Production of the Romanian M44 Carbine began in 1953 & ended in 1955… with approximately 70,000 units made making it one of the rarest Mosin Nagant variant’s ever produced.
Romanian Production Numbers
The numbers may never be truly known, but the most accurate count to date is;
1953- 2,000 – 3,000
1954- 36,000
1955- 31,000
A consideration for the low Production numbers ties in with Romania itself. Romania was one of the poorer Communist Bloc Nations & it can be reflected on the limited amount of arms they could manufacture. Another consideration is that many of the surplus Soviet Mosin Nagant’s were shipped to Romania with the introduction of the SKS & the Kalashnikov…Thus giving Romania little need of new production arms using an obsolete design. In fact, a majority of the Romanian M44’s on the Surplus market are a mix mastered mess of Soviet & Comm. Bloc parts… Very convincing evidence that Romania was using leftover parts in their M44 production.
Of course this makes an interesting goal to Collectors…. To find an ALL matching Romanian M44.
Romanian Markings
Romanian M44's at a glance look very similar to the Soviet Izhevsk. The Izhevsk proof is an arrow in a triangle while the Romanian proof is a arrowhead in a triangle, Also, The upper barrel shank proof of the Romanian M44 is a wreath with the letters RPR ( Romanian People's Republic ) while the Izhevsk is a Wreath with Hammer and Sickle… Making Romanian M44’s easily mistaken for an Izhevsk. Romanian Stocks have a C in a diamond proof marking making them easily identifiable & have little to no wood grain to them making them look rather plain.
1954 Romanian M44
The below example is a 1954 model with all matching numbers on the barrel, receiver, magazine plate, bolt & buttplate. The stock has the Romanian C in a diamond proof, The Barrel bands, cleaning rod & bolt are all Romanian. The stock wears a heavy coat of shellac as is common on Romanian examples. The bore is like new with no counterbore, the blued finish is deep & lustrous. The Rifle is wearing a Romanian SKS sling... A common occurrence for many of these to be imported wearing one. There is a bit of a rough finish on the buttplate... damages look consistent with being set roughly on the ground. But otherwise minus a bit of shellac peeling on the stock, this example is in very fine condition.
ya that belongs in the showcase. Great info, pics and rifle. I think an extensive write up like that is key for consideration.
