Carl Gustav M38 Carbine 6.5x55 swede - School me on these rifles
- Thread starter mookiie
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Float Pilot
Member
The Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfakori was the national military weapons in Sweden. It is in the city of Eskilstunaan. It was established in 1813 under King Carl. The Swedes only later changed over to using a K instead of a C. So now they would write King Karl.
The m/38 rifle started out life as a m/96 rifle. In the later 1930s the Swede saw that a huge war was coming soon, so they started to modify m/96 long rifles (29 inch barrels) into shorter rifles which would be about the same size as the German K-98s or English Enfield MK4s.
The result was the rifle of 1938, ( m/38 ) which was re-barreled m/96 with a 23.5 inch barrel. The stock was modified accordingly.
When WWII was really burning, the Swedes figured out that the CARL GUSTAF factory would not be able to keep up with modifying m/96s since they were making new machine-guns and other weapons. SO,,, they contracted Husqvarna to make brand new m/38 rifles between 1941 and 1944.
Some Americans call modified m/96 rifles, 96/38s or some such thing... But the Swedes NEVER made any different notations regarding how the m/38 was made.
That rifle is of course chambered in the super accurate 6.5x55mm cartridge and has a 1 in 200mm rifling twist rate.
What year is on the receiver and is it in full military condition ???
The m/38 rifle started out life as a m/96 rifle. In the later 1930s the Swede saw that a huge war was coming soon, so they started to modify m/96 long rifles (29 inch barrels) into shorter rifles which would be about the same size as the German K-98s or English Enfield MK4s.
The result was the rifle of 1938, ( m/38 ) which was re-barreled m/96 with a 23.5 inch barrel. The stock was modified accordingly.
When WWII was really burning, the Swedes figured out that the CARL GUSTAF factory would not be able to keep up with modifying m/96s since they were making new machine-guns and other weapons. SO,,, they contracted Husqvarna to make brand new m/38 rifles between 1941 and 1944.
Some Americans call modified m/96 rifles, 96/38s or some such thing... But the Swedes NEVER made any different notations regarding how the m/38 was made.
That rifle is of course chambered in the super accurate 6.5x55mm cartridge and has a 1 in 200mm rifling twist rate.
What year is on the receiver and is it in full military condition ???
shotgunjoel
Member
I recently bought a Swedish M96 and after the first magazine it became my favorite rifle. The action is really easy to work and the fit and finish is amazing. If it is in military configuration and isn't a rust bucket that is a great price. If someone has chopped the stock and added a scope, it may still be worth it as a fun range gun, assuming that condition is good.
Great rifles, great caliber. If the gun you're considering is in decent original shape, $200 is a steal. Average price is more like $500. FYI, the guns converted from the full-length M96 to carbine configuration have their original straight bolt handle and a production date that can go all the way back to the very early 1900s. Guns built as M38s from the ground up have a bent bolt handle and a 1940s production date.
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shotgunjoel
Member
Is the stock hardware in the white? Somebody put one of those flash hiders on the muzzle, but that's fine, the threads are original for a Swedish blank firing adapter. I'd take it for $200. Do the numbers match? That'd be a nice bonus, but i'd still buy it if they didn't.
Float Pilot
Member
The barrel, receiver, trigger guard / magazine floor-plate and the barrel /stock bands should be blued. The butt-plate and bolt should be white metal.
As already pointed out the flash hider is a US aftermarket thing which can only make the accuracy worse. As noted by shotgunjoe, the threaded barrels were for a blank firing adapter.
Those barrels were installed in the 1950s and later. The blank firing adapter shredded the wooden bullet that the Swedes used in their blank training ammo. They were tired of troops hurting each other during exercises.
The Swedes had plastic thread protectors... There are blued steel thread protectors that look very nice and only cost a couple of bucks.
That rifle is well worth $200.
As already pointed out the flash hider is a US aftermarket thing which can only make the accuracy worse. As noted by shotgunjoe, the threaded barrels were for a blank firing adapter.
Those barrels were installed in the 1950s and later. The blank firing adapter shredded the wooden bullet that the Swedes used in their blank training ammo. They were tired of troops hurting each other during exercises.
The Swedes had plastic thread protectors... There are blued steel thread protectors that look very nice and only cost a couple of bucks.
That rifle is well worth $200.
shotgunjoel
Member
That stock might be sanded too, the finger groove looks rounded, not sure though. Still worth the $200.
wlewisiii
Member
Oh my little stars and comets. If I'd seen that in a store I have hurt myself reaching for my wallet that fast.
Grab, run & giggle like a school kid.
Grab, run & giggle like a school kid.
meanmrmustard
Member
Bolt looks to be 40s manufacture.
$200? Why do you not currently own it!!!
$200? Why do you not currently own it!!!
Float Pilot
Member
The straight handle bolts were original to the m/96 long rifles. So converted rifles most often had the original straight bolt.
The 1940s made Husqvarna made m/38 rifles had the turned down bolts like the m/94 carbine.
Over the years the repair depots used whatever bolts they had on hand, either bolt assembly is correct for a rifle that was rebuilt or upgraded in the 1960s or 1970s.
You find a lot of Husqvarna replacement parts on Swede rifles which stayed in the military system until the late 20th century.
Husqvarna made parts will have a tilted crown. Carl Gustaf made parts have a straight up crown.
Parts made by the Mauser factory in Oberndorf Germany (on the Nekar River) look similar to the Carl Gusstaf crown but the bottom line is a little bowed or baggy looking... The cross on top of the German stamped crowns are also not as large and clear.
Since this rifle was originally a m/96 made in 1918, it should have a serial number between 445969 and 461858. There were about 15,890 made that year.
The inspectors initials should be just ahead of the serial number.
How is the stock brass inspection disc marked ?
You did good,,,,
xx
The 1940s made Husqvarna made m/38 rifles had the turned down bolts like the m/94 carbine.
Over the years the repair depots used whatever bolts they had on hand, either bolt assembly is correct for a rifle that was rebuilt or upgraded in the 1960s or 1970s.
You find a lot of Husqvarna replacement parts on Swede rifles which stayed in the military system until the late 20th century.
Husqvarna made parts will have a tilted crown. Carl Gustaf made parts have a straight up crown.
Parts made by the Mauser factory in Oberndorf Germany (on the Nekar River) look similar to the Carl Gusstaf crown but the bottom line is a little bowed or baggy looking... The cross on top of the German stamped crowns are also not as large and clear.
Since this rifle was originally a m/96 made in 1918, it should have a serial number between 445969 and 461858. There were about 15,890 made that year.
The inspectors initials should be just ahead of the serial number.
How is the stock brass inspection disc marked ?
You did good,,,,
xx
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meanmrmustard
Member
Float Pilot
Member
No you cannot trust a bore condition disc on a rifle which has been inside the US for very long.
Then again, the Swedes classified bores that needed to be replaced which were still better than most other country's newly manufactured barrels.
I have been lucky with the 7 or 8 Swede rifles I own...
Then again, the Swedes classified bores that needed to be replaced which were still better than most other country's newly manufactured barrels.
I have been lucky with the 7 or 8 Swede rifles I own...
meanmrmustard
Member
I don't have but the one M/38 Husquvarna Vapenfabriks. Numbers matching, great bore, smooth as silk.
It will be hunted with.
Racinfan83
Member
Here is another version of that rifle. I copied this from my original post just to put the "numbers" on this thread:
It is a bolt action that I believe has been "sporterized" - looks like a military action of some sort, but it has a Monte Carlo style stock on it and the barrel appears to have been cut down and lightened. Here are the markings: On top of the action in front of the feed/ejection port is a "crown" engraving with some sort of gothic letter symbol under it. Under that is "CARL GUSTAFS STADS" - under that is "GEVARSFAKTORI" - and under that is "INTERARMCO G 33/50". On the left side of the action is stamped "RL 47926" - on the rear left side of the action is "969", and there is "969" stamped on the back of the bolt and safety lever. On the floor plate are two small "crown" engravings and "839". It does not appear to be a movable floorplate - as in you have to load magazine from the top, and the magazine follower locks the bolt back.
And some before/after pics:
It is a bolt action that I believe has been "sporterized" - looks like a military action of some sort, but it has a Monte Carlo style stock on it and the barrel appears to have been cut down and lightened. Here are the markings: On top of the action in front of the feed/ejection port is a "crown" engraving with some sort of gothic letter symbol under it. Under that is "CARL GUSTAFS STADS" - under that is "GEVARSFAKTORI" - and under that is "INTERARMCO G 33/50". On the left side of the action is stamped "RL 47926" - on the rear left side of the action is "969", and there is "969" stamped on the back of the bolt and safety lever. On the floor plate are two small "crown" engravings and "839". It does not appear to be a movable floorplate - as in you have to load magazine from the top, and the magazine follower locks the bolt back.
And some before/after pics:
The disc has a triangle with 1 towards the center and 2 above to the left and 3 above to the right. My mistake 1916 reciver date. HK serial 4000XX. The reciver, floor plate, and bolt all match. The front two barrel bands do not. All parts are straight up crown. The receiver is marked Carl Gustafs stads gevarsfaktori 1916. Bore is nice looking needs to be cleaned though.
meanmrmustard
Member
Where is the punch mark with the "1,2,3" pie?
Also, how many strek does the disc say? It's usually "1".
The brass disc.
Swedish
English
Torped
Bullet with boat tail (also means "torpedo")
Överslag
"Point of impact over line of sight" (also means "estimate")
STR = Streck
Mills (1 Swedish mill = 1 meter at 1000 meters = 3,6" at 100 yds)
The largest sector is stamped with the calibre of the barrel.
The m/41 round had a much flatter trajectory than the older m/94. As most rifles were already manufactured with iron sights for the "m/94 bullet", the aiming correction in mills (how much lower you had to aim to hit the target) was inscribed on the brass disc. This is the information in the second sector. It was usually 0.5 mill.
The last sector gives information on the level of bore pitting. “1” means pitting in the groves. “2” means pitting in the groves and on the side of the lands. “3” means pitting in the whole bore (which means unserviceable). A rifle would never receive a “3”. It would instead be turned in to a work shop, where the old barrel would be exchanged for a new one.
Just thought I would throw this in..............
Swedish
English
Torped
Bullet with boat tail (also means "torpedo")
Överslag
"Point of impact over line of sight" (also means "estimate")
STR = Streck
Mills (1 Swedish mill = 1 meter at 1000 meters = 3,6" at 100 yds)
The largest sector is stamped with the calibre of the barrel.
The m/41 round had a much flatter trajectory than the older m/94. As most rifles were already manufactured with iron sights for the "m/94 bullet", the aiming correction in mills (how much lower you had to aim to hit the target) was inscribed on the brass disc. This is the information in the second sector. It was usually 0.5 mill.
The last sector gives information on the level of bore pitting. “1” means pitting in the groves. “2” means pitting in the groves and on the side of the lands. “3” means pitting in the whole bore (which means unserviceable). A rifle would never receive a “3”. It would instead be turned in to a work shop, where the old barrel would be exchanged for a new one.
Just thought I would throw this in..............
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Float Pilot
Member
That is a very nice Metallverken TYPE II sight insert.
You used to see tem on 96 to 38 conversions. That sight really gives you a good adjustment.
METALLVERKEN SIGHT ADAPTERS
There were 3 different versions. Some folks designate them as Types I, II, and III. These were designed by P.O. Faldt, they were manufactured by Metallverken, in Vasteras, Sweden.
Many sellers mistakenly refer to these as "naval" sights, because the Metallverken company logo was a Viking ship, they assume they have something to do with the Navy. These sights were originally designed for the M38 rifles, cut down by CG from M96's. They will only fit in an M96 sight leaf, not an M38.
The initial Type I was designed for M94 ammo in a M38 barrel length, it is calibrated from 300-600 meters. M94 ammo used a 156 grain round nose bullet.
Type II was designed for the M41 ammo in an M38 barrel, it is graduated from 250-600 meters. These are in 25 meter increments, with a dot signifying 25 meters, and a line signifying 50 meters. On the Type II, 3 is the lowest number, but it has a line and a dot below that, going down to 250 meters. The Type I and Type II were both used by the military.
M41 ammo used a 139 grain jacketed boat-tail spritzer bullet.
Type III Metallverken adapter are believe to be strictly civilian. It is graduated from 100-600 meters, and was regulated for Metallverken target ammo (very similar to military M41 ammo) in an M96 length barrel. Some folks disagree.... I have one of these on my m/96 long rifle.
Your sight is worth between $90 to $100.
That brass piece comes out of there, it`s just an insert, just take out the big screw, then you have a regular ol ladder sight, if someone hadn`t miss placed the elavator. It should look like this.................Also it has a really intricate rear sight with a brass adjustment nob. looks like this:
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Float Pilot
Member
In 1916 the serial numbers started at 371495 and went up to around 401598. they made around 30,100 that year.
The H.K. stands for Helge Gustaf Ludvig Kolthoff.
He was born August 7th 1878. First commissioned as an Officer in Dec 1901.
He was the inspector / acceptance Officer at the CG factory from 04/10/1912 until Feb 28, 1923. He was a Lieutenant with the 6th Artillery regiment while he was posted to the CG factory.
If your rifle shoots high with the rear sight all the way down, it is easy to buy a replacement front sight blade which is a little taller.
The Swede military just told the troops to aim at the belt buckle area if the enemy was out around 100 meters. then hold dead on at 300.
Since I use mine for 100m yard MAUSER MATCH competitions, I have taller front sights on a couple of them and I slightly modified one rear sight to match up with my target hand-loaded ammo.
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