A Steal? (M96 Swedish Mauser)

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I just counter sharked a M96 Swedish Mauser 1906, 6.5X55. The guy was getting screwed by the gun shop (Offered him 50.00) , so I leaned over and offered him double.


It's a M96 swedish mauser (Carl Gustavs), excelent condition (Still has the tag on it from where the previous owner bought it). 1902 year. It has been drilled and tapped, but looks to be professionally done. the bolt is turned down. The stock has a few blemishes, however is in good + condition (Brass ring still present). The bore is very strong. All major components match, only the floor plate and metal but stock are mismatched. I'll try to post pictures when I get home later. Suppose I paid 100.00 for it. How did I do?

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Probably quite well, really. The mismatched or not stuff is irrelevant since it's sporterized, but that's probably a $200-$250 gun if it's in good shape and looks nice; so you both made out; win-win, which is a rarity.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Thanks!


Any seconds or thirds on the 200 -250 range?

 

[jpwilly]

Hey bro...you did good!

 

[cracked butt]

If the receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope, its only worth $100-150. If only the rear receiver bridge is drilled and tapped its still worth upwards of $250 as this was fairly common practice for adding receiver sights for competitive shooting.

I'd jump all over $100 for the rifle any day. Worst case scenario is that you have a rifle that is 'worth' $100 that will shoot as well or better than any $500 rifle and you aren't ruining any collector value by adding a scope.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

bump...

 

[geojap]

Pics? I'm betting you did very well.

 

[jjohnson]

Good Deal!

Yes, you did very well if you bought one in VG condition for $100. Those rifles are real shooters, and the cartridge is in the same league as a 270 or 257 Roberts - right in the middle, in fact.

As said, collector value is gone, and you may as well go ahead and scope it, perhaps trim the barrel length and have it re-crowned if it seems too long for you. The cartridge is accurate to the extreme, easy to reload, and PRZI and a couple others make fairly cheap ammo. The Swedes use them for moose.
And.... the Swedes NEVER had ammo with corrosive primers.

Enjoy it... you got a steal....

 

[Float Pilot]

Swede Mausers are my thing. Well one of the things...

Questions:

1. Is the stock still all military?

2. Is it really drilled and tapped on both the front receiver ring and the rear receiver bridge? Or is it just a pair of holes at an angle on the rear receiver bridge?

3. Does the bolt have a matching serial number to the action?

4. Are there any screw holes on the left side of the receiver?

5. What are the numbers on the brass bore condition disc on the side of the buttstock?

6. Does the bent bolt have a fairly sharp bent or a sweeping bend?

7. Is the bolt in the white, or is part of it blued?

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Questions:

1. Is the stock still all military? Yes, someone drilled a neat hole between the mid stock ring and the magazine plate. I do wood working and can easily repair it. Otherwise, it has a few minor dings, and cleaned up well last night. Its european birtch and has a nice reddish tint to it.

2. Is it really drilled and tapped on both the front receiver ring and the rear receiver bridge? Or is it just a pair of holes at an angle on the rear receiver bridge? Both, there are signs of the rear sight that I see on many M96's but it also has tapped holes on the reciever and one additional one on the rear bridge.

3. Does the bolt have a matching serial number to the action? Yes

4. Are there any screw holes on the left side of the receiver? No

5. What are the numbers on the brass bore condition disc on the side of the buttstock? There is a punch mark above the "1". Were these barrels chromed? The bore is really bright, without much cleaning. The lands are sharp and square,

6. Does the bent bolt have a fairly sharp bent or a sweeping bend? Faily sharp, It looks well done, but something makes me thing it was bent... Does not look like the M38s I have researched.

7. Is the bolt in the white, or is part of it blued? All White (Numer matches)

Thank you, I will be anxiously waiting your reply. I will do my best to get pictures up this evening. I have to take a kid to the doctor for a check-up.

 

[Float Pilot]

The barrels were not chromed. Just super Swedish Steel. They were also rather anal about cleaning and inspecting.

As you already know the M/38 style bolts have a sharper bend point. They were substituted for M/96 bolts in the later years. Also many rifle clubs used bent bolts on m/96s.
The M/41 Sniper rifles had heat bent bolts as did the M/41Bs. I think the M/41Bs had there bolts blued, but the older m/41 bols were in the white.

On the bottom of your bolt handle there should be a crown stamped. If it is a level crown then that part was made by Carl Gustav. If the crown is tilted that part was made by Husqvarna and is a replacement.


It sounds like that rifle had a Diopter rear sight on it at one time, so it was used in match shooting. (on loan from the Army or used by a military shooting team) for a period of years.

The hole on the bottom has me puzzled. Does it look like it might have been for a target shooting accessory? They even had bolt (screw) on pistol grip type attachments for m/96s used in target matches.


A couple more questions:

1. What are the cartouche markings on the bottom of the stock wrist area?
2. Have you removed the stock and seen any markings on the chamber area of the barrel?

See the tilted crown from this Husqvarna replacement bolt...(PIC)

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Here are the PICTURES

Here are the pictures.

 

[jpwilly]

Looks good JYD!

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

A couple more questions:

1. What are the cartouche markings on the bottom of the stock wrist area?

Just 2 crown stamps, slightly off set.

2. Have you removed the stock and seen any markings on the chamber area of the barrel?

Yes, A few random numbers on the bottom of reciever. crown stamps here and there. There is A "C.O." just before the rear sight under the upper hand guard, on the chamber area.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Thanks JP!



I have been talking to a guy from my town who knows a few farmers who are in need some ground hog control.... Not kidding! I may go out with him this weekend for some introductions / permission!

 

[jpwilly]

Tell the wife yet?

 

[Float Pilot]

It was arsenal rebuilt twice. The barrel was replaced with a new barrel at some point. That is why she is in such good shape. The bolt may have been bent by somebody over here via the heat method to avoid hitting the scope.

Mine like to shoot the 160 grain Hornady Round Nose bullets with 45 to 46 grains of RL-22 and a standard primer. COL of 3.00 inches.
It is very similar to the old original 156 grain round nose that the rifles were originally built to shoot.

They did not start using the 139 grain spitzers until just before the WWII time period.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

The wife knows! She knew right away. It was only 100 (IT was my cash for gas and food, etc.) I have been splitting driving the truck and car; & Packing lunches . Its Not like I went out and got a DMPS 308 AR.

Float Pilot:
Thank you for all the information. It seems like I have a gun that I should finish setting up with a scope and SHOOT! IF I were to try and sell it. Is the 200.00 +- range to high, since it appears to be significanltly altered? (I paid 100) I actually have been wanting to add an accurate scoped rifle to my collection since I have nothing but a ruger 22 wearing a scope.

Thanks, Again

 

[geojap]

I'd say you did very, very well for $100. That rifle used to have a Soderin, Elit or some other peep sight mounted on the receiver. It was used as a target rifle by the Swedes at some point in its life. You can tell by the two diagonal holes in the receiver and the turned bolt. I have one like that, but with no hooded front site. It shoots amazingly well.