Came upon a Swedish Mauser

[berettaprofessor]

Found a 1901 marked 1894 Carl Gustaf carbine, original stock and identical serial parts. Stock is a little beat up but no cracks, bore is very clean and well rifled, moderate condition. Chambered in 6.5 X 55mm. Owner asking $350. Is it a buy at that price, or pass?


Also, it's my belief that 6.5 X 55 is still fairly widely manufactured and easily obtained and I think I can get reloading dies and bullets for it. Anyone disagree?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That's a fair price, and yes, you can get brass and dies for 6.5X55.

 

[rszwieg]

I don't know about the price but carbines aren't as common as 38s or 96s. Prices on Swedes are going up as surplus ones are snapped up.

As for ammo it's fairly easy to find. Remington, Winchester, Federal, Lapua, and Norma are around. I handload for mine with dimensionally correct Norma but US cases work too. You may not find factory loads at small town stores next to the 06 and 30/30.

 

[tahoe2]

How bad do you want it ?? Swedes are going up in price all the time, and the carbines are more rare these days.
Yes components are readily available and Swedes tend to be very accurate, which makes them much more interesting, considering their age.
It's over 100 years old, that's a piece of history, Get It !!!

 

[deputy bruce]

Swedish mauser

be sure when you get it to slug the barrel mine was .002 over and I had to swage 270 cal. bullets down to size.

 

[CB900F]

Berettaprofessor;

It certainly sounds like a good buy to me. Does it have the armorer's disc on the RH side of the buttstock? If so, the information it contains is easily available online.

I've been a big fan of the Swede for over 20 years, never had a problem getting components or finding a load. If you want to find the full potential of the cartridge though, resign yourself to getting a modern gun in the chambering. The first two I'd look at would be the Tikka and CZ550. The CZ550 fullstock in Swede is a very sought-after item for good reason. My son's can ring the 600 yard gong ( 1 foot in diameter ) just about any time he wants to do it.

My left hand bolt Swede is a custom gun, and I don't regret a penny spent on it. It's superbly accurate, and I hunt elk with it every year living in Outer Montana as I do. The 140 grain bullets, driven at modern velocities are more than adequate to the job.

900F

 

[Coyote3855]

The Swedish Carbine is one of my grail guns and I would pay $350 in a New York minute for one in decent condition. I have a Carl Gustaf 1901 and a later Husqvarna from the 1940s. If you decide not to buy it, I would appreciate a PM with contact information for the seller.

 

[krinko]

This is what the '94 looks like in native form---




The brass disc in the stock is for unit marking, not bore condition as are those found on the '96 and '38. The one on this rifle is from an infantry outfit of older, slower men---something I can sympathize with.



There aren't anymore surplus waiting in Sweden and $350 is dirt cheap for what you describe.
-----krinko

 

[boom boom]

If that is a true 1894, prices depending on condition and rarity that I have seen run from $700 and up.

There are a couple of variants of the Swedish Mauser carbines that make it difficult to tell one from the other (school, fortress, gallery, etc). Apparently, there are some made up by U.S. Importers from parts. A guy called the Dutchman has an excellent webpage with great pictures which give information about how to detect forgeries as well as information in general on the Swedish Mausers. http://dutchman.rebooty.com/

He used to hang around gunboards (I believe under the same user name) but not sure about that now.

 

[Poper]

The one you describe is, IMHO, offered at a very fair price. I would be interested in a similar rifle any price south of $500. The going prices I have seen around here are in the $600 - $650 neighborhood.

YMMV.

 

[WYOMan]

If you don't want it, buy it and sell it to me. I had a chance to buy one years ago that was in very good condition, all matching, and I've kicked myself for years for not buying it.

 

[dickydalton]

If you buy one with a bayonet lug I have a bayonet.

 

[tahunua001]

$350 sounds like a decent price. 6.5 is readily available just about anywhere, it's more common than 303 brit and most of the other WWII era military cartridges, minus the 30-06 of course. I got me a swedish mauser a few years back, turns out it was a forgery made by a very unethical bunch who advertise them as originals. either way it's a good shooter and the 800 rounds of wood blanks I got from them can be demilled and used to load twenty five cent per round ammo that doesn't even require policing brass, so it's not a total loss.

 

[e rex]

I was given a 6.5x55 Swede with the short barrel. Someone had sporterized it with a Herters stock and a scope. The little devil shoots very well with IMR-4350 and 140 grain bullets. They are not a high speed round especially out of the 17 1/2" barrel but will perform on game far better than one would imagine.
Remember, those chambers were cut before SAMMA was born or the European counter part ( I think CPI). If you buy go-no go gauges you will be disappointed. There is nothing wrong with the long chambers on these rifles.
I bought 100 pieces of brass from Cabela's, loaded it lite with 85 grain bullets to form it to the chamber then backed the sizing die off and did a partial neck size. The brass will last a lot longer.
By the was the short 85 grain bullets aren't supposed to shoot well in the 1-7.87 twist barrel but with the starting load of Varget they will shoot surprising groups.
You will like this rifle.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Sounds like a good deal to me. I have a Swede and it's a great rifle in a very effective, and accurate, caliber. Plenty of components available for reloading.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Thanks everyone. If it's still available (have been busy) I'm convinced to buy and, dickydalton, may take you up on the bayonet. I think the lug is there. Will let you know after purchase v

 

[berettaprofessor]

Well, I waited too long. It was sold yesterday online. Hope at least one of you got it!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Bummer...

 

[6.5swedeforelk]

My son bought a 96 Swede last year and paid $250.

I have yet to find a 96 or 94 that has not been accurate.
My shortened 96 is moa with 140gr at a leasurely 2500 or so.

The elk & moose don't seem to know that I'm not using a magnum.