Swedish M/96 Full length Military Rifle…………………..(f 518)

A good Swedish Model 1896 Long Rifle

This Swedish M96 is correctly chambered in 6.5 x 55.  It operates on the classic, tried and tested Mauser bolt system.  It has a 5-shot internal magazine, a straight arm bolt with flag safety to rear.  In military stock and hand-guard as originally issued.  The rifle is 1260mm in length.  The round blued barrel is 740mm long and the trigger pull is 350mm to center.

The stocks are close grained walnut with finger grooves on either side measuring 185mm in length.  The stock is in good shape for a rifle with an age of 112 years.  There the usual bumps and dents associated with military use but no breakages or splits.  RHS of the butt-stock has the chart for the changes needed for the heavier bullet and a unit disk marker.  Being marked as follows;- “L _I.17   /   No 30C   /  No 140”  The interesting part for the collector is the “L”  This means “Landstormen” attached to the “I”  17th Infantry Division.  The Landstormen were the equivalent of a militia or territorial defence force.

The receiver is marked with the “Swedish Crown over the (Carl Gustafs) C.G  logo  /  CARL GUSTAFS STADS  /  GEVARSFAKTORI  / 1904″.    The action outer wall is marked with the factory inspectors initials for that time; “K.B.”  This was Konrad Berglund a Captain in the 5th Artillery Regiment whilst attached to the factory.  The correct serial number for the year 1904 appears next to the initials; “146641.”  The last three digits are repeated on all the usual components over the rifle, except for the flag safety, the cocking piece and the bolt shroud.  This smacks of  someone in the armoury picking up the wrong part in assembly at some stage.  Somewhere out there is a rifle with the same parts marked “641”  I’d like to meet him !!  It adds to the theory when you notice the number on the bolt handle is “641”  !!  The bolt is finished in the white s is the extractor.  The full length cleaning rod (unnumbered) stowed under the barrel is also in the white.

The balance of the rifle is all blued and it appears to be the original finish with no re-finishing over at any location,  The finish is worn with some few scratches and dents.  The walnut stock has a fine patina with the natural colour of the timber showing through.  The butt-plate has been reduced to having no colour but  has the correct three digits upon the tang.  The muzzle is stepped down to accept the steel bayonet.  The stock is equipped with two sling swivels front and rear.  The rear sights are a ramp / ladder type with a vivid nitra-blue spring so typical of the era.  The sight has an open “U” type when in the down position and is graduated from 300 to 600 meters.  When upright the ladder is graduated from 700 meters to  an enthusiastic 2000 meters.  When folded forward it is possible to see the correct serial numbers on the rear of the sliding elevator.  The  ladder is marked with a clear Swedish crown acceptance mark.  All the crowns upon this gun are in the horizontal which is correct for the Carl Gustafs factory.

The bore is in very good condition with strong deep, uninterrupted rifling.  It is clean with sharp edges.  For its age it is really quite remarkable.  The action is fine and the bolt will bounce back quite strongly from the cocked position if you lift the handle and let it, indicating a strong firing pin spring.  There are two crown inspectors marks on the stock behind the trigger guard.  Altogether this is a fine example of a very old rifle which has just passed UK proof and is ready to shoot again.  A mainstay of military rifle collecting and a fiercely accurate caliber within an excellent tried and tested action.  The quality of the engineering that has gone into this ” battle rifle” is quite beyond the norm.  The feel of the action speaks volumes of the expertise that went into these effective, accurate rifles.  It is a testament to the stead that the Swedish Mauser was held in that Sweden has stayed out of two World Wars and a Cold one as well.

Stock No’   f 518

£ 795.

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