Dutch M95 Mannlicher spruce up

[Ugly Sauce]

With the right butt-stock, this could be a "bogus Gibbs". Or not. Being a SMLE, the SMLE buttstock is probably more appropriate. But one just like that Gibbs would be cool. I got this for $50.00 a million years ago. My UPS man at the time was a gun-guy, and usually had a table at the gun shows. I got to know him pretty good. He had this with a $150 price tag on it, on the table often. I used to admire it, the action is like new, it's a LongBranch with the tight five groove rifling and everything. A LongBranch will shoot .308" bullets just fine. But, didn't need or want a "sporter". Finally on the last day and last hour of a show, he's like "give me $50 for it". I'm like, no way, are you serious? He's like "I'm serious". So I got it. Never really had a use for it, sighted it in with 125 grain bullets for a while, thinking it could be my "cougar gun". But never did take it cougar hunting.

Recently I put some different sights on it, and sighted her in with 170 grain Sierra's. Had to monkey with sights quite a bit. The stock peep sights shoot a bit too high for my liking. Not too bad, but the front sight is already two miles high and I don't want to go taller. So, I put some rear sights on the barrel and have it hitting where I want it. As it is very light, and holds eleven rounds, I hope to use it for some trekking and exploring, which is kind of like a stalking rifle. Maybe. Or not. I don't know, the Gibbs just reminded me of it.

 

[Archie]

With the right butt-stock, this could be a "bogus Gibbs".

I like it as well. I have a late Mk 5 1/2 (or something like that) that was almost fitted with a plastic stock and then sold cheap. I have a notion to make a decent hunting and utility rifle of it; but not a full blown custom rifle. The .303 Brit round is quite suitable and the barreled action is sturdy. I do have a couple of projects to do.