Czech Stocked Carbines

Czechoslovakia had a limited association with Mosin Nagants, only producing the VZ54 Sniper and never a standard infantry model. The conventional wisdom is that they were the source of the M91/38 carbines which are cut down from M91s and closely resemble the Soviet M38. These would not be considered new production and in most cases the parts used in this program are Soviet in origin. Many of the stocks are actually cut down from the original M91 stocks while others appear to be typical Soviet M44 stocks. However, a few carbine stocks are known which appear to be new production and don't fit the typical Soviet pattern. They have been documented on M44s, M91/38s, and M91/59s.

The first carbine here is a 1946 Soviet (Izhevsk) M44 with all stamped matching original numbers, which is not unusual considering it's post-WWII production.

What is unusual about this carbine is the stock. The first thing noticed by an experienced Mosin Nagant collector is the grain pattern. It is not at all like the typical Soviet birch or even the Eastern European beech used by Poland, Hungary, and Romania. It has been suggested that the species of wood is elm. The second unique feature of this stock is the sling slot escutcheon and barrel band finger groove pattern. Soviet stocks from WWII typically don't have an escutcheon at the rear sling slot but normally have a metal liner in the bottom of the forward sling slot to reinforce the wood. Soviet stocks of that pattern also do not have the small groove behind the rear barrel band to ease it's removal. In some cases this groove is added, but they are often crudely done. This stock not only does not have any type of escutcheon at the forward sling slot but it does have the barrel band finger groove which appears to be from the original production and not added later.

The final unique feature is the cartouches found on this stock. There are only two and they are next to each other on the right side of the butt just behind the sling slot. The stock does not appear to have been sanded which might have removed any earlier marks. The marks consist of a star with a stylized "BTK" inside and a circle with "KK" over "10" inside. The first mark is unknown at this time but the "KK10" is well documented as a Czech arsenal mark and is found on the receivers of the M91/38 carbines. Several other M44s with similar stocks bearing these marks have been documented by collectors but none were clear enough to read the letters and numbers. The second picture below is the same marks "washed out" with the camera flash to make the letters easier to read.

This next carbine is an M91/38 with some similarities to the first one above. The stock is M44 configuration with the bayonet groove as typically found on M91/38s.

Although the stock is much lighter in color, the grain pattern and workmanship is similar. It also has only two cartouches which appear on the left side of the butt. They are a "4" inside a circle and a smaller "KK" over "5" in a circle. While the second mark is not legible in the pictures it can be read under strong magnification. "KK5" is also a documented Czech mark.

A noticeable difference between this stock and the first one is the presence of the post WWII pressed sling slot escutcheons. They are accompanied by the barrel band finger grooves which is a typical combination for post WWII stock production. However, there is one feature that is not typical. That is the gaps on each side of the tang where the earlier receiver is notched. Occasionally this is found on Soviet stocks but in most cases it is when an older receiver has been placed in a newer stock that was not fitted to it. The usual practice during restocking rifles was to fit the new stock to the receiver regardless of the type. This is most readily observed on laminated M91/30 stocks which are all post war production. Many of these are found on rifles with older notched receivers and the vast majority of them are fitted to them without the gaps.

The third carbine is an M91/59 in a purpose made M91/59 stock. It is not an M38 or M44 stock because it doesn't have a relief for the carbine type rear sight base which is a sleeve encircling the barrel. The M91/59 uses the M91/30 rear sight base which mounts to a dovetail on the barrel and gaps would be visible on each side if the stock had been fitted for either an M38 or M44. It is also lacking the M44 bayonet groove. The only other possibility is that it was an M91/30 stock that was cut down in length, which is typical of M91/59s. However, the chance of that is unlikely considering the similarities it shares with the other carbine stocks on this page and it's distinct differences from any observed M91/30 stock.

The wood color and grain pattern on this stock is strikingly similar to the M91/38 above. The two stocks could have literally been made from the same tree. The cartouches are also similar to the M91/38 and in the same general location. The same "4" inside a circle is found on this stock just as the one above, but the "KK5" cartouche is replaced with a "5" in side a hexagon. The meaning of these is unknown, but the size, location, and general pattern is so close to the known Czech markings that it is reasonably certain that they are from the same source.

As seen here the sling slot escutcheon and barrel band finger groove pattern is the same as the M91/38 stock with the exception that the escutcheons are "in the white" rather than blued. This carbine also has an older notched receiver and the stock is not fitted to it.

The final carbine on this page is unique in it's own right as it is an M44 cut down from a 1904 Izhevsk M91. While that could lead one to believe that it is Czech in origin, the likelier source is Izhevsk in 1945. That is explained in detail with more pictures here: 1904 Izhevsk M44

Once again there is an unusual grain pattern that is not typical of Soviet stocks along with a complete absence of cartouches, including any that could be Czech. The front sling slot does have the small metal reinforcement liner which typically accompanies the rear sling slot with no escutcheon. However, it is accompanied by the barrel band finger groove which is not typical. As on the two previous stocks, this one is not fitted to the steps in the older receiver.

Variations from typical patterns are not uncommon with Mosin Nagants and one must be careful not to draw conclusions from one or two rifles. However, the relative consistency among the stocks pictured on this page, along with others observed by collectors, builds a fairly strong case that some carbine stocks were produced outside of the Soviet Union and the known Eastern European makers. Based on the cartouches found on some of these examples, the most likely source is Czechoslovakia. Regardless, these should be considered a unique variation and cataloged as such in a Mosin Nagant collection.

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