of. The overall condition is very good plus. I can't find any refurb mark. The stock is light in color and very few dings to be found. The handguard is dark. All the metal is very nicely blued as are a lot of refurbs. The barrel is marked, reading from top to bottom or front to rear, Soviet Crest, 1891/59, 1941, Serial number and the Izhevsk triangle with the arrow inside. The receiver tang is marked with the Izhevsk mark and the 1941 date. The bore shows little wear and is very shiny through out. The bolt appears to be original to the rifle, no evidence of grinding before the serial number was stamped. The same is true of the magazine and butt plate. Both appear to be original to the rifle prior to being altered to the 1891/59 configuration and numbers match. The stock even has the three digits of the serial number stamped on the butt. The serial number is Bn774.

I know the Tula model 44 is considered quite rare. I haven't been able to find any data indicating probable production numbers for the 1891/59. Are they rare or common?

Any help with additional information will be greatly appreciated.

[desdem12]

Wow for carbines you hit a grandslam. Tula M44s are hard to find and /59s are not common. I have no idea of the numbers but i would say far less then the M44s and M38s. I have never seen a Tula M44 live so nice double there. SWEET. The M44 is likely an 44 Izhevsk or Tula round reciever and they might not have stamped it due to wartime hurries.

[BuckeyeSgt]

Nice carbines! You found a couple of good ones. Of course you know you have to show off the gun porn!

[Junk Yard Dog]

Good deal, Tula produced the M44 for one year in 1944, the receiver on your rifle is Tula, 1944 they were known for crap marking stamping during the war, many times lightly struck. It's your basic M44, just rare because Tula only made it the one year.
There are no production figures for the 91/59, it's even debated as to who made them and why, every body has their own theory. My own is they were made by the Soviets, probably for some unknown special purpose. They tend to be a step above the ordinary refurb in build quality, things like triggers and such, known for accuracy as well. I don't think we have solid production figures for the Tula M44, the Soviets never publicized such information, but they would be much lower than Izhevsk. Two hard to find carbines at once

[Three_Dogs]

[bunkysdad]

Definitely a good day of shopping.

[The Bolt Man]

Sorry about the lack of pictures. I am just recovering from a computer crash and restoration is slow due to all the preparation for the white season here in Minnesota. I will post so pictures as soon as I am able.

[jeremyb]