1938 Carbine: A carbine based on the M1891/30 design that
was produced from 1939 to 1945 at the Izhevsk arsenal and in 1940 and
1944 at Tula. They were intended for use by second-echelon and
noncombatant troops. Very few M38 carbines were made in 1945 and are
highly sought after by collectors. Essentially a M1891/30 with a
shortened barrel and shortened stock (the M38 is 40 inches in overall
length versus 48 inches overall length for the Model 91/30), this
carbine did not accept a bayonet; was in fact designed so the standard
Model 91/30 bayonet would not fit it. However many M38 carbines were
fitted into M44 stocks by the Soviets as a wartime expedient. M38s in
the correct M38 stock command a premium over M38s in M44 pattern stocks.
The M38 was replaced by the M44 carbine in 1944.
The tool for the M38 is designed to also work on the 1943-45 M44 as well as the Polish WZ 48 .22 training rifle.
The tool for the M38 is designed to also work on the 1943-45 M44 as well as the Polish WZ 48 .22 training rifle.