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.
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM38.htm
You will notice that the Early Stock pictured in the above link has a squared shoulder with no provision for finger relief inletting to ease access for rear band removal. Some of these stocks were later cut for the finger relief grooves. Mine had the relief cuts added.
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.
Looks like it has seen some action. 
