1954 Romanian M44
- Rongo
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1954 Romanian M44
The Romanian M44 is one of the more interesting & obscure Mosin Nagant variants. It’s overshadowed in prestige by the Soviet & Polish M44’s & beaten in shear production numbers by China & Hungary.
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.
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.
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it". Mark Twain
"Dang that entropy"
"Dang that entropy"
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
1 for yes
The commerce which maybe carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important ~Thomas Jefferson~ (to- Lewis and Clark)
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Rongo,
Copy and paste that into the showcase. It definitely belongs there. Your presentation was really nice...the photos, write up and history on the rifle were all very well done. I enjoyed reading the history and actually learned something. That's an amazing rifle! Thank you for sharing it!
Now quick, use those Admin-ly powers and move it to where it belongs
Copy and paste that into the showcase. It definitely belongs there. Your presentation was really nice...the photos, write up and history on the rifle were all very well done. I enjoyed reading the history and actually learned something. That's an amazing rifle! Thank you for sharing it!
Now quick, use those Admin-ly powers and move it to where it belongs
Cocked, locked and ready to rock...
- BuckeyeSgt
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
ya that belongs in the showcase. Great info, pics and rifle. I think an extensive write up like that is key for consideration.
Некто кроме нас
US Army 90-94 98G Russian
Army Reserves 94-98 37F
US Army 90-94 98G Russian
Army Reserves 94-98 37F
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
I would hope to add one half that nice to my collection!
No words of wisdom come to mind at this time....
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Is this the comment thread?
That was a great presentation and pictorial, Rongo. Beautiful rifle and I learned a lot about the markings. Thanks for posting
That was a great presentation and pictorial, Rongo. Beautiful rifle and I learned a lot about the markings. Thanks for posting
You see in this world there are two kinds of people my friend, those with loaded guns... and those who dig. You dig.
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
That is a beautiful rifle.
Mine aren't nearly that nice, but I was lucky to stumble onto a pair of Romanians this past summer for a good deal. One had a cracked handguard, the other a crack in the stock, both of which repaired nicely. $79.00 each......
Mine aren't nearly that nice, but I was lucky to stumble onto a pair of Romanians this past summer for a good deal. One had a cracked handguard, the other a crack in the stock, both of which repaired nicely. $79.00 each......
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Aut Pax Aut Bellum
1954 Romanian M44
I vote yes put it in the show case! I learned a lot from your story thank you!
”A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”
~George Washington
~George Washington
- Rongo
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Showcase it is... Thanks guys.
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it". Mark Twain
"Dang that entropy"
"Dang that entropy"
- Jumperwire
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Very nice rongoman. I saw a Romanian and a Polish M44 at the show this weekend. Both tagged for $275 Neither was as nice as yours. I have passed on some of these in the past. I may just have to pick them up next time. Never thought of them as "Uncommon"
- Longcolt44
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Great example and writeup, it belongs in the showcase.
FREEDOM...USE IT OR LOSE IT!!
- Izhevsk762
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- Junk Yard Dog
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Nice one Ron, I have to look at mine and see if it's the same year, that one's new also, got it on the old forum some years ago now.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Just to piggy back on what Ron was saying about the production numbers, I have been collecting Romanina M44 prefix numbers by year for a while. I should be getting pretty close to the end (but, never say die).
1953 - AX, CP
1954 - AL, CP, BD, BH, BZ, DP, DX, ET, FS, GR, GV, HU, KM, MD, RF, SK, TV, UZ, VZ
1955 - AB, AC, AL, BC, BD, BE, BF, CA, CD, DF, EC, LD, LE, MC, TV, YA, YE, ZX
Carry over prefix sets from year to year:
CP - 1953, 1954
TV - 1954, 1955
BD - 1954, 1955
I have 36 prefixes.
1953 - AX, CP
1954 - AL, CP, BD, BH, BZ, DP, DX, ET, FS, GR, GV, HU, KM, MD, RF, SK, TV, UZ, VZ
1955 - AB, AC, AL, BC, BD, BE, BF, CA, CD, DF, EC, LD, LE, MC, TV, YA, YE, ZX
Carry over prefix sets from year to year:
CP - 1953, 1954
TV - 1954, 1955
BD - 1954, 1955
I have 36 prefixes.
"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
- bunkysdad
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
What is the significance of the prefixes?
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Keys to unlocking the universe, well...the Romanian universe.bunkysdad wrote:What is the significance of the prefixes?
"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
- Rongo
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
I'll second that. The Romanian M44 is one of my favorites... Their low production numbers & obscurity make them very intriguing. you have 36 of the Prefix's??? It's hard enough to find many in good quality but to acquire that many? A master accomplishment.finloq wrote:Keys to unlocking the universe, well...the Romanian universe.bunkysdad wrote:What is the significance of the prefixes?
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it". Mark Twain
"Dang that entropy"
"Dang that entropy"
- Junk Yard Dog
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
A lot of time and effort I am sure, it took me several years just to acquire all the Izhevsk dates of the M44, and that was at a time when they were coming into the country in good numbers, and I could pick and choose.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
- Rongo
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Re: 1954 Romanian M44
Yeah, try doing that now... Even with an unlimited budget. The pickings are slim....Junk Yard Dog wrote:A lot of time and effort I am sure, it took me several years just to acquire all the Izhevsk dates of the M44, and that was at a time when they were coming into the country in good numbers, and I could pick and choose.
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it". Mark Twain
"Dang that entropy"
"Dang that entropy"
Re: 1954 Romanian M44
I am just happy to find a carbine let alone a romanian. These are nice. There seems to be a lot of huns in my hood.
The commerce which maybe carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important ~Thomas Jefferson~ (to- Lewis and Clark)