Swede M38 question/pricing

[jefnvk]

Ok, found a Swede M38 today. Now, I didn't really need this to waltz into my life right now, but I have been wanting a little brother for my M96.

A couple questions:

1) This one ahd a straight bolt. I understand they were made with both straight and bent bolts, correct?

2) This had a dial rear sight. You spun a brass knob to change elevation instead of sliding the bar back and forth. Correct, right?

3) This had a threaded barrel. Did they do this to the M38's as well, or did someone do this to attach teh flash hider that was on it (know Sarco or Samco or someone sells flash hiders that go onto the blank adapter threads, don't think this was a bubba job).

OH, all matching too, stock is unknown though, didn't take it apart.


Asking $250, feel I can probably get him to $200. I think that is a decent price, am I right?

 

[JohnKSa]

The true model 38 rifles should have a bent bolt. The 96/38 rifles had straight bolts. Of course, there's not really anything preventing someone (including an armorer) from putting a straight bolt on a true 38.

Looking at the date will help clear things up, but not completely since the 96 rifle production overlapped the 38s IIRC.

There were several types of rear sight. The standard 38 had a sliding bar rear sight marked with a "T". However, the rear sight you describe is not an aftermarket sight, it is one of the variants that is often seen on the rifles. It is considered to be a bit more desirable by some.

I've seen both 38 and 96 rifles with and without threaded muzzles.

The price is decent for these days, assuming the condition is reasonable.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Yep, the price is decent...these days. I'd be very curious about that straight bolt. Is it serial numbered to the rest of the rifle? I have seen a few 38's (that began life as 38's) with straight bolts. Some 96's were reworked, but not many.

The sights, as John said, can be a mixed bag. Sounds like it has good ones. I like the micro sights, myself, although none of my Swedes have them. I intend to find one that does, though.

I've seen the 'flash hiders' that were commonly sold as accessories a few years ago. I never thought much of them, myself. At one time there were 'thread protectors/covers' that were included to cover the threads that held on the blank -firing device. None of my Swedes have the threads.

If nothing else, it won't depreciate if you decide to buy it.

From Samco Global's site-
Swedish Mauser M38 Short Rifle Cal. 6.5X 55 INFANTRY Model



Manufactured by Husqvarna, Fixed box 5 round magazine. Square-top blade front sight, "U-notch" rear adjustable from 100 to 600 meters. Horizontal bolt handle was used by the Infantry. Each rifle has a brass marking disc buttstock.

Barrel: 23.6"
Overall: 44.1"


Husqvarna Mfg. very good: $329.95 Straight Bolt: $309.95
Bent Bolt: $329.95




Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[jefnvk]

Yeah, numbered to the gun. Everything with the potential exception of the stock matched. It was a CG 1915, so John's prediction seems a possibility.

 

[cracked butt]

The typical 96/38 conversions had metallverken rear sight adaptors that adjust from 300-600 meters. These adaptors were a civillian improvement on the mauser 96 sights and were adopted by the military on earlier conversions. Later M38 rifles had a standardized rear sight slider. There ar eat least 3 different versions of the 'improved' sight' 2 of which have sight graduations starting at around 300 meters, but for different types of ammunition, and another with sight graduations that started at 100 meters, the latter most likely being a civillian only sight adaptor. There is also a dial adjusted sight called the M-55 found on M41 and M41B snipers- these are a completely different sight unto themselves, not merely an adapted M96 sight.

M-55 sight


I know of a few places used to sell Metallverken sights for around $15-20, but I've seen them on auctions go for north of $50.

JohnKSA pretty much covered the bolt dilema, just make sure the bolt is numbered to the receiver- the bolts were always numbered to the receiver, even if the old serial number were ground off and stamped over, other unnumbered replacement bolts had the matching number electropenciled on by Swedish armorers (the font is dot matrix-ish, very similar to Century Arms new 'billboard' import marking).

As for the threaded muzzle- the Swedes did thread some of the M38s and M96/38s for the wooden bullet shredder attachment.

$250 sounds like a great deal, $200 sounds like a steal. Good luck

 

[coinshooter]

I have true 1928 short rifle an it has a different sight. and bent bolt it should have a year of manufacture on it.

 

[mustanger98]

My understand about the M38's bolt handle is...

Infantry= straight

Cavalry= bent

I saw that back when Samco had both versions of M38.

 

[JohnKSa]

coinshooter,

If your rifle is original, it's probably an 1894, an 1894/96, or an 1894/14. They were made as late as 1929.

jefnvk,

If your gun is dated 1915 and has a straight bolt, it's a 96/38. Production of the model 38 didn't start until 1941. Other than the straight bolt, there's no practical difference between a 96/38 and a 38.

cracked butt,

The sight he's describing is a bit different. I've seen pictures but I can't remember the designation. It looks a good bit more like a standard sight than the M55 does, but with a brass adjustment wheel that sits on top of the middle of the rear ramp. I've seen a few but they've always been very badly worn.

Here's a decent sight that has pictures and descriptions of various Swedes.

House of Karlina

 

[cracked butt]

John and others: I just posted the picture to show what it should not look like.

The Metallverken sight is simply a brass inset that goes into the rear sight leaf.

After doing a seach, I found an example of a metallverken sight here:

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=109780

 

[jefnvk]

CB, thats the sight.

So it is a 96 converted to a 38. And if I can talk him to $200, it'll probably be mine. Thanks for the help!

Huh, also just realized that the SN's of it and my 96 are only a few thousand apart, both having been made in 1915.

 

[JohnKSa]

That's the one I was thinking of, but that's in BEAUTIFUL condition. I've never seen one that nice... (Why isn't there a drool icon?)