M44
 Ru
Russia/USSR Mosin Nagant
| General Specifications |
Model M44 Carbine General Description: |
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Weight
-- 9 lbs.(4.1 kg)
Length (over all) -- 40" (101.6 cm)
Barrel Length -- 20 1/4" (51.4 cm)
Stock length -- 36 1/2" (92.7 cm)
Sight Radius -- 16 1/2" (41.9 cm)
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- Manufactured
from 1943 to 1948 at the Izhevsk arsenal.
- Manufactured
in 1944 at the Tula Arsenal.
- Unlike
any of the other Soviet carbines, the M44 has a permanently attached
side-folding bayonet.
- Also
manufactured by multiple countries after World War Two ended. See: M44 (other countries)
- Length
of sight base: 2-1/4" (versus the M1891/30 (M91/30) at 3")
- Length
of cleaning rod (below head): 17-1/4" (verus the M1891/30 (M91/30) at
25-3/4")
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The Red Army needed a shorter rifle, better suited to modern combat
than the M91/30. Since the bayonet was still seen as an important part
of the Soviet soldier's equipment, the M38 did not meet the need. The
M1944 (M44), a new carbine based on the M38 was developed. The only
major difference between the M38 and the new M44 was the addition of a
side-folding bayonet. The Izhevsk Arsenal began production of the M44
in 1943, with 50,000 carbines built for combat testing. The M44 was
officially adopted in 1944.
Production
numbers for the M44 are estimated as:
Izhevsk
1943: 50,000
1944: 3,620,000
1945: 3,472,245
1946: 189,027
1947: 120,061
1948: 160,498
Tula
1944: 100,000
7,62 mm Carbine, Model of the Year 1944 -
Tula Arsenal
General
Features:
As the M44 was based on the design of the M38, the major difference is
the attached folding cruciform (tri-fluted) bayonet. The flat back side
rests against the stock when locked rearward, and the stock has a
recess cut into the right side to accommodate.
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Integral Folding bayonet |
Locked Forward |
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Typical
Barrel Shank Markings Found on the M44
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Izhevsk M44, 1943-1948 |
Tula M44, 1944 |
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Refer to Barrel Shank Marks link
for a more complete listing.
Receiver
Variations
All M44
production took place after the Soviets had adopted the Round Receiver
as the platform for the Mosin Nagant. In general, early production
utilized the High Wall receiver, and late production utilized the Low
Wall receiver. However, a small percentage of M44's can be found with
Hex Receivers or Round Receivers with earlier tang dates than 1943, and
presumably taken from the M91/30 when damaged barrels were scrapped.
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M44 Round High Wall receiver: Tula 1944, and Izhevsk 1943 to early
1945. |
M44 Round Low Wall receiver: Izhevsk from late 1945 to 1948 |
M44 Hex Receiver: Either arsenal (uncommon) |
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Sight
Styles, Barrel Sleeve and Bayonet Lug
Rear
Sight
Unlike the M91 and M91/30 with the dovetail base, the M44 rear sight
attachment is nearly identical to the M38 design, as a band around the
rear of the barrel, and pinned into place. The major difference is a
slight convex curve over the elevation slider travel, and forward
rounded ears for the leaf pin placement. The rear sight leaf is
graduated 1 to 10, in hundreds of meters, for a range of 1,000 meters.
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M44 Rear Sight Leaf and Slider: |
M44 Rear Sight, side view |
M38 Rear Sight Base/Band and pin, for comparison. |
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Front
Sight
The Front sight, like the M91/30 and M38, is a post and globe which is
attached to a dovetail on the front barrel sleeve, which also serves as
a bayonet lug. Early front sights are the same width as the M91/30 and
M38, and can be of a single piece milled globe, or a two piece stamped
and spot welded globe. Late front sights are a wider single piece
milled globe, and are fitted to the second pattern front barrel sleeve.
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M44 Early front sight: Two piece globe, narrow base |
M44 Early front sight: One piece globe, narrow base |
M44 Late front sight: One piece milled globe, wide base |
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Front
Barrel Sleeve: Dovetail Sight Base, Bayonet Lug, and Lock Ring Collar
The first pattern Front Barrel Sleeve has a narrow dovetail sight base,
and a Single Eared Bayonet Lug. The mating Lock Ring Collar has a
concave (female) latching mechanism.
The
second pattern Front Barrel Sleeve has a wide dovetail sight base, and
a Double Eared Bayonet Lug. The mating Lock Ring Collar has a convex
(male) latching mechanism.
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M44 First pattern 'Single Eared Lug' Front Barrel Sleeve and Concave
Lock Ring Collar |
M44 Second pattern 'Double Eared Lug' Front Barrel Sleeve and Convex
Lock Ring Collar |
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Lock
Ring Variations
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Straight Ring: No Bevel, No Shoulder |
Ground Bevel inside Cylinder, Shoulder |
Milled Bevel inside Cylinder, Shoulder |
Minimal Bevel inside Cylinder, Shoulder |
Open Notch Outside Cylinder, No Bevel, No Shoulder |
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Stock
Features, Barrel Bands, and Sling Slot Variations
Stocks
Stocks
are found in solid birch and laminated birch. The earliest stocks were
solid, later stocks can be either solid or laminate. Below are many
variations.
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Solid Buttstock |
Solid Buttstock with Toe Splice |
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Laminate Buttstock with Laminate Splice |
Laminate Buttstock with Solid Splice |
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Bayonet Relief Cut: Solid Stock |
Bayonet Relief Cut: Laminated Stock |
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No Wrist Crossbolt (Laminated or Solid) |
Solid Stock with Wrist Crossbolt |
Laminate Stock with Wrist Crossbolt |
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No Barrel Band Relief Cut: Solid Stock, uncommon |
Small Barrel Band Relief Cut: Solid Stock |
Large Barrel Band Relief Cut: Solid Stock |
Large Barrel Band Relief Cut: Laminated Stock |
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Milled Steel Buttplate: Machined Countersink |
Milled Buttplate: Flat, under side |
Stamped Steel Buttplate: Stamped Countersink |
Stamped Buttplate: Protruding, under side |
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Barrel
Bands
Barrel bands and retainer springs are consistent throughout production
and refurbishment.
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Rear Split Barrel Band and Stamped Steel Retainer Spring |
Front Split Barrel Band and Stamped Steel Retainer Spring |
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Sling
Slots
The two
sling slot variations are pictured below. First, war-time stocks have
no escutcheon in the rear, and a half liner in the front. Late war and
post-war stocks have pressed escutcheons on both front and rear.
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War Time: No Escutcheon Rear |
War Time: Half Liner Escutcheon Front |
Late and Post-War: Pressed Full Escutcheon Rear |
Late and Post-War: Pressed Full Escutcheon Front |
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Model M44 Carbine Configurations
1.
Features (present on trial carbine): Integral folding
bayonet. Round, high wall receiver. First pattern front barrel sleeve
w/narrow front Sight Base, and Single Ear bayonet lug. Concave recess
on locking ring collar. War Time Stock with no rear sling slot
escutcheon and half-liner front sling slot. Narrow front sight and base
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Configuration One (first production). Manufactured at Izhevsk in 1943
to early 1945, Tula in 1944. |
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2.
Features (Eliminated/Added): Eliminated high wall receiver,
and added low wall receiver. Eliminated first pattern front barrel
sleeve w/narrow front Sight Base, and Single Ear bayonet lug. Added
second pattern front barrel sleeve w/wide front Sight Base, and Double
Ear bayonet lug. Eliminated concave lock ring collar, and added convex
lock ring collar. Post-war Stock with full pressed sling slot
escutcheons at both new production and refurbishment.
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Configuration Two. Manufactured at Izhevsk from late 1945 to 1948. |
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1
or 2. Features (Eliminated/Added): Same as either above,
except with laminated stock - which saw limited action during war time,
and was also installed post-war or at refurbishment.
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Configuration One and Two - Variation. Manufactured at Izhevsk from
late 1945 to 1948. |
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- Variant
#1 : Description #1
- Variant
#2 : Description #2
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