Looking for any help from my Smith & Wesson forum family. I had a friend pass and I'm trying to help his wife go through the firearms to sell. I am at a bit of a loss on this rifle because I don't know much about older military stuff. If anyone can fill me in on what it is, where it might have come from, a rough idea of an asking price (or is it even worth selling?). Thanks for the help!

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Chinese copy of the Soviet M44 carbine. It's known as a Type 53. This one has been rebuilt as the serials on the bolt and the magazine baseplate do not match. That's not unusual. It looks to be in half decent shape, especially given the condition of many I've seen.

Got any more goodies?

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Release the Kraken

Based on the import stamp I would guess it came over here in the last 20+- years. It's in reasonable good shape, but of course we can't see the barrel condition.

If it were displayed at a local gun show I would guess they would ask about $500. It should be worth at least $400.

Back in the 1990's they were going for about $39.

I agree a good T53 is going for about 400.00. If the bore is bright and sharp (unusual for a T53!) It could bring 450.00.

7.62x54 + short barrel = shoulder fired howitzer when you pull the trigger.

The recoil, the muzzle rise, the muzzle flash, the muzzle blast, hold on sister!!

Talk about fun shootin', just not a lot of shootin'!!

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"Stay Frosty"

The second pic, the dot-matric writing on the left side of the recv'r down close to the wood line at the front of the recv'r...
That is the 'Import Mark'

That was mandated as of 1986 by Fed Regulation.
So the rifle was imported into the USA after that time.
Likely in the 2000's as the use of the Dot-Matric type Import markings didn't come into common use till them.

The Import Markings gives you:
Who Imported the rifle (C.A.I (Century Arms International in Vermont)
The rifles Mfg'r, Model and caliber (Chinese Model 53, cal 7.62x54R cal)
The last line is the 'new assigned ser# at time of importation'

That new ser# is the one that was used to sell and transfer the rifle in the USA and should be used in further FFL transfers.

The original production ser#('s) you see on the top of the rifle just ahead of the recv'r are actually stamped upon the Bbl.
So in BATF legal terms they are not the rifles serial number as they do not appear on the rifles Receiver/Frame.

The other ser#'s you see on the trigger guard group and bolt are just that, parts ser#'s of misc parts from other rifles. Mismatched to assemble the rifle. Common on these as stated above.

Looks like decent condition. Still has the folding bayonet.
With a good bore, I agree on the $400 to $500 range. Depends on how quick you want to sell it.

About to veer off topic. :-)

I was going through a spate of "getting rid of stuff" again, and two I considered sending down the road are a 1921 Swedish model 96 with matching numbers, and a 1952 (I think I remember) Swiss K31 I have a bunch of Swiss ammo for. Handling and cleaning made me decide to keep them, along with my natural laziness concerning selling, shipping etc.

I do like and enjoy them both, but it's highly unlikely I'll ever shoot them again. But I enjoy the history of their period of manufacturing. It's the old guy's dilemma. I don't care about money very much, but I don't like the idea of them being sold for a nickle later on.

That's life, I reckon.