Maple 6.5 x 55 Model 96

[HoploDad]

The LGS has been displaying a model 96 marked Waffenfabrik Obendorf a/n 1899, in tiger stripe maple. The figure is not stunning but still, very handsome. It's not noticeable at first, but the handguard may be something else, with a very slightly reddish, longer grain. All the numbers I can see from stem to stern match. The bore looks great, this confirmed by the store gunsmith, though the 2 & 3 bore disc numbers are both marked.

My question, is this a restocked action and barrel? Does 1899 reflect manufacture date? Reading up on the subject, it seems maple stocks were believed to be a short run, 16-19 years later. Or might there have been a turn of the century one-off or two? It is really a pretty gun, with action like butter.

 

[DocRock]

1899 is date of manufacture. Should be a great rifle. The Obendorf made rifles were from the original contract and I have read that they were made with high nickel content ore shipped from Sweden. I have two, sadly both sporterized, but luckily well done.

I have never seen an issue rifle stocked in Maple. I lived in Sweden and never saw any sugar maple. There is allegedly some red maple about. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible that rifles were thus stocked. Would love to see pics!

 

[eastbank]

both of my obi,s, a 1899-1900 have what looks like walnut stocks(matching numbers).

 

[js8588]

Buy it.

Shoot it.

Enjoy it.

 

[Speedo66]

Possible it was refreshed at some point at an armory and the stock changed to one of the later maple stocks you mentioned and numbered to match.

Original hand guard kept if it was still in serviceable condition.

Lots of things can happen in 121 years....

Some old guns are still in official use in Sweden. They have a palace guard in Stockholm that sometimes dresses up in old uniforms and carry M-94's. I've also seen Swedish K's in use there.

 

[Random 8]

If you don't already own one, absolutely buy it, they are the absolute best of all military Mausers. I wouldn't sweat the 2/3 bore unless you're trying to win vintage class at Perry. Most are still fantastic shooters. As Speedo posted, yours is likely an arsenal re stock. What's the asking price?

 

[HoploDad]

Thank you for your replies.

"... Would love to see pics!"

Will do, hopefully later today.

"Buy it.

Shoot it.

Enjoy it."

Have #'s one and three above checked off, y'all are quite convincing. At just under $700 OTD my price paid may've been on the high side, but they marked it down significantly to get it there. This is one of those I looked at and felt connected to, and they're not making any more so no apologies. In addition I've always wanted something in this caliber and am not a milsurp guy, so it's fun to learn something new. Looking forward to #2, above.

"Possible it was refreshed at some point at an armory and the stock changed to one of the later maple stocks you mentioned and numbered to match."

Where is the SN on the stock? Do I need to disassemble... it's not obvious?

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Im curious if the stock is possibly tigerstripe birch. Cant wait to see it, price is a bit high, but everything is right now.

 

[Speedo66]

Thank you for your replies.Where is the SN on the stock? Do I need to disassemble... it's not obvious?

Sorry, may not be a # on the stock. But if it has the brass circle plate in the stock, if everything else looks right, it's probably the correct military item.

I had two Swedes, a German manufactured M96 and a Swedish manufactured M38 short rifle, both well made and very accurate guns. Bought them close to when they first arrived in the US, the short rifle $79 and the other $89, but that was a long time ago.

I'm sure you're going to enjoy yours, good luck with it!

 

[Archie]

Just over 100 years ago, wood was mostly 'old growth' trees. Manufacturers had a much wider choice in raw materials. Not to mention factory workers took more pride in what they could do than enduring a day's shift and going home to play computer games.

 

[js8588]

Just under $700? In today's market you did well.

 

[Laphroaig]

My Carl Gustafs M96 is stocked in beech, which I have read is very common for the Swedish rifles. A different kind of wood compared to other stock woods. Very dense and not too porous. The early German manufactured ones probably used different wood.

Mine has the last 3 digits of the SN stamped on the inside of the stock pieces.

 

[HoploDad]

This is just fun to hold, clean as a whistle and every number matches. If it shoots well I am happy. Sometimes you just like it.

 

[HoploDad]

[QUOTE="Speedo66, I had two Swedes, a German manufactured M96 and a Swedish manufactured M38 short rifle, both well made and very accurate guns. Bought them close to when they first arrived in the US, the short rifle $79 and the other $89, but that was a long time ago.

I'm sure you're going to enjoy yours, good luck with it![/QUOTE]

Wow! Your decimal point's much better than mine!

 

[js8588]

View attachment 963895

This is just fun to hold, clean as a whistle and every number matches. If it shoots well I am happy. Sometimes you just like it.

Gorgeous. Well done.

 

[stillquietvoice]

That's a beautiful milsurp.

 

[HoploDad]

Thanks, all. Can anyone shed more light on barrel ratings? The disc's 2 and 3 are both checked which means "not best", right?

In contrast, the bore is shiny and bright to the point of making you squint, with sharp looking lands and grooves. How does it work? Thank you.

 

[Speedo66]

[QUOTE="Speedo66, I had two Swedes, a German manufactured M96 and a Swedish manufactured M38 short rifle, both well made and very accurate guns. Bought them close to when they first arrived in the US, the short rifle $79 and the other $89, but that was a long time ago.

I'm sure you're going to enjoy yours, good luck with it!

[/QUOTE]Wow! Your decimal point's much better than mine![/QUOTE]

LOL, yes, but when I bought them most really had no idea as to how good they were. I'd heard a little as to their quality over in Sweden and having a Swedish wife and enjoying things Swedish, I took a chance and was obviously very happy with them both. The wife and the rifles.

Rifles are gone, still have the wife.

 

[DocRock]

Not that it matters much as that’s a great looking rifle, but that stock is beech or birch.

 

[HoploDad]

Not that it matters much as that’s a great looking rifle, but that stock is beech or birch.

Does beech have those tiger stripes? Aside from a refinish here and there I'm not a wood worker, but have another beech stocked modern rifle and it looks nothing like this.

Were Model 96's produced in birch?

 

[Speedo66]

Thanks, all. Can anyone shed more light on barrel ratings? The disc's 2 and 3 are both checked which means "not best", right?

In contrast, the bore is shiny and bright to the point of making you squint, with sharp looking lands and grooves. How does it work? Thank you.

Every Swedish rifle I've seen has had great bores and aside from possibly the Swiss, I don't think anyone took as good a care of them.

And they all seemed to shoot well. Unfortunately, can't help with the disc ratings.

Both rifles I had, I believe, were stocked in other than walnut.

 

[DocRock]

Does beech have those tiger stripes? Aside from a refinish here and there I'm not a wood worker, but have another beech stocked modern rifle and it looks nothing like this.

Were Model 96's produced in birch?

Birch tiger stripes, though yours is more tastefully understated than some. And, yes, M96 were stocked in walnut, beech, and birch.

Edit: Just checked my M96 book and found a reference to ELM stocked rifles, specifically from the original contract. Elm definitely stripes. So that’s also possible.

 

[HoploDad]

Wow! Your decimal point's much better than mine![/QUOTE]

LOL, yes, but when I bought them most really had no idea as to how good they were. I'd heard a little as to their quality over in Sweden and having a Swedish wife and enjoying things Swedish, I took a chance and was obviously very happy with them both. The wife and the rifles.

Rifles are gone, still have the wife.[/QUOTE]

Ha, good long term strategy. A reliable, well made, accurate wife is a keeper; one that bakes MOAp is a bonus (minute of apple pie).

 

[HoploDad]

Birch tiger stripes, though yours is more tastefully understated than some. And, yes, M96 were stocked in walnut, beech, and birch.

Aha! If so, this could well be the original furniture with the possible exception of the hand guard. Thanks.