M44 u-fixem

308Dave · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:44 pm

I recently received the u-fixem m44 I ordered from Century. It is in great condition except for the stock. Does anyone know what wood the Russians used?

Dave

Dutch Mosin · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:03 pm

Dave,

Here's what I found on the internet.
I just copied and pasted.

<quote>The type of wood and the finish varied a great deal depending upon what was handy at the time. On all M91 variants, the Russians mainly used Birch covered in shellac. During the Soviet's great rehabilitation/rearsenaling of the 1950's they also started using a wood-laminated stock (assumed to be in Birch as well), stained red, and covered in shellac. Laminated-wood stocks are not original wartime equipment (they came after the war). The early M91's manufactured at Chatellerault in France used European Walnut (some say French Walnut) and presumably finished with shellac. The two American manufacturers used American Walnut covered with (presumably) shellac. The Finns mostly used Arctic Birch (which is probably the same as the Russians/Soviets used but some sources make a distinction) but seldom used shellac. Instead, they seem to have primarily used a mixture of linseed oil and beeswax (but probably used other finishes as they found necessary). Little is know about Soviet-allied M91's except that the Poles, Hungarians, and Romanians mainly used Beech while the Chinese mostly used Catalpa (the finishing compound is unknown on each of these).<Unquote>

Hope this helps.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

ehailstone · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:04 pm

If i had a way, Id order a few.

In the 90's I picked up Centurey U-fixems 91's, 24's 27' 28's etc. in bundles of 5. Often nothing more than a copuple screws, sling holders, cleaning rod were missing, and sometimes not. Got me interested in Mosins. It was the Chineses ammo back then that didnt do so well...LOL!

That toe looks like it needs a splice.
I recently refurbed a M44 front end with a schnebbeless extention to make use of an M39 action laying around. Painted it black, and its sweet. I bet the red stain and reschalck should make yours back up to par.

Great find and good luck.

ehailstone · **Posted:** Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:45 pm

I was just laughing at myself , rereading the mosin Nagant section...LOL!

Finding those Century Mosins in bundles was among the top 9 great things that came into my life, only after the Wife and 7 kids, have I ever been so In Love.... :bigrin: