The purpose of this page is to illustrate the relationships between stocks of various models and the major features that are found on the stocks. M91/30, M38, and M44 stocks are included in the data. M91 stocks are not included because they are typically of one type with no variation among the features that are addressed in this survey. Finnish stocks are not included because of the significant differences between them and Soviet stocks. Neither are Eastern European or Chinese stocks included for similar reasons. The information here should not be used to determine the overall percentage or rarity of a certain stock variation due to the small sample. However, some general conclusions may be drawn and will be pointed out below. Soviet stocks with few exceptions are birch. For information on the material used in other stock production see the Mosin Nagant Rifle Specifications page.

The data is taken from 137 stocks on M38s, M44s, M91/30s, M91/59s, and M91/38s. The M91/59s are recorded as M91/30 stocks since that was their original configuration, unless they have the bayonet groove of an M44 stock. The M91/38s are recorded as M44 stocks when they have the bayonet groove and M38 stocks when they do not. One of the M91/38 stocks has no recoil bolt and is believed to be an M91 stock that was cut down and had the bayonet groove added. It is probably an anomaly and will be pointed out when it is an "exception to the rule".

Six primary features were recorded in the survey. Click on the links for illustrations.

1. Type of stock: M38, M44, M91/30
2. Material: Laminate or Hardwood
3. Sling slot escutcheons (SSEs): None (liner in front)
4. Toe splice: Yes or No
5. Wrist bolt: Yes or No
6. Barrel band finger grooves (BBFGs): Present, Absent, or Retrofitted

Laminated stocks are found on all three models. A total of twenty-one were examined including 3 M38, 12 M44, and 6 M91/30.

All 21 have barrel band finger grooves. This seems to be typical and a laminated stock without this feature would be unusual.

Only 1 laminated M38 stock has no sling slot escutcheons with a liner at the front. This is uncommon and is most likely a very early production laminated stock. All other laminated stocks have pressed sling slot escutcheons and that would be considered typical.

The following chart illustrates the occurrence of toe splices and wrist bolts. Total numbers for each category are in parentheses.

It could be concluded that laminated stock production began on the M38 without spliced toes and then continued on the M44. After some laminated M44 stock production the spliced toe was adopted. This was probably to allow the use of smaller blanks and conserve material.

It could also be said that toe splices and wrist bolts on laminated stocks go together. There are two exceptions among the M44 stocks. One that does not have the toe splice, but has the wrist bolt and another that has the toe splice, but does not have the wrist bolt. All of the M38s in this study have neither and this reinforces the theory that laminated stock production began on M38s. However, since this page was initially published a few laminated M38 stocks with toe splices and wrist bolts have been reported. This suggests that laminated M38 stock production continued concurrently with laminated M44 stock production. Again, the samples are small and no firm conclusions are possible.

One additional feature was recorded on laminated stocks and this was the stock fit to the tang notches, where applicable. The tang notches on the receiver were phased out before laminated stock production began, yet a significant number of laminated stocks are fit to them. For more information on receiver configurations see the Mosin Nagant Rifle Receiver Variations page.

The following chart illustrates the number of laminted stocks fit to tang notches.

Since laminated stock production began after the tang notches were phased out and a significant number of laminated stocks are fit to the notches it could be concluded that many laminated stocks were not made, or at least not fit to rifles, until later refurbishment. Keeping in mind that the sample is very small, the fact that the fitting seems to follow the progression from M38 through M44 to M91/30, it would seem that the M91/30 laminated stocks may be strictly of post war production.

Hardwood stocks are much more common on all models. A total of 116 were examined including 16 M38, 40 M44, and 60 M91/30.

The following chart illustrates the occurrence of the different SSEs.

None of the M38 hardwood stocks have pressed SSEs which leads to the conclusion that hardwood M38 stock production stopped before the use of pressed SSEs. Corollary: Pressed SSEs were probably not used before 1943 when M38 stock production likely ended. Corollary: Laminated stocks, which all have pressed SSEs, were probably not produced before 1943.

Of the 38 M44 hardwood stocks, only 2 have the screwed SSEs. I believe these are anomalies. One is the M91/38 with no recoil bolt and I believe the bayonet groove was added. The other is on an M38 carbine and the bayonet groove also looks like a later addition. 9 have no SSEs, and the remaining 27 have pressed SSEs. While year of manufacture of the rifles was not recorded because the stocks are likely not original due to refurbishment, it is obvious that pressed SSEs are much more prevalent after 1945. This leads to the conclusion that M44 stock production began after the use of screwed SSEs. Corollary: screwed SSEs were not used after 1943.

The following chart illustrates the occurrence of the toe splice.

None of the M38 hardwood, or laminated, stocks have toe splices which leads to the conclusion that M38 stock production stopped before the use of toe splices. Corollary: Toe splices were probably not used before 1943 when M38 stock production likely ended.

The following chart illustrates the occurrence of BBFGs.

Only one of the M38 hardwood stocks has original BBFGs which leads to the conclusion that hardwood M38 stock production stopped shortly after the adoption of BBFGs. Corollary: BBFGs were probably not used before 1943 when M38 stock production likely ended.

The following chart combines charts #2 and #3 to show the relationship between SSEs and toe splices.

Only one stock with a toe splice has no SSE and none have screwed SSEs. This establishes a relationship between the toe splice and the pressed SSEs. While practically all stocks with toe splices have pressed SSEs, not all stocks with pressed SSEs have toe splices. This indicates that hardwood stocks without toe splices were produced after, or along with, those with toe splices. It also reinforces the theory that toe splices were not used before 1943.

The following chart combines charts #2 and #4 to show the relationship between SSEs and BBFGs.

Only three stocks with pressed SSEs have no BBFGs or retrofitted BBFGs. This establishes that BBFGs were fully adopted with, or shortly after, pressed SSEs. While practically all stocks with pressed SSEs have BBFGs, not all stocks with BBFGs have pressed SSEs. This indicates that some BBFGs were either retrofitted in a manner consistent with original production or were used in a haphazard manner prior to full adoption. The number of stocks without pressed SSEs and without BBFGs indicates that BBFGs were not retrofitted across the board, or even on a majority of stocks.

The following chart combines charts #3 and #4 to show the relationship between toe splices and BBFGs.

Only two hardwood stocks with toe splices do not have BBFGs. One of them is the same one that does not have pressed SSEs. This strengthens the three-way relationship between pressed SSEs, toe splices and BBFGs.

The following chart illustrates the occurrence of reinforcing wrist bolts among hardwood stocks. While common on laminated stocks, the wrist bolt is seldom found on hardwood stocks.

From this data it could be concluded that the reinforcing bolt at the wrist was typically used on laminated stocks, but also on M38s. It is difficult to say this with certainty though because so few hardwood stocks are encountered with this bolt.

Summary of Conclusions

1. Practically all laminated stocks have pressed SSEs and BBFGs.
2. Laminated stock production began in 1943 on M38s.
3. Toe splices and wrist bolts were adopted after laminated M44 stock production began.
4. Laminated M91/30 stock production was post WWII.
5. Screwed SSEs were not used after 1943.
6. Pressed SSEs were not used before 1943.
7. M38 stocks do not have toe splices.
8. M38 stock production ended in 1943.
9. With few exceptions, stocks with toe splices have pressed SSEs and BBFGs, but all stocks with pressed SSEs and BBFGs do not have toe splices.
10. Hardwood stocks without toe splices were produced after, or along with, those with toe splices.

Unique variations

1. M38 hardwood stock with screwed SSEs rear and liner front. Picture
2. M44 hardwood stock with screwed SSEs rear and liner front. (probably anomaly made from an M38 stock)
3. M91/30 hardwood stock with screwed SSEs rear and liner front. Possibly a Finnish modification.
4. M38 hardwood stock with no SSEs, but with a liner in the rear sling slot similar to the one in the front sling slot. Picture
5. M91/30 hardwood stock with no SSEs, but with a liner in the rear sling slot similar to the one in the front sling slot.
6. 3 M91/30 hardwood stocks cut down for M91/59s with pressed SSEs rear and liners front. These probably had the pressed SSE at the front replaced with the liner when the fore end was cut down. Picture
7. M38 hardwood stock with no SSEs, no toe splice, with trigger bolt. Picture
8. M44 hardwood stock with no SSEs, no toe splice, with trigger bolt.
9. M44 hardwood stock with no SSEs front or rear. Picture courtesy of "coyy2k1"

Other variations observed after the publication of this study

1. M38 laminated stock with pressed SSEs, toe splice and wrist bolt.
2. M44 hardwood stock with screwed SSEs.
3. M91/30 hardwood stock with screwed SSE at front and none at rear. Picture courtesy of "JMKDEVCO"