Discussion Section
One of the great aspects of Mosin Nagant collecting is that there are many models, feature variations, markings, and years of manufacture that are considered rare or uncommon. This allows for collectors to seek, and sometimes find, some very special specimens. The following is a Soviet made Model M38, which in large is not extremely uncommon as approximately 2.5 million were made. But this one has some features which stack up to put it near the top of the desirability scale. It's a first year model (1939) from the Izhevsk Arsenal which saw limited production in the initial run.
From here, the features and markings add to the collectible interest. This one sports an Early Stock design which has a "short" rear barrel band shoulder in the transition from the gripping area to the forestock, directly in front of the rear sight. Later production was changed to utilize the stock blanks from the M91/30, and this shoulder area was then approximately 1" forward of the early design. Handguards also needed to be altered to accommodate this change. Early ones had the short rear collar, and later ones had a longer rear collar. Not all 1939 M38's will still have the Early Stock, due to attrition in wars and later refurbishment. The following link provides some further information about M38's and stock variations.
Next, these firearms were developed and produced for war, and by the time the M38 was seeing significant action, the Soviets were engaged on many fronts. Besides the Nazi invasion of 1941, the Finns decided that they wanted to regain territory that they had ceded in the Winter War of 1939. My carbine was likely captured by the Finns during the 1941-1944 span of the Continuation War, as one of approximately 1,800 carbines (including a small number of M44's). The following links provide good summaries of both the Continuation War and M38 Carbine histories.
http://mosinnagant.net/finland/FinlandC ... dgrass.asp
http://mosinnagant.net/USSR/Model-1938-Carbine.asp
Captured guns received the Finnish Army Property Mark, [SA].
One feature lacking that would put this gun over the top, would be matching numbers. This one obviously saw some rearsenal work by the Finns, as the full complement of numbers are either scrubbed or force match. But it is fairly clear that by the rear tang impression, the stock is original to the gun.
Fumbling through a grab box at a gunshop, I found this Finn war time sling with stamped collars. I did take the liberty to add it to the carbine...
Just some more pics.
And as always, folks, thanks for looking.
Discussion Section