M/34 Swedish Mauser help

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valnar

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My next purchase is a Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55. I've decided to hit the online boards and gun shows for a nice sample of a M/34. I have never handled one before, but from what I've read I would prefer the shorter M/34 vs the M/96.

So other than the usual fit & finish, what should I look out for? I want a good one that can shoot, but also not get taken by a bubba'fied version. Is there a particular year or manufacturer that is more desirable? I am a pistol man mostly and only have a Marlin 336 and Vz.58. This will be my first bolt action.

Thanks.
 
I believe you mean the M38 short rifle produced by Husqvarna from 1941-1944. Some early short rifles were made from converted M96 long rifles also. Most Husqvarna versions will have a turn down bolt and a threaded muzzle for the wooden bullet training unit.

Here's a link to some Swedish Mauser history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Mauser

I have a M38 Husqvarna made in 1941. The barrel condition plate in the stock is marked with the dimensions of the bore.
Rifle condition often will be reflected in it's price, but always check the bore visually if possible.


NCsmitty
 
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Yes, M38. I wish I could change the title of the thread.

So when looking at these, is there anything special to look for?
 
So do your homework and find one that has all matching numbers on it. You are going to pay a fair sum for one anyway. Beware of the junk.

There are basically three Swedes I know of. The M94 is a short cavalry carbine, the M38 is the shortened version of the M96. Some M38's were converted from M96's. Some M38's were purpose built.

For regularly excellent examples get on the distribution list of http://www.empirearms.com/

There are a lot of sites that you can get information from. This one is excellent: http://dutchman.rebooty.com/index.html

Basically you want to find an arsenal refinished, all matching rifle. Be picky, have cash in hand and you can still find great examples out there. Empire will let you put an ffl on file and you can have them pre select one for you to your spec for very reasonable prices like 400 to 500. All of the little M94's are around 1000 for a good one and the cheap ones are cobbled together and not original. You can easily tell the fakes if you learn your serial number ranges.

Learn how to read the brass disc but do not put much faith in it. Putting a fake on takes about two minutes.

If you get a good one they are great shooters, amazingly accurate and the cartridge is about as flexible as you can get. Keep us posted on how you do.
 
Wow, for someone just starting there is a lot of information on those sites. I think it'll be obvious that I'll get taken.

If anyone comes across a good one that they can't buy, let me know!
 
Maple_City_Woodsman,

That's a beauty!!

I have a 42 Husky, my first, for about a month now. On my first range trip was able to hit a 3 inch circle at 100 yards easily.

Here is the cool part, I moved the sight ladder up to 200 meters and hit a 10 inch target just using the iron sights out at the 200 yard mark. I was astounded. Should not be but I was. I want to get it out to a decent long range facility and see if I can hit a steel plate at 600 yards.

Others have done better and there is an art form to learning your iron sights but for the first time out I was impressed with the rifle. Definitely a keeper!

Valnar,

Learning about them is half the fun. It does not take much to get competent at identifying one worth having. The big deal is matching numbers on nearly everything. But always and without exception get a bolt, receiver and barrel that are all matching. With a little luck and perseverance you can find an all matching example.
 
The best Book for Swedish Mausers is "The Crown Jewels, the Swedish Mausers" by Dana Jones.

The best forum type site for Swede Mausers is at Gunboards Swedish Military Collectors Forum. It is no non-sense and we do not ever talk about butchering or sporterizing.

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?49-Swedish-Military-Firearms-Forum

And as you have seen the Dutchman's Rebooty web page is pretty cool. He moderates the Swede Collectors forum.

As mentioned already, the first m/38s were cut down m/96 rifles. But when WWII really started to look bad all around Sweden, the Swedes contracted Husqvarna to make purpose built m/38 rifles.
they made the following:
1941-28,672 rifles
1942-38,781 rifles
1943-14,156 rifles
1944- 1,969 rifles
 
As mentioned already, the first m/38s were cut down m/96 rifles. But when WWII really started to look bad all around Sweden, the Swedes contracted Husqvarna to make purpose built m/38 rifles.
they made the following:
1941-28,672 rifles
1942-38,781 rifles
1943-14,156 rifles
1944- 1,969 rifles
Click to expand...

And if I had the pick of the litter (I know, I probably won't), which are the more desirable ones? Are the cut down m/96 not as good, or better than the 1940's models?
 
And if I had the pick of the litter (I know, I probably won't), which are the more desirable ones? Are the cut down m/96 not as good, or better than the 1940's models?
Click to expand...

The 1944 Husqvarna m/38s were the least made of the Husky versions. So they are collectable.

As for the cut-down versions, called 96-38s or 38-96 by US buyers,,,(The Swedes never cared about which was which)

There are some years of m/96 production which are more desirable. Thus any m/38 made from a rare m/96 would be even more rare....

The most rare years for m/96 production are:

1924= 2,149 rifles made
1898= 3,188
1914= 4,655
1923= 4,655
1922= 5,112


Husqvarna also made a special run of m/96 long rifles during WWII. They are SUPER collectable to some folks.
1943= 8,750 husky m/96s
1944= 5,328 husky m/96s

Some m/96 rifles were made in Germany at the Mauser Factory in Oberndorf on the Neckar river. But only for two years and were only 7% of the total rifles made.
1899= 16,246 obe rifles
1900= 24,487 obe rifles.

Personally I like the Oberndorf Rifles.

There is also another collector sub group of folks who look for the [ SA ] stamp on Swedish rifles. That stamp means it was sent and accepted into the Finnish military system around the Winter War and Continuation War time period. Although they never got around to stamping all of them. Mos of those rifles later came back into Sweden and some folks really go nuts collecting them.
 
Someone used to make a cap that screwed onto the threads at the muzzle. I bought them fior mine and they do dress the rifle.

I have the 96 and a 38. In my case the 96 shoots quite a bit better, but to be perfectly honest I haven't shot either for a decade or so. That long skinny bullet is a real penitrator. The Swedish Mausers are very nice rifles. You can shoot that little 38 just as it comes. It is small and handy.
 
here,s my 1944 husky, with original sling. it took alot of looking to find it. eastbank.
 

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eastbank::::::That is one SUPER NICE and clean Husky m/38. And the most desirable year.

Germster is right, there are still blued steel caps out there to cover the threaded barrels that many swedes have.
The threaded barrels were added during the 1950s as these rifles were constantly being upgraded and rebuilt. the threading is to attach a blank firing device. The Swede's used a wooden bullet blank that was pretty dangerous to use during field exercises. So eventually they came up with a devise that shredded the wooden bullet.

The Swedes used a plastic thread cover that does not look so great.
 
303tom
I will be hog tied.
Here is one of my Husqvarna`s it is a m/96 (date 1943)
Click to expand...
I have never seen a 43 dated 96 Husky. Now a 96/38 Obie I have seen (chopped by Swedish armory) and lusted over, but never the opposite.

That is very, very unusual isn't it? And nice.
 
Husqvarna also made a special run of m/96 long rifles during WWII. They are SUPER collectable to some folks. They were not made for military issue but made for the Swede version of the CMP.

1943= 8,750 husky m/96s
1944= 5,328 husky m/96s
 
Baba Louie said:
303tom
I will be hog tied.I have never seen a 43 dated 96 Husky. Now a 96/38 Obie I have seen (chopped by Swedish armory) and lusted over, but never the opposite.

That is very, very unusual isn't it? And nice.
Click to expand...

If that really tripped your trigger, here is a few more.
 
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My 96 is marked 1905. It is also threaded at the muzzle, but with that little blued steel cap it looks okay. It shoot very nicely. These Swedes have fine two stage triggers. When you get to where the sear is about to break, it takes very little pressure and it breaks cleanly. Very nice rifles. Of course the 96 is long. It sticks way out there.
 
The second one which is a m/96 converted to a m/38 is not as rare as the seller makes out. He is blowing smoke up your kilt when he says it has a rare Navy sight. There is no such thing as a Navy sight.

That is a Metalverken rear sight insert that helps to give target type sight adjustments. I have 5 or 6 of them out in my shop and they are nice for target work.
Also his photos seem the be rather dark to hide all the bluing wear.
It seems more like a $350-$375 m/38 ......than what he wants.

The first m/38 is a stock 1941 Husky made m/38 and looks pretty clean. Although it would be nice to see the bore...
I'd go $425 maybe $450 on that one at max.... I have seen some very unreal prices lately on Swede Mausers...

Allans Armory is a good place to look. And of course Gun Boards collectors site.
 
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Yah, the brass medallion is blurred which worries me (not that I know how to read them correctly anyway).

From reading some more, I think I want a 1941+ Husky since they are optimized for 139-140 grain bullets, and I plan to buy production ammo at first.

I'll keep looking. Thanks for the post.
 
There is no difference in the rifling twist between the M/38s and the M/96 rifles. The Husqvarna made m/38s have a " T " marked rear site that was specifically set up for the 139 grain bullet.

The m/38s are easier to hold steady while firing in the standing UN-supported position.

Below pic is me winning the 2011 Mauser match with a 1943 Husky m/38. Note the oddball stock color. When I obtained it is had a rack tag that w=used to be on a m/94 school carbine. Plus it even had a very rare school carbine sling.
And a very nice muzzle cover. A few of us think that maybe some boys school (junior ROTC type thing) traded in their old M-94 carbines at one time and were given m/38 rifles instead. So they just transferred the rack tags and slings.

My barrel condition disc only shows a 1 or 2 barrel condition, but it will still out-shoot most other folks rifles, except my m/96 Oberndorf rifle and CG-63 target rifle.
 

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