Engraved M-38 deer killer

[JIMMY C]

A few photos of a old sporter job of a Model 38. I'm sure this was done a good many years ago. At first I thought it was one ugly rifle, but the more I played with it the greater my appreciation for it grew. A lot of work and $$ went into creating this sporter. The receiver is totally scrubbed. I didn't have the time to remove it from the stock to see if it had a tang date.

[ij70]

"You never met a gun you didn't like !"

[rocker98]

Front site base looks a bit too wide for an M38. Top pic of the mount on the receiver(#3) looks as if the rifle has a low wall receiver as well. Too bad. What ever it was, it's not anymore. When I wanted a sporter, I got a Winchester M70.

It does look well done though. Still, it's no where worth the time, money, and effort that went into it.

[Bama]

It is what it is...but I have no doubt whatsoever that it would kill the $hit out of a deer, and look good doing it!

A nice find that not everyone on here appreciates.

[Alaska6.5hunter]

Could you please look and let me know it the Weaver side mount is a #1 or a #3? Thanks.

[Son of the Gun]

Not really my cup of tea, but it looks like a sharp, well-done conversion. Then engraving work, at least, seems to be of a pretty high quality. The bolt handle looks like one of the best jobs I've (in my limited experience) seen, and the inletting to fit the handle is really a nice touch.

No, it's not a Mosin as it once was, but it is still a beautiful, powerful rifle, none the less. It probably won't sell for the amount of the engraving alone, but they're always worth more to us than they are to the market...

[tuco]

Not my thing but they did put a lot of care into the engraving. That looks nice. Many that were learning this trade practiced on cheaper military rifles before stepping up to the more costly guns. Whoever did it had talent.

[MidNight Rider]

I would love to have that in my collection, let me know if you ever want to sell it!!

[godsey5]

Who ever did the work was not a hack. They did nice work. How does it shoot and did they improve the trigger as well?

Jim

[Proshot]

Wow, that's really detailed.
Thanks,
Proshot

[Mike O]

I think it looks pretty neat, not that I want to have that done to an original Mosin, but it certainly is a nice job. I'd like to have an older, well done Mosin sporter in my collection someday. I've been scanning the auction sites of and on but haven't found a decent one yet.

[Vaarok]

That's really nice! It could either be a custom job for somebody, or one of those gunsmithing-school final projects where they would require the student to completely sporterize and customize a military rifle. Either way, they did a nice job. I'll whine like everybody else when bubba hacksaws something, but there's no real way to justifiably complain about somebody modifying a rifle if they put that much work into doing it right.

[hawk_man]

Not something I would do to my rifles, but I dig it...someone did a nice job, especially with the engraving, and at least it's not an ATI stock..eeww

[Radom]

I recall a few posts some years back about some other Mosin carbines like this. The report was these were done in Japan, IIRC. The funny look on the deers face reminded me!

[Slyhuntr]

I hate to see milsurps turned into sporters but that is sharp.

[wikinger59]

About two years ago, at a local gun show, I saw a Jap T99 that had been engraved and tapped for a scope. The seller wanted $100. Debated on it and passed. Still wish I had bought it.

[JIMMY C]

Alaska 6.5 I will look again, but I didn't see any markings on the scope mount. Like most of you I too dislike the idea of sporterizing. But this was done long ago and with some ela`n. So I guess I can't bitch.

Thanks for the comments.

[bones92]

I kind of like it... though I wouldn't (and couldn't) do the same to a milsurp. But I admire the workmanship. If it shoots well, I'd buy it for the right price.

[galland1]

A bit of jeweling on the bolt and it'd a perfect job. Wish I could do that kind of work.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

30-40-50 years ago milsurps had no collector value, at least not to the level they have reached today. Ammo for milsurps was cheap, and if a fella couldn't afford a high dollar Winchester or Remington (or Weatherby - GAARSH!) then buying a milsurp from Interarms or Centerfire or the like was the less expensive alternative, and then they would treat themselves to some sporterizing from the local gunny...or even do it yurself!

Yes, it is a shame to see that done to fine old rifle, but I think a lot of these sporters, Bubba'd rifles, abominations or whatever you want to call them have a life of their own, and a story to tell also. These rifles are doing what they have to do to put meat on the table, and history had nothing to do with it.

Neat rifle. I'll bet that bad boy roars when you pull the trigger. Is it still chambered for 7.2X54? Like someone else stated, not my cup of tea, but interesting in its own right.

Thanks for sharing.

P.S. Now that would be an interesting thread...instead of having a thread of "Show us your snipers", "Show us your first rifle", "Show us your first milsurp", "Show us your Mosins"...how about "Show us your Bubba Specials"? I can't contribute, but it would sure be a hoot to see what turns out for the show!

[AMMOe]

Like Tuco said, people used to practice on cheap, undesirable rifles. I have no anger towards these people -years ago- who sporterized these rifles. Gunsmithing schools sold stripped Mauser actions in their student stores. I remember mausers and Enfields being sold out of barrels in hardware stores when I was a kid. They were considered cheap junk you bought when you couldn't get or afford a good rifle.

I recently bought an old 1888 Mauser J-Bore sporter. Light engraving, two leaf express sights, and a perfect bore. The gun was professionally built a perhaps century ago. A milsurp buddy of mine looked at it and said, "What a shame it got hacked." This guy evidently can't see the forest for the trees.

I like your engraved Nagant. I'm not into engraved guns but I would have bought it with no qualms if the price was right. What better deer rifle for a Mosin collector?? ~Andy

[capnduane]

Jimmy, what size are the scope rings? I wonder if they are for a PU or PO scope? Whatever scope they are for, it has to slide in from the back...... Hows the trigger? Those Mosin triggers can be tuned to a sweet letoff. And as far as it not being worth anything, I think it is worth way more than if it was in its $69 original condition!

[rocker98]

I recall a few posts some years back about some other Mosin carbines like this. The report was these were done in Japan, IIRC. The funny look on the deers face reminded me!

Seeing your avatar, I just freeking forgot what I was going to post. In fact, WHAT FORUM AM I ON?

Oui!

Gary

[rocker98]

OH Yeah! I never said I didn't like the rifle. I just wouldn't do that. And, I don't like the scope mount. Untapped, I'd buy it. Like I said before, it is nice work, except for the scope mount. Don't like that. The scope mount could have been done a bit better.

Gary

[Ron W]

I have seen a few like that. Dean-Dallas had one that looked a lot like that particular one several years ago. Saw another one at Market Hall gunshow too.

Mine is a little different as it doesn't have the stag head on the barrel. Had to have one like that to put next to Bubba's butcher job in my collection. One good, one bad.

[Pahtu]

Looks like some quality work, I am a sucker for nice engraving =+)

Pahtu.

[CDFingers]

Very nice engraving work. It is what it is, and I think it would swing real nicely and pack a whallop with SP's.

CDFingers

[Hauptmann]

...how about "Show us your Bubba Specials"? I can't contribute, but it would sure be a hoot to see what turns out for the show!

I've owned three, only bought one of them. They ranged from one Enfield No4Mk1 professionally done (great stock work, clean crowning on the short barrel, ground off rear sight mounting) to a Carcano that defined "Bubba Special" (hacksawed forestock, all spray painted black).
At least I could salvage the Carcano to as-issued condition, the Enfield awaits having a bull barrel made for it.
Not sure if I have any 'before' photos of any of them.

[skywarp]

The serial number on the receiver really doesn't look like a Soviet wartime job. I'll bet it was/is a com-bloc M44 that has been done up. Can you see a polished-off pin through the barrel near the front sight where the bayonet sleeve had been milled off or removed?

Interesting, for sure, and I'd be tempted if the price was right. That scope mount doesn't inspire confidence, however.

[JIMMY C]

No warp, I checked and could not find any evidence of the remaining pin. I have seen them before. They kind of look like a figure eight of different colored metal on the side of the barrel. That was one of the first things I looked for. I believe the receiver was totally scrubbed including the S/N and another number applied by the owner / engraver.

As for the scope mount. It is surprisingly steady. It may not appear that way but it is. I measured it and determined it's for a one inch scope.

From the looks of the recoil pad (crushed) I would guess this conversion / customization was done a great number of years ago and this rifle spent most of it's life propped in some dark closet.

[DonW]

Jimmy,

Excusee mee for horning in here, but I thought it may be interesting to compare our similar rifles:
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearm...ba-Angelo.html

Mine has no scope mounts, but does have an extensive conversion of the sights. The similarity of the deer head has got to be more than a coincidence. Mine is being held hostage at the Post Office at present because of a claim, but I would like to exchange further info with you to see if we can determine whar these Gucchi Bubbas came from. As soon as I get mine back I'll take the stock off and see what I can find. Don

[mz3frs]

The dogleg job on that bolt is pretty impressive, along with all the engraving.

Can't say I'd kick it out of bed in the morning ;-)

[GoShoot]

I guess if you put lipstick and a thong on a bore hog someone would take it home.

[sswikinger]

"I guess if you put lipstick and a thong on a bore hog someone would take it home."

Especially at 2 am closing time.

[dalee]

Hi,

Even though it seems to be a practice gun for a student/apprentice, it's pretty well done. I wonder who did it. And how much better today are they? There is some budding talent displayed there.

While I wouldn't do that to one of my own Mosins. I do think there is a story there that is a valid tale for a Mosin to tell.

dalee

[MidNight Rider]

i would love to have that in my collection :D, i wish i could find one like it.

[C&Rriflecollector91]

Nice, but I don't like sporterized surplus weapons.

[BabbaOReilly]

I have to say, that is an awesome sporter job. I prefer my rifles factory, but that is a work of art. Engraving looks deep and detailed. Very nice. I'd have bought it in a heartbeat.

I saw one similar to it at auction a few weeks ago. Thanks for sharing.

[kroh]

i would love to have that in my collection :D, i wish i could find one like it.

Purchased from Martin Retting (a Hollywood, CA dealer) back in 1980. . . supposedly from the Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. estate.

Had a look at the tang. . . 1945 Izhevsk, which makes it a M44 with the bayonet removed.

Notice the triggerguard is engraved also. The buck's-head is definitely inlaid with sterling silver.

Sorry, guys. . . it isn't for sale. . .

[creepiE]

Purchased from Martin Retting (a Hollywood, CA dealer) back in 1980. . . supposedly from the Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. estate.

Had a look at the tang. . . 1945 Izhevsk, which makes it a M44 with the bayonet removed.

Notice the triggerguard is engraved also. The buck's-head is definitely inlaid with sterling silver.

Sorry, guys. . . it isn't for sale. . .

These are nice, but they look like something out of the Herman Goering estate.

[Vaarok]

Y'know, same gunsmith probably made my Arisaka. The engraving style is just too similar to be coincidence.

[tuco]

They do look alike.

[kroh]

They do look alike.

Looks like these were engraved by the same hand.

NUMBAH ONE job, whoever you were!

[Ron W]

Here are some pics of mine. All metal except barrel have some engraving. Even on top of the wall and the tang. This is 1945 Izhevsk. No way to tell if it was originally M38 or M44.

[Tyr]

I definately have a lot of respect for these sorts of sporterizations. They're really works of art. What I don't have respect for is bubba sawing off the end of the barrel and putting it in a plastic stock, roughly drilling and tapping the receiver and putting the freaking Hubble on top, all in his sweat-stained white beater and ratty shorts, chain-smoking cheap cigarettes and downing some horrible, equally cheep beer...