[fritz1]

I have the chance to buy the above marked 1919 very good cond 320.00 my question is it has a curved bolt, I was under the impression that they did not come in a curved bolt it is the 6.5x55, is this a good deal and what's the deal with the curved bolt

[Chipperman]

I believe the Gustav's do have curved bolts.

http://www.sarcoinc.com/images/t17986.jpg

[JNewell]

I believe all the 1896s should have a straight bolt. The 1894 carbines and the M38 rifles have curved/bent bolts.

[Bullet Bob]

Before the model 38 (41-43 in some articles, 42-44 in others), there was the 96/38 with a bent bolt (but not always). In 1938 some 96 rifles were re-arsenalled with shorter barrels and some had there bolts bent, but not all of them. If the rifle you're looking at has a 24 (+/-) barrel, it's in all likelihood a 96/38. If it has a 29" barrel, it's probably a regular 96 that someone has replaced the bolt with one from a 96/38 or 39.

Simple, isn't it.

[cracked butt]

The only thing that matters is that the serial number on the bolt matches the receiver. Some 96s were rearsenalled with a m38 bolt, but the old serial number on the bolt would have either been overstamped with the correct serial number, or would have been ground off and either restamped or electopencilled. I'd be wary of rifles with mismatched bolts as swedish mauser already have very generous headspacing ( many are actually out of spec by SAAMI standards but are ok by swedish armorer standards) by SAAMI standards.

[JNewell]

CB, that is an interesting fact. I've tested less than a dozen with a SAAMI-spec no go gauge and all have passed. Is there somewhere I can read more about how these were spec'd for headspace?

[Dale Taylor]

My M96 came with curved bolt handle that clears my scope. Wonderful accurate rifle that has harvested many deer and hogs for the three of us. daleltaylor@att.net

[Bob F.]

Bullets up to 140gr can't be seated out far enough to touch the lands and stay put in the case; Lloooonngg throats!!!!!!!!!! I have 2 96's and a 38(?)18" bbl, or is it 16"? Haven't messed with it for a while. Would make a heck of a scout rifle if I could find a scope mount! Great accuracy (by MY standards) anyway!

Stay safe.
Bob

[jlmurphy]

I believe that B-Square makes a drop in scout mount that replaces the leaf in the rear sight, no problem changing back.

[fritz1]

Here is the link I already bought it it ships Monday it looks like a 24 the sales guy wasn't too familiar with them but he said it's marked # 1 for condition

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976710056.htm

I also just got home with another 1899 Oberndorf beautiful.

[cracked butt]

swedish headspacing: http://www.rebooty.com/~dutchman/headspace.html

[iamkris]

I love the description that guy used for the M96

This Carl Gustafs M96 is used, it is a bolt action 6.5x55, with a wood stock, and a blued barrel.

The only things he left out were "has a trigger and sights that you look through to shoot" :p

Enjoy your rifles...I just picked up and 1906 Gustav and a 1900 Oberndorf...both appear to be tack drivers.

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I have two stock Gufstaf M96s which have the straight handled bolt.

[JNewell]

swedish headspacing: http://www.rebooty.com/~dutchman/headspace.html

Thanks CB!

[JohnKSa]

The original 96 rifles had straight bolts.

The model 38 rifles had bent bolts.

A good number of 96 rifles were converted to the 38 configuration by installing new barrels, shortened stocks but usually retaining the straight bolt.

There's reason that an armorer wouldn't have put a bent bolt on a 96 rifle if that was what he had on hand when he needed to replace a bolt. But that's not the way it was originally made.