M1896 Gevar Swedish Mauser by Carl Gustafs….(f 724) SOLD
Created on July 3rd 2018
Excellent M96 long rifle (Gevar) dated 1909
While I was photographing this fine example of an M96 a headline passed through my mind; “Man Claims 98 year old Rifle as good as it was on the Day it was Sold !” Unfortunately, being this day and age, it is almost impossible to make wild claims like that ! Somebody would ask me to prove it. I just wonder however! Put this up against a modern bolt action Mauser or copy of such, in the same calibre. How would it do? Obviously the person on the trigger would have to be a far better shot than I, but I just wonder how it would do? The thing is 98 years old for God’s sake. What other machines, produced that long ago, are in such wonderful condition. How many would perform as well as this will – without doubt! Just a thought!
What have we here? One highly original, intact, as issued Model 1896 Gevar. This is the long rifle, infantry model in 6.5 x 55mm built by the Swedish Arms factory Carl Gustafs in 1909. A superb Mauser actioned bolt action which cocks on closing. Bright finished, straight armed bolt with Mauser flag safety system. The rifle takes five rounds in its internal magazine. The whole rifle has matching numbers and the correct horizontally placed Swedish Crown acceptance marks. This indicates that any un-numbered parts have the correct mark for the Carl Gustafs plant.
Excellent full length walnut stock with finger groves. The stock is in great condition and just as would be expected from a life of army use. There are no splits or shakes in the timber and overall it retains a splendid degree of pleasing patina. The timber is unstained – with this rifle you get what you can see. Fitted to the rear end is the contoured steel butt plate which carries the correct last three digits of the serial number “214” on the top tang. The RHS of the butt has the brass bore condition disc set into the centre. The rear sling swivel is mounted under butt. The handguard and sight protector shows signs that it has been with the rifle since day one with a scratch which aligns on both components.
Built to standard specifications; Overall length is 49.1/2″. The round blued barrel is approximately 29″ long. The trigger Pull is 14″ to center. For a long rifle this example feels light and manoeuvrable. The receiver is marked as follows; “Swedish Crown and CG monogram / CARL GUSTAFS STADS / GEVARSFAKTORI / 1909″ The outer action sidewall has the initials “J.V.” and then the full serial number “242214” Research shows the serial number out of the Gustafs factory as slap bang in the middle of 1909. To help back this up, the inspectors initials are for Paul Jaques Virgin who served as Bestningsofficer at that plant from 1905 until 1911. Interestingly he then went on to hold the position of Director of the company from1911 until 1933. The bright finished bolt carries all the correct matching components and is superbly smooth in operation.
There are strong remains of the excellent nitra-blue finish on components like the rear sight spring and the bolt release catch. All the finish to the blued parts appears to be the original and is only starting to thin. The actual exposed section of the barrel still carries a strong finish, apart from the step down at the muzzle, which would have come about from the use of the steel bayonet. The cleaning rod stored under the barrel, in the fore-end is in the white but bares the number of another rifle – this is the norm’. Stepped ladder ramp sights to rear graduated in the flat position from 300 to 600 meters. When in the volley fire position it has graduations from 600 to 2000 meters. If the sight is flipped forward beyond its normal operational position it is clearly stamped with the last three digits of the rifle’s serial number.
The underside of the stock shows twin Carl Gustafs Swedish crowns stamped in under the straight-grip wrist. Found in the USA, imported by Sword & Musket. Stripped, cleaned proofed and re-assembled ready to take its place in any military rifle collection. The action is smooth and the bore is clean. This rifle will encourage the new keeper to return to his roots as regards his basic shooting skills and rekindle his (or her) love of basic considered shooting.
Stock No’ f 724
£ 795. (SOLD)
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