Carl Gustafs M96 Infantry Rifle……………(f 576) SOLD
Created on November 7th 2016
Swedish Model 1896 Long Rifle for Infantry
Of standard specification for infantry. Chambered in 6.5 x 55 with 5-shot internal magazine. The straight arm bolt has a flag-safety and cocks on closing. All the main composite parts of the bolt are numbered with the last three digits of the serial number. The rifles serial number is “385132” inscribed on the outside of the action wall next to the factory inspectors initials. These are “H.K.” for Helge Kolthoff. The receiver is marked on the top of the receiver with the “Swedish crown over “C.G.” logo / CARL GUSTAFS STADS / GEVARSFAKTORI / 1916.” The serial number corresponds with records indicating production in 1916. A little over 30,000 rifles were produced that year by the Gustafs Weapons Factory. The action is blued and still in fine condition as is the barrel. The exposed section of the barrel in front of the hand-guard has a few minor blotches to it, but none that have penetrated the bluing as such.
This full length M96 Infantry rifle measures 49.1/2″ in length. The round blued barrel is approximately 29.1/4″ in length and has a stepped-down muzzle for the bayonet. The trigger pull is 14″ to center. For a rifle of its age it is in very good condition both cosmetically and internally where the bore appears immaculate. Sights graduated from 3 to 600 meters laying down with open “U” notch sight picture. In the upright position the ladder sights are graduated from 700 to 2000 meters with a smaller open “V” sight picture. Interestingly, the “V” is slightly offset to the left to compensate for bullet drift. The front sight is a simple tapered blade on a block.
All components on the rifle are correctly marked with matching numbers. The stock is a full length design which leaves the last four inches of the barrel exposed. There is a half length barrel guard over the barrel that surrounds the rear sights. The fore-end has finger grooves on either side which run along just over 7″ of its length and are situated below the rear sight. The wrist of the stock is straight and not fractured in any way. Fairly unusually the timber appears to be a European Elm for both components. Elm is a particularly hard wearing timber with water resistant properties. In the RHS of the butt-stock is the circular bore condition disk secured by a single screw. Between the bore condition disk and the steel butt-plate is a rectangular patch of discoloured timber with four tiny round-headed brass pins in each corner. The bore condition disc details the performance of the Torped (boat tailed ammunition) in this particular rifle barrel. Rear sling swivel fixed under the butt-stock. Front swivel part of the mid-band.
The bolt as mentioned earlier is finished in the white and polished. The polishing has protected the surface from the corrosion normally associated with any area of contact with the human hand or skin. The cleaning rod (full length) is stowed under the barrel, through the fore-end nose cap – it is also finished in the white. All the stock fittings and ancillary components have the last three digits of the serial number impressed into them with the exception of the trigger guard and the magazine floor plate. All the parts of the rear sight assembly are also marked up to this rifle. All parts except the magazine floor plate have the horizontally applied Swedish crown acceptance mark. The fact that the magazine floor plate has its crown applied at a 45 degree angle indicates it was inspected at the Husqvarna plant. We can therefore conclude that all the parts on this rifle except the above have remained with the rifle since 1916 when the rifle was originally produced.
The action is typically smooth to operate and the bore is very clean. Strong rifling, no misting or pitting. These rifles have a reputation, well earned, for accuracy; there is no reason, especially with the slight increase in weight from the Elm stock, that this one should not comply. Freshly London proofed in 2016.
Ask for Stock No’ f 576
£ 725. SOLD
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