Soviet M38s

The Soviet M38 carbine is a true "war era" weapon that was adopted as WWII dawned and continued in production until 1945. It's primary issue was to non-infantry troops such as artillery and rear echelon units. It was not issued with a bayonet and was eventually replaced with the M44 with an attached bayonet. Actual production didn't begin until 1939 and this first year is difficult to find due to low numbers and war time losses. 1945 dated M38s are also uncommon since it was being phased out at that time. Primary production was at Izhevsk with a very small run at Tula in 1940 and another in 1944.

As with the M91/30 and M44, older receivers were used to build M38s during the later years of WWII. This 1944 Tula M38 is built on a hex 1935 Tula receiver. Less than a dozen examples of M38s on hex receivers are known in the US.

This 1944 Tula M38 is built on a low wall 1939 Tula receiver. (Bolt and stock removed for clarity.) It's difficult to judge how many of these might be in US collections because they are not immediately recognizable to the casual collector. One other has been reported. In the lower left hand picture the original date, "39", and Tula star are clear. When the same image is rotated 180 degrees (lower right) the second date, "44", and it's corresponding Tula star become apparent.

Another unique feature on the same rifle (1939 low wall receiver) is the use of an M44 front sight/bayonet lug base. In the picture the seam between the base sleeve and barrel is highlighted, as is the remains of the bayonet lug pin. The bayonet lug has been removed and ground flush with the barrel. This method is known to have been widely used on the Czech M91/38 carbines, but has never been reported on a Soviet M38 before. The front sight is approximately 5/8" behind the muzzle which is typical of M44s, while M38 front sights are usually 3/8" to 1/2" behind the muzzle. Why Tula would essentially build an M44 and then convert it to an M38, which the M44 replaced, is a mystery.

Laminated M38 stocks are another uncommon variation, although many M38s are found in laminated M44 stocks with a bayonet groove. The laminated stock was not used by the Soviets until 1943 or 1944 and M44 production began about the same time. An M44 stock will readily accept an M38 action and there would be no reason to produce both types, hence the reason for the scarcity of laminated M38 stocks.

Small numbers of M38s were captured by Finland during the Winter War and Continuation War. This uncommon variation can be recognized by the Finnish [SA] mark on the barrel shank.

After WWII the M38 continued to serve the Warsaw pact in different ways. Many second line weapons were sent to East Germany by the Soviets and this included M38s. The DDR property mark is a "1 in a triangle" and is found on Nagant revolvers, M38s, M44s and M91/30s. By far the rarest of these is the M38. The mark can be found anywhere on the barrel shank and shouldn't be confused with the similar Izhevsk "arrow in a triangle". A "1 in a triangle" mark is also found on stocks, but is not believed to be related to the DDR mark. M38s were also transferred to the internal security forces of the Ministry of Defense and marked with the initials "M.O." For more information on this marking, see the Mosin Nagant MO Marks page. This particular example also happens to be a Tula M38, a rarity in it's own right.

This 1943 Izhevsk M38 is marked on the wrist of the stock with the Bulgarian "pinecone". It also has a rack number stenciled on the butt and has a Hungarian marked bolt.

As seen by these examples the M38 is a historical weapon with many unusual variations to keep the collector interested.

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