Polish M44 with no serial number on bolt, should I buy??

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KanadianShooter

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Hey guys,

Guy at my local range is selling his pristine polish M44 made in 1952 at circle 11 factory, the rifle looks great and wasn't shot much. However, the bolt has no serial number? He bought the rifle with the unnumbered bolt from an importer so it must have come from Poland like this. Is it common on the Polish M44 considering it did not see front-line service? Is it a deal breaker for 650$ and should I still but it? Thanks for the advice I don't know much about Polish guns.
 
I would not buy at that price... now depend on what you intend to do with it...collect or shoot?
having a non original bolt I'll check head-space before buy or shoot that rifle...
 
tiriaq said:
Unusual. Sold several dozen of these, all were numbered.
Is it worth it to you?
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Well I don't care all that much but I don't want the head space to be off and I hope the bolt was made in Poland and isn't off a Russian gun. Would you personally buy it if the gun was in great shape for 650$ (he won't budge on price)??
 
I intend to have fun with it and shoot it. At the same time I like having an all original gun especially being that it was essentially unissued.
 
Wow, $650. I bought mine at LeBaron in the early 90's. Brand new, packed in cosmoline for $80. Guess I should have bought a couple crates of them.
 
ted_dent said:
Wow, $650. I bought mine at LeBaron in the early 90's. Brand new, packed in cosmoline for $80. Guess I should have bought a couple crates of them.
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Yes, you should have.
As I mentioned, I sold several dozen of them. Didn't keep one for myself. Not very often that brand new, absolutely unissued ex-service rifles turn up. And these Polish 44s were beautifully made. Quality materials, machining and finishing.
 
If you're just going to have fun with it and shoot it I would look for a Russian example for a couple hundred dollars less.

Also, the serial number is technically on the bolt handle, not the bolt itself.
The handle could have simply been replaced and not re stamped by the Poles.
 
I did buy a crate of them, from Lever Arms. None of them had serial numbers on their bolts, when the brown paper was pulled away. I was surprised as well.

OP, your rifle isn't the only one that made it out of the factory that way.

I paid $60 each, taxes in, because I purchased a full crate. The cheapest one was sold for $350 years ago and the last sold for $650 last fall. It was new in the wrap, with a cleaning kit.
 
It seems to be the going rate these days, I just got my M38 for $600, really good shape though. I’ve seen some Arab marked M44s for $500 recently but the polish rifles are nice. I’d use the bolt to try and barter a better price but I wouldn’t let it deter you from it.
 
KanadianShooter said:
I intend to have fun with it and shoot it. At the same time I like having an all original gun especially being that it was essentially unissued.
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I have listed and turned down 900 a few times for a non-issued looks like never shot but proofing, Polish m44... didn't get the 950 I wanted so have kept the rifle. Even then I would hold on to it if offered asking now. I have no need for the cash right now and unlikely I will get a nicer Polish rifle for what i'd evd up selling my current one for.

@$650 and a mismatched bolt i'd say just buy a Russian M44 that matches for less. Risking head space isn't worth it. For $650 i'd expect a beat up Polish M44 that has at least matching bolt/receiver. I personally have never tried putting a Russian bolt in a Polish Rifle but i'd guess they would likely fit, I am just not sure if they are "exactly" the same. I have some rifles with mismatched equipment but most were all paired in a Arsenal or at least serviced by one so I trust that basic function was at least resolved there.

Its like buying a Mercedes with cloth seats and no radio.... why not pay less and get a fully loaded Subaru that is awesome than a make do benz….

Either way a Excellent Polish M44 should look like this

tefd2aJ.jpg

khZpT8i.jpg

The only flaw in the rifle is a arsenal stock beauty mark
Eonstt1.jpg
 
MosinMan13 said:
It seems to be the going rate these days, I just got my M38 for $600, really good shape though. I’ve seen some Arab marked M44s for $500 recently but the polish rifles are nice. I’d use the bolt to try and barter a better price but I wouldn’t let it deter you from it.
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Arab marked? interesting can you direct me to what you may have seen any of those for sale? condition? I'd still like a type 53 as well
 
Polish armoured had to number even replacement bolts by law and regulation. If the bolt was replaced in Poland it would’ve electropenciled at the very list. Bolts were controlled iteams so replacements were entered in log books and had to be renumbered. Check if replacement bolt is actually polish and check the headspace and you are good to go. $650 is about right for the price if head space is god
 
wojnar said:
Polish armoured had to number even replacement bolts by law and regulation. If the bolt was replaced in Poland it would’ve electropenciled at the very list. Bolts were controlled iteams so replacements were entered in log books and had to be renumbered. Check if replacement bolt is actually polish and check the headspace and you are good to go. $650 is about right for the price if head space is god
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Interesting.

I wonder how many got through without numbered bolts?? Why they got through is a question as well.

Wojnar, you seem to know your stuff when it comes to this. Would it be possible that partially complete rifles were hastily assembled, to complete a shipment??

Philhut, I have seen similar stock repairs on unissued rifles in the wrap, such as the one in your pic. They were on Beech stocked No4 MkII Lee Enfields. Just like the repair on your rifle, they were very small and if you didn't look for it you wouldn't see it.
 
tiriaq said:
Yes, you should have.
As I mentioned, I sold several dozen of them. Didn't keep one for myself. Not very often that brand new, absolutely unissued ex-service rifles turn up. And these Polish 44s were beautifully made. Quality materials, machining and finishing.
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Yes bought one of these in the 90s to as you described in cosmo and wrapped in paper and string tied. A thing of beauty all for a hundred bucks. —Dieseldog!
 
tiriaq said:
And these Polish 44s were beautifully made. Quality materials, machining and finishing.
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Yes, despite all the potential for Polish rifle jokes they were beautifully made guns. Typically the wood trends to be a little plain but it is nicely finished and the bluing was really very good. In the end I couldn't bring myself to shoot an unissued 50 year old military rifle so I kept it for collection and bought another very lightly used, mint condition one as my shooter.
 
ted_dent said:
Yes, despite all the potential for Polish rifle jokes they were beautifully made guns. Typically the wood trends to be a little plain but it is nicely finished and the bluing was really very good. In the end I couldn't bring myself to shoot an unissued 50 year old military rifle so I kept it for collection and bought another very lightly used, mint condition one as my shooter.
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And what potential rifle jokes would those be? Polish-made weapons were always of high quality, as well as were those that used them.
 
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