$125 Mannlicher-Schoenauer

[Cosmoline]

Picked up this Mannlicher-Schoenauer from the bargain bin. It's a 1903/14/30 Greek military carbine that's been partially sporterized by someone with a *serious* brass fixation. It looks like they got half way through and stopped. The sights have been changed and some brass furniture put on, but the stock is rough sanded and thankfully they only started scraping away at the side marks.

The rear sight is very odd. It's a receiver-type sight but since this is a split-bridge it sits on the back end of the bolt! Not exactly a stable platform, but it seems solid enough when the bolt is locked down.

The action and bore were pretty dirty, but after a few hours tonight they're in pretty good shape. Thankfully my Brass Bubba did not use corrosive ammo. The bore is fresh and shiny--by far the best military M-S bore I've ever seen. The magazine is in fine condition and the action is butter smooth--though that hideous brass contraption hurts my hand. It looks like something dreamed up circa 1955. Oh for a straight bolt or at least a proper butter knife.

The stock is rough but there are plenty of tiger stripes lurking around in it. With the right stain they'll leap out.

Frankly the parts on this rifle alone are worth more than what I paid for the whole.

How I'm going to headspace check this thing, I don't know. Any suggestions?

 

[jefnvk]

Bubba is just that guy you wanna smack upside teh head.

 

[Moonclip]

Have you found an ammo source yet? I've yet to fire mine due to cost of ammo and lack of availability. Your lucky your bore is nice. Mine is non sporterized but the bore sucks.

Guns are kind of uncommon, I think only one small batch was brought in in the "golden era" of milsurp in the 1950's to 68. Even more rare is a un messed with example as many were sporterized as a poor mans Mannlicher Schoenauer sporting rifle.

 

[Preacherman]

Judging from the Finn Crisp box underneath it, obviously the guy who modified it was a cracker...

 

[Clemson]

You have the basis of a pretty nice rifle there. Please, PLEASE cut the bolt handle off and weld a new one on!! Brownells has some that would work nicely:

Butterknife Bolt Handles

Clemson

 

[cracked butt]

Yeah, that brass bolt handle looks hideous. At least the previous owner didn't find out about Tru-Oil and go nuts with that too- that stuff is usually the signature mark of a bubba.

 

[GunGoBoom]

Shouldn't that rifle be photographed on top of this box instead of the "Finn" one?:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000271GUO/002-8508427-4252835?v=glance

Nice find!

 

[Cosmoline]

I use finn crisps to remove light rusting, as well as for snacking

Thanks for that bolt handle link!

I've got a line on some M-S ammunition thankfully, but it's very tough to find. It's surprising, since there have to be a fair number of M-S sporters out there and I know there's at least one collector's association.

One thing about this rifle--it's VERY packable. I can really see why folks loved it so much for safari and expeditions. It only weighs six pounds or so and is extremely well balanced. Yet the long bullets hit like thunder. The twist rate looks very tight. Maybe 1:8. This must be how it copes with those crossbow-bolt like bullets. If it shoots straight I'll get some brass and 6.5 bullets and just handload for it.

 

[kennedy]

a couple of years ago went to an auction and bought a lot of swede 6.5X55 ammo for $15 include were two boxes of 6.5X54MS ammo. sold them and more then made up my orginal purchase price.