Mosin M44 Bringback.

gyvel · January 10, 2010, 04:03 AM

I have in my accumulatiion of guns an old M44 Mosin that was a Korean War bringback, complete with Chinese characters painted on the stock. It belonged to a Korean War vet on my block and I paid a whopping $20.00 for it back in the 60s.

My question is: Would it be worth more than the average M44s available today or is it just "lost in the herd" so to speak?

Forgot to mention that it is a Russian made gun, not Chinese. And, of course, nothing matches on it.

Avenger · January 10, 2010, 10:21 AM

Do you have the bringback papers, or some sort of letter from the previous owner? A painted stock may add interest, depending, but without papers it'll be essentially just another 'story' gun. But M44s are starting to appreciate now.

simonkenton · January 10, 2010, 11:09 AM

M44s are some of the cheapest Mosin Nagants, so I think the Chinese characters would add value.
It would be fascinating to get them translated.

You got that for $20, what a steal!

Chipperman · January 10, 2010, 12:50 PM

The Chinese characters and lack of Import mark would raise its value above that of the average M44. Any corroborating paperwork would raise it more.

gyvel · January 11, 2010, 05:42 AM

No, alas, I have no paperwork. In the 60s, nobody ever thought about "papers." I was a teenager at the time and scoring a $20.00 rifle of any kind was a feather in your cap.

The guy who sold it to me was a Korean War vet who told me that it was "laying on the ground," so he picked it up and brought it home; That's all I really know about it, and, of course, it is just a "story," but he was probably telling the truth. More than likely, he's passed on by now, and I left that neighborhood in the late 60s.

Another interesting point about this particular gun is that it has what looks like a Mauser sling swivel inletted into the buttstock, albeit somewhat crudely.

It's an interesting gun, and has been a lot of fun for a lot of years, but, as pointed out, probably not particularly valuable.

Almost forgot: I took it into our local Chinese restaurant and had them look at the writing on the buttstock. All they could come up with is that it was a reference to some kind of "society."

simonkenton · January 11, 2010, 08:21 AM

Post a pic of that Chinese writing, I bet I can get it translated on the internet.

jsmaye · January 11, 2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

You got that for $20, what a steal!

I don't know about that - a car cost $3,000, a house cost $10,000, and salaries were a couple of hundred dollars a week. $20 in the 1960's was pretty close to $200 today.

gyvel · January 11, 2010, 10:49 PM

Quote:

and salaries were a couple of hundred dollars a week.

Where were YOU working??? I was making $60.00 a week in the 60s. LOL

gyvel · January 11, 2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Post a pic of that Chinese writing, I bet I can get it translated on the internet.

As soon as I get a working camera I will.

The Chinese restaurant was probably not the best place to get a translation. They all spoke Cantonese, anyway.

kilimanjaro · January 12, 2010, 12:57 AM

Allegedly, the lack of import marks is worth 20% more than the standard, so I'm told. I think condition is the deciding factor on price, though.

When my Dad was in the Pacific, at the end of the war, the ships would come in to Japanese or Chinese ports, on the docks were mountains of Japanese rifles. The sailors could leave the ship, pick up a Jap rifle as a souvenir, and take it home. Dad said there were about 3,000 guys on his carrier, all got a rifle. Officers might get a pistol as well. Lots of guys came off the ships back home with more than one, either through gambling or payday loan collateral....

Patriot78 · January 12, 2010, 02:02 PM

I am pretty sure it is a priceless, ahem, I mean, worthless gun. If you send it to me, I will dispose if it properly.

I would pay for shipping but I think that should be on your tab since I'm going thru the "trouble" of disposing of it.

January 10, 2010, 04:03 AM	#1
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Mosin M44 Bringback. I have in my accumulatiion of guns an old M44 Mosin that was a Korean War bringback, complete with Chinese characters painted on the stock. It belonged to a Korean War vet on my block and I paid a whopping $20.00 for it back in the 60s. My question is: Would it be worth more than the average M44s available today or is it just "lost in the herd" so to speak? Forgot to mention that it is a Russian made gun, not Chinese. And, of course, nothing matches on it.

January 10, 2010, 10:21 AM	#2
Avenger Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Posts: 274	Do you have the bringback papers, or some sort of letter from the previous owner? A painted stock may add interest, depending, but without papers it'll be essentially just another 'story' gun. But M44s are starting to appreciate now.

January 10, 2010, 11:09 AM	#3
simonkenton Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 891	M44s are some of the cheapest Mosin Nagants, so I think the Chinese characters would add value. It would be fascinating to get them translated. You got that for $20, what a steal!

January 10, 2010, 12:50 PM	#4
Chipperman Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Location: Live Free or Die, Baby! Posts: 1,550	The Chinese characters and lack of Import mark would raise its value above that of the average M44. Any corroborating paperwork would raise it more.

January 11, 2010, 05:42 AM	#5
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	No, alas, I have no paperwork. In the 60s, nobody ever thought about "papers." I was a teenager at the time and scoring a $20.00 rifle of any kind was a feather in your cap. The guy who sold it to me was a Korean War vet who told me that it was "laying on the ground," so he picked it up and brought it home; That's all I really know about it, and, of course, it is just a "story," but he was probably telling the truth. More than likely, he's passed on by now, and I left that neighborhood in the late 60s. Another interesting point about this particular gun is that it has what looks like a Mauser sling swivel inletted into the buttstock, albeit somewhat crudely. It's an interesting gun, and has been a lot of fun for a lot of years, but, as pointed out, probably not particularly valuable. Almost forgot: I took it into our local Chinese restaurant and had them look at the writing on the buttstock. All they could come up with is that it was a reference to some kind of "society."

January 11, 2010, 08:21 AM	#6
simonkenton Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 891	Post a pic of that Chinese writing, I bet I can get it translated on the internet.

January 12, 2010, 12:57 AM	#10
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Allegedly, the lack of import marks is worth 20% more than the standard, so I'm told. I think condition is the deciding factor on price, though. When my Dad was in the Pacific, at the end of the war, the ships would come in to Japanese or Chinese ports, on the docks were mountains of Japanese rifles. The sailors could leave the ship, pick up a Jap rifle as a souvenir, and take it home. Dad said there were about 3,000 guys on his carrier, all got a rifle. Officers might get a pistol as well. Lots of guys came off the ships back home with more than one, either through gambling or payday loan collateral....

January 12, 2010, 02:02 PM	#11
Patriot78 Member Join Date: January 6, 2010 Posts: 35	I am pretty sure it is a priceless, ahem, I mean, worthless gun. If you send it to me, I will dispose if it properly. I would pay for shipping but I think that should be on your tab since I'm going thru the "trouble" of disposing of it.