Background
Even though the M91/30 was shorter than the M1891, cavalry, artillery,
signalers, and other support units still required lighter, less
bulky weapons. Drawing from the role of the M1907 carbine, the Soviets
adopted a new carbine, the M38 which was officially entered into
the inventory in 1939. This model differed from the M1907 in that
it was not fully-stocked and used the new hooded-post front sight
as found on the M1891/30 rifle. The M1938, like its predecessor,
did not accept a bayonet and had an improved rear sight graduated
in 100s of meters, indicated by the numerals 1 through 10, stamped
on the rear sight leaf. The M1938 was produced from 1939 to 1945,
it was replaced by the M1944. |