Posted on 12/10/2015 10:13:39 PM PST by MileHi
In 1938, the Swedish M96 long rifle had been in service for 42 years and the M94 cavalry carbine for 44 years. Despite the fact most of Sweden's European neighbors continued to deploy similar rifles, largely based on the similar Mauser 98 action, Sweden's artillery officers who controlled armaments development could not help but notice that the trend was towards a shorter, intermediate length rifle such as the German Karabiner 98k. The issue M96 long rifle, on the other hand, had more in common with the Gewehr 98 of the First World War than the sleeker and handier Karabiner. Additionally, the 1930's brought the concept of mechanized infantry to the forefront of military thinking. Troops operating from vehicles found the M96 too long and awkward to be practical, and the M94 was not available in great enough numbers given the number of weapons still required by the cavalry.
Swedish ordnance engineers came up with a cost effective alternative and in 1937 they adopted the M38 Swedish Mauser. The M38 was constructed by reconfiguring existing M96 long rifles. The barrel was shortened and the front sight base moved back to suit. The stock was also shortened and the front band spring and barrel band were accordingly moved back. The straight bolt handle was retained. Between 1938 and 1940, 55,080 M96 rifles were converted at the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori, and under contract at Husqvarna Vapensfabriks AB.
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Have a 1916 Spanish Mauser from the lot that came in in the early to mid 90’s all matching numbers. They were rebarrelled to 308 CETME.
Yeah. 7.62x51, but .308 not so much. They are serviceable.
Is it 1898 and earlier weapons that can be sold online without background checks?
Or 1899?!
Not sure
That is one that’s on the list of rifles that I’d like to have. I’ve had more than a few, am interested mostly in WWII or earlier military rifles, and I’ve never heard anyone speak ill of the rifle or cartridge. Many call it the ideal cartridge for the job, and many hunting jobs as well.
One day, perhaps.
I use basically “starting loads” with it to not stress the action and its been great. Very accurate with the artillery sites. No factory loads ever but I confess when I first got it I shot some old PMC surplus in it.
Excellent workmanship on the rebarrel with excellent headspace. Somebody knew what they were doing.
I redid the stock with Birchwood Casey Tung Oil finish after pulling the Cosmoline out of the stock with “Whiting”.
Pre-1899 antiques are outside federal jurisdiction (except perhaps NFA weapons such as machine guns and short barrels, etc.).
Although your State and local laws may vary, any firearm with a frame or receiver that actually made before Jan. 1, 1899 is legally “antique” and not considered a “firearm” under Federal law.
They are excellent little rifles. The 6.5 is ballistic perfection perhaps, without beating up the shooter.
My buddy has one of those. It is an excellent shooter. Cheap ammo and very accurate. Way better fit and finish than other mil-surp rifles of this style. I think he paid 59 bucks at a big 5 decades ago.
Good to know. Thanks.
Ah, the good old days. See what an M38 fetches these days...
There you go. The later bent bolt is my favorite. The bayonet and frog are a nice accessory.
Hope folks find the linked info interesting. Check back tomorrow...
And that’s why I wish I had one instead of having the deep satisfaction of knowing that a nice example was in the safe.
I’ve been away from the firearms biz for a long time, and haven’t really kept up on acquisitions like I did when I was single. I almost fainted when I priced a Blue Sky import M-1 Carbine for a buddy the other day.
Oh, well. I did have an interesting experience at an indoor shooting range recently. Computerized check-in, damn whippersnappers running the range (like I did when I was a damn whippersnapper) and the way they looked at me when they checked out my shooting irons and were impressed that they were...iron.
I think they were admiring my taste in “classic” hardware. I didn’t give in to my inner old coot and gruffly point out that I’d picked at least a couple as state of the art defensive tools.
Still would love to have one of those Swedish Mausers. Maybe one will show up at a price I can’t pass up.
Swedish mouser.
I never used an M38, but got an M96 for $75 once. I went home and loaded up some ammo, took it out to the woods, set a target up at 100 yards, and leaning on the back of my truck shot a sub 1 inch group with the first three shots. Now that’s a rifle. I gave it to one of my kids who has probably never used it.
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