Steyr 1895 Carbine

[tinroad37e]

I was just at a local gunshop and they have a few Steyr 1895 carbines. All look to be in very good condition. He has about 50 rounds of milsurp 8x56R ammo too. It is is clips and is dated 1939 with a Nazi marking. I own alot of milsurp rifles, but have no experience with the 1895. The bolt wouldn't open, but I didn't try to open her too hard. Is there a special trick to it? Are these worth $150 bucks? I notice Hornandy makes commerical ammo now, but is a little pricey.

 

[ArmedBear]

The bolt wouldn't open

You do know that it's a straight-pull, right?

It uses en bloc clips. Think of a Garand without the gas system or spring bolt return, and a big knob on the side. You have to pull the bolt straight back and shove it forward. It has to be cleaned and oiled to work properly; it can be pretty stiff.

 

[tinroad37e]

I didn't know it was a straight bolt. I had my 3-year old son with me and he was into everything (daycare closed on Columbus Day). I'll go back up and play with them more tomorrow.

 

[ArmedBear]

Pull straight back. Don't expect it to be easy, though.

They can be really tight.

 

[cracked butt]

Are they worth $150?
That's up to the end user. FWIW AIM has them for $120, once you figure in another $17 or so for shiiping, $150 isn't far off the mark.
Stiff bolt?
You need to slap the bolt very hard to open and close it. Its the nature of the beast.

My biggest piece of advice would be to get a slip on recoil pad- these rifles fired what's likely the most powerful standard issue rifle ammunition of WWII and is also one of the lightest rifles used during that timeframe- they recoil very hard.

 

[ArmedBear]

I have one. It's neat.

Buy it as a curio, not a hunting or target rifle.

 

[nwilliams]

The bolts are tough to pull back, the only trick is to pull back with some force.

$150 isn't a bad price depending on the rifle's condition, if it comes with 50rds of ammo that's certainly a plus. A store near me has them for sale for $99 and for an extra $5 you can get 10rds of ammo or for an extra $10 you can get 20rds.

I've had one for a few years now and have only shot it a few times. Honestly guns like this I buy because they are cheap, interesting, historical and add just another gun to your overall collection. Its a hoot to shoot and when you chamber the last round you get that "ping!" similar to the Garand as the clip is ejected out the bottom.

I paid $175(+tax) for mine, but it came with a bayonet and 300rds of ammo on Nazi marked stripper clips. I'm now down to 230rds and I'm honestly afraid to use it up, I don't reload and the all the 8x56r I can find for sale is very expensive.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

My 95 bolt isn't so bad you'd notice it. What you will notice is a sore shoulder after 25-30 rounds. She hurts me but I love her just the same. And the "blond" wooden stock is beautiful. It checks out operationally, pick it up, it's a good rifle.

 

[B.D. Turner]

All the 95's I have seen looked nice and nearly unused. Where will you find ammo in the future?

 

[elmerfudd]

So what's the actual history on the 95? From what I've read they were Austrian and already out of favor by WW2 and were only in use with the police and rear guard type units. Did they ever see any real action?

 

[ROMAK IV]

The M-95 kicks because the surplus ammunition fires 200 gr. bullets. The fact that all were converted to carbines doesn't help, a longer heaviear barrel might have settled down the recoil a bit. They are interesting, even the ammunition is historic, although not useful for much other than plinking.

 

[tinroad37e]

I picked up one today. It's a Steyr and has a matching bolt and stock too. All the others had a electro-penciled bolt and the stock's original serial number was lined out and a new one added. They all said Hungary instead of Steyr.

 

[ArmedBear]

Hornady makes new hunting ammo for it.

Costs about the same as any other new average-power hunting ammo, maybe a couple bucks more per box of 20, i.e. not plinking-cheap. However, 20 rounds is all you want to shoot at a time anyway.

I'm guessing most are in good shape because they weren't used in combat. "Home guard" service in the hinterlands of Nazi-held territory, mostly, I think. It can be a touchy gun compared to the durable and ubiquitous 98 Mauser. Probably not shot much in training, either.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

OK guys I did some digging on the 1895. Here are some highlights;
Repetier-Geweher M1895
8X50r
Straight-pull action with two lugs on a detachable bolt head engaging the receiver.
4 groove rifling to the Right
620m/sec with M1893 Ball ammunition
M1895 Bayonet
They also have the following notes listed:
The M1895 barrel was prone to warping during rapid fire.
They came with a nose cap that also carried the stacking rod.(whatever that is)
Earliest conversions for the 8mm service cartridge seem to date from 1918
The M1895/24 Short Rifle was an adaptation of the standard 1895-pattern Mannlicher
Austria,Germany, Finland, The Netherlands and Siam all had some variation of the M1895, usually in 6.5X53R Bulgaria and Romania as well.
There is also a procedure for bolt disassembly that I'll post a little later if anyone is interested.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

Hey tinroad if you can get some pictures of the markings, I have a book that may help trace the origin of your rifle. No promises but I'll check it out for ya.

 

[ArmedBear]

Mine is 8x56 Hungarian. All the ones I've seen coming down the pike lately have been, also.

If you can get a 6.5x53, that's a good cartridge if you don't mind having to make 'em all yourself. Should recoil a tad less.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

ArmedBear, here's the skinny on the Hungarian Models:
Huzagol 35.M
Budapest 1936-42
8x56R
Turning bolt action with 2 lugs on a detachable bolt
Tangent Leaf site for 2000m
730m/sec with 31.M Ball ammunition
35.M Sword Bayonet
Notes:
1931 authorities adopted the 8mm rimmed to replace the old 8x50
Equipped with new back sights and a new front site protector
Service life was brief, as the adoption of the 35.M rifle caused the conversions (which suffred from prepetual extraction problems) to be withdrawn to store. Survivors were re-issued for service in 1940.
As far as German service for these rifles,it is surmised that the Mannlichers were aqquired to offset shortage of Mausers prior to 1914

 

[ArmedBear]

My carbine is Austrian.

My dog, however, is Hungarian.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

ArmedBear my book has nothing on Austrian makes in 8x56r in that time frame. However they did make all kind of Mannlicher action rifles in a bunch of calibers including .257 Roberts, .270 Win and 30-06 for hope of increasing American civlian interest as late as 1971, though it doesn't mention the M1895 specifically.
Production was halted on Mannlicher stuff in Austria-Hungary in 1940 for retooling to Kar.98k under German supervision (bet that was fun).
Though then it says sporting rifles were continued in small production until 1942.
Unfortunately I only have one reference to the M1895 so no doubt there are some gaps

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm not sure when mine was made. I'll have to see if I can find out.

It may well have been re-chambered for service in Hungary. Honestly, I haven't looked at it much; I just bought it because it came up for a good price and stashed it away. I do know that I wanted an Austrian rifle, so I looked for that on it when I bought it, and chose it over the others that were Hungarian-marked.

I guess I'll have to dig it out.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

Roger that Bear, I do have a couple of boxes of old gun books in the garage, I may have something there. I'll look this weekend. And I can put up the M1895 Bolt disassembly procedure at some point today. Look a little tricky.
Hungarian dog?

 

[AtticusThraxx]

Bear look for a large "H" stamped into receiver. Confirms Hungarian.

 

[ArmedBear]

Vizsla.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

Good doggy! Resembles my Senior Prom date a bit. No don't ask.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

OK ArmedBear, it was bugging me so I went out to garage and found my other books.
There are two versions of the 1895. The Austrian appeared in 1930 with the adoption of the Model 30 cartridge(8x56) The Model 30 was large rimmed with a pointed bullet-Spitzgeschoss- so a 12mm "S" was stamped on receiver to distingish from unconverted rifles.
These weapons we're used considerably by German police in WWII. and steel cased ammo dated 1938 and marked with Eagle or Swaztika can be found in quanity. In 1931 the 8x56 cartridge was adopted by Hungary who called it the M.3 1(Model 31). The Hungarians had large numbers of M95 "Stutzen" and converted many to the M.31. These weapons can be distingished by a large "H" stamped into receiver.
It should be noted that M95 rifles converted to M.31 (8X56) cannot be used with the old conical nosed 8x56. Although both are rimmed, the old 8x56 are considerably longer and more powerful. These cartridges are NOT interchangable.


Side note: to distingish between the M95 "Stutzen and the M95 carbine by the fact that the Stutzen had bayonet lug , swing swivels underneath as well as along side stock, and a stacking hook screwed into upper band.