Question about Swede sporter/milled brake?

[kentucky_smith]

So I've acquired an old m96 Swede Mauser that has been sporterized. Bbl length is 26" with what looks like a milled muzzle brake on the end. I can't find a seam anywhere. Says pat pend. on the end next to the crown.

Bbl is original and sn matches rest of gun. Any idea what this is. Haven't tried shooting it yet, but thinking about whacking it off and recrowning to 23"

 

[chestnut ridge]

I remember in the mid 70's or thereabout; some gunsmiths offered
barrel porting/muzzle breaks using some sort of electrostatic cutting
process that was advertised as not affecting the rifle bore. No burrs
or displaced metal.
It might be interesting to shoot it with the 26" barrel. I don't see
how such a muzzle break would be of much value in such a mid range
caliber as the 6.5x55. And the shorter barrel would be very much handier.
If it was mine I would probably cut.

 

[44AMP]

Well, somebody went to some trouble,

Why not shoot it a bit and see how it does? Personally I don't think you get much handier going from 26" to 23". If you want handy, go to 18.5". As long as you are ok giving up the velocity.

Myself, If it shot well, I would just leave it alone. It is unusual. Somewhere down the road you may run into somebody who thinks it is really neat, and will take it off your hands for a profit, or trade something you want, just because it is something different. Maybe you find somebody who wants/needs the lightest recoiling rifle in that cal that they can get.

From the pics, this is not a butchered "Bubba" hack job, if it don't cost you anything to leave it alone, what are you out? It may even be one of a kind, and while it may never be a collectible, who can say?