M38 and M44 Carbines image - Forgotten Hope 2 mod for Battlefield 2

The adoption of the M91/30 rifle gave the Red Army a modern and dependable rifle. However, they were still using the M1907 carbines, which had been out of production since before the revolution and were based on the older M1891 rifle. The design for the new M38 carbine was finally accepted for production in February 1939. It was essentially the same as the M91/30, with a shortened barrel and stock, a rear sight graduated to only 1000 metres and a slightly modified front sight mounting.

The carbines were issued to artillerymen, engineers and other soldiers who while not front line troops may have need of a rifle. In this case, it was not felt that a bayonet was needed, and so the M38 carbine was not issued with one and was designed not to accept the M91/30 bayonet. However, the fierce close quarters combat of urban battles such as Stalingrad demanded a smaller and more convenient weapon. The M44 was born out of the simple brief to make an M38 with a bayonet.

The bayonet of the M44 is a permanently attached folding spike. The M38 stock was modified with a groove to accept the bayonet when folded, but beyond this there were no changes. By 1944, many M38 carbines were fitted with M44 stocks. While the M44 was in production since 1943, it never reached the desired level of issue, and saw most of it's action post-war. These Mosin-Nagant carbines were made by Seth Soldier.