I've been wanting a Swedish Mauser for decades and never bought one. Today, I was in Green Top in Richmond, Virginia and ran across this rifle. I couldn't pass her up. Except for the bolt release (numbered 877), all part have matching numbers (805). The bore is immaculate - shiny, with deep, sharp rifling, not a blemish to be seen. I suspect its been re-blued, because the finish is in remarkable condition, too. Can't wait to shoot it.

1899 M96/38 Swedish Mauser Short Rifle manufactured by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori.

You must love a Swede. It truly is the Mauser of Mausers! That is a fine example. And that 6.5x55, such a ballistic darling.

Datsa nice! Great photos as well. Congrats.

RMD

Thanks.

I need to buy some clips. Seems a shame to load it one round at a time.

Very nice.

quote:

Originally posted by Micropterus:
I need to buy some clips. Seems a shame to load it one round at a time.

Luckily, even though surplus 6.5 ammo has dried up, Swedish Mauser stripper clips are still plentiful and relatively cheap.

In fact, I use them in my USGI bolt rifles. They're easier to use, cheaper/easier to buy, and much more durable than M1903 stripper clips. And they work just fine with .30-06 in M1903s/M1917s.

(Unfortunately, other stripper clips, like 7.62 NATO clips for the M14 or 8mm Mauser clips for the 98 family, won't work in USGI bolt rifles.)

That'sanice!

Beautiful.
Congratulations.

Very great gun and my favorite caliber. Yes, darling indeed. Great score! Maybe I’ll poke my head in there tomorrow and see what they have

drool - one of those that I have my eyes out for those Swedes

Wow, nothing like starting out at the top of the shelf... Very, very nice. I have a later Swedish service rifle (AG42), and love the 6.5x55 round. I reload that Privi brass, and it seems of good quality, and the case dimensions are correct, unlike USA made 6.5x55.

BTW, if you don't already have an 03/C&R license, you might consider getting one... Just forget about putting any $$$ away on pay day, but many gun related companies will give you a nice discount with one.

Congrats on the acquisition of a nice clean example of the shortened long rifle!

I got most of my Swedes "back in the day" when So. Ohio Gun had bunches of the rifles.

Wound up with a 94 carbine (not from SOG), a long rifle, a 96/38, two 38's and an AG42. The only one that doesn't 100% match is the 96/38. It has an unnumbered (but Swedish crown proofed) safety. Maybe a unit armourer's replacement?

I suspect the blue on your rifle may well be Swedish arsenal applied. Most of mine look like yours (bright high polish blue on the barrel and receiver, showing little wear). I'm pretty sure that the importer didn't refurbish these firearms.

quote:

Originally posted by pillboxesghost:
I suspect the blue on your rifle may well be Swedish arsenal applied. Most of mine look like yours (bright high polish blue on the barrel and receiver, showing little wear). I'm pretty sure that the importer didn't refurbish these firearms.

I have been thinking the same - possibly applied when the barrel was shortened.

The one funky thing about is that the stock behind the bolt is contoured lower than the receiver tang. I notice on other examples it is flush with a groove cut for the bolt. Mine is contoured smooth leaving it a bit lower than the tang itself. It looks like the groove was once there and the stock was sanded down.

Very nice.
They are awesome rifles.
You will be duly impressed at the range.
I have two CG M96s and both are excellent shooters.

I don't think that rifle is an M96 cut down conversion to an M38. I think it's an original M38. The rear sight is original to the M38. The M96 cut downs has a rotary micrometer rear sight, and that was retained on the cut down M38's.

http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/a...les_se/rifles_se.htm


There are two types of the m/38 rifle:

Type one (1) m/38 rifles are made from old m/96 rifles
These are manufactured by Carl Gustaf or by Mauser. 
They have the same straight bolt handle as the m/96 rifle. 
They have the same rear sight as the m/96 rifle, but with 
an inserted nickel-plated SM micrometer sight m/38. 
*The m/38 SM sight goes from 250 to 600 metres, the elevation 
         knob is stamped with "3", "4", "5" and "6". 
         The sight is calibrated for the m/94 ogival (blunt) ammunition.

Type two (2) m/38 rifles are made as m/38 rifles
These are manufactured by Husqvarna
They could have either the same straight bolt handle as 
the m/96 rifle, or the turned down bolt handle of 
the m/94 carbine. 
They both have leaf sights, either for the m/94 ogival (blunt) 
bullet, or for the m/41 torped (pointed) bullet. 
*The sight for the m/94 cartridge can be adjusted, in 50m 
 steps, from 100 to 600 metres. 
            This sight got a rectangular notch. 
*The sight for the m/41 cartridge can be adjusted, in 50m
 steps, from 150 to 600 metres. The ladder is stamped "2", 
          "3", "4", "5" and "6".
          This sight is marked with a "T", it got a U-shaped notch.

quote:

Originally posted by Micropterus:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by pillboxesghost:
I suspect the blue on your rifle may well be Swedish arsenal applied. Most of mine look like yours (bright high polish blue on the barrel and receiver, showing little wear). I'm pretty sure that the importer didn't refurbish these firearms.

I have been thinking the same - possibly applied when the barrel was shortened. [\QUOTE]

While I'm no expert, I can't see it being an original M38. The receiver it stamped 1899. As far as I can determine, guns built as M38s were made by Husqvarna from 1938 on.

Now, the rear sight my be a Husqvarna rear sight, since it has the tilted crown stamped on it. From what I've learned, Carl Gustav-produced parts have an upright crown, and Husqvarna-produced parts have a tilted crown.

I understand that after WWII, most of these rifles were retrofitted with different rear sights with a U notch. This has that U notch.

https://www.milsurps.com/conte...h-Mauser-Short-Rifle

My biggest problem with this rifle is - I want another one. This rifle is tight, nothing rattles, and frankly it looks like it has scarcely been shot.

Looks good I think you will enjoy it. That is a Type 1 M38 the barrel was shortened decades ago.

The rear sight and the bolt firing pin head are Husqvarna because of tilted crown. They had to change the rear sight to match the trajectory for the barrel length and newer loads.

quote:

The one funky thing about is that the stock behind the bolt is contoured lower than the receiver tang. I notice on other examples it is flush with a groove cut for the bolt. Mine is contoured smooth leaving it a bit lower than the tang itself. It looks like the groove was once there and the stock was sanded down.

It is also missing some wood at the forward forearm bottom. The metal here is flush or below the wood on the Husky M38s. But this is not that unusual from the converted M96 / M38 from what I've seen.

Wiki info is

The original m/1938 rifles (Type I) were converted m/1896 rifles with barrels cut down by 5.5" (139mm) and almost always with the original straight bolt handles. These rifles are often referred to by collectors as "m/96-38" rifles, but there was never an official designation for this conversion. The majority of purpose-built m/1938s (Type II) had turned-down bolt handles and were manufactured by Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB, with production ending in 1944. However, the Swedish military made no distinction in service between the two types.

quote:

Originally posted by Micropterus:
While I'm no expert, I can't see it being an original M38. The receiver it stamped 1899. As far as I can determine, guns built as M38s were made by Husqvarna from 1938 on.

Yea, I don't know how I missed that. I have an original Husqvarna m38.

Groovy.

Friend of mine has one his grandfather brought out of an old barrel in a Texas hardware store; said it cost $29.00. He allowed me to shoot a few rounds through it a while back. Simply awesome rifle. And yes; now I want one!

Sweet!!