M96 Swedish long Rifle by Carl Gustafs……SOLD

A very good Model 1896 Long Rifle By The Carl Gustafs Arms Factory

This is a very good example of the Swedish M96 in standard issue form.  The rifle is 51″ in length including the muzzle break which is in place on the barrel.  The barrel is 29″ in length.  Trigger pull length is 13.3/4″. The M96 is chambered in 6.5 x 55mm.

 The matching serial number is 461362 and is marked on the receiver wall.  This number puts production in the last part of 1918.  Adjacent to this number are the initials of the factory inspector who released the rifle as fit for service and they are “H.K” for Helge Gustaf Ludvig Kolthoff who was at the factory from 1912 to 1923.  The top of the receiver is marked with the Swedish Crown and then the Carl Gustafs emblem. underneath it reads “CARL GUSTAFS STADS  /  GEVARSFACTORI  / 1918.”

The receiver and action are still in their original blued finish and in good condition.  The bolt is finished in the white – basically in a polished steel state.  All the components that go to make up the bolt are numbered with the last three digits of the serial number.  The bolt release catch at the rear LHS of the action is also number so, and displays some nice case colour hardening.  The magazine follower is finished in the white and has a clear Swedish Crown inspection mark centrally stamped.

The rifle is stocked in the local Red Beech that the Sweeds’ used when other supplies were exhausted.  It is unmarked but in excellent condition and shows few signs of damage or rough usage.  It has a hand guard on top of the barrel around the sights and has ginger grooves on the fore-end.  The last  14.1/2″ of the barrel are left exposed and secured with a mid length barrel band which incorporates the forward sling swivel.  The front end is secured by the nose-cap  which allows storage of the full length cleaning rod and has a stud for fixing of the bayonet.  Both these fittings are blued and numbered as before to the rifle.

The magazine floor plate and trigger guard are blued but are loosing their finish, the floor plate being numbered, and removable.  Both carry the Swedish crown inspection mark.  There is a rear sling swivel and a steel butt-plate, the upper tang of which is numbered as before.  The trigger actually carries a nice degree of blue, these are normally fairly worn by action of the corrosive properties of sweaty fingers!   On the RHS of the butt is the circular brass barrel condition disk, marked up to give information on accuracy of this particular weapon.

The action works perfectly, cycles smoothly and generally is a pleasure to use.  The bore is in excellent condition.  The use of non-corrosive ammunition by the Swedish military has helped keep these rifles in really tip top condition.  The only component that does not match on this weapon is the cleaning rod, which is numbered to another rifle.  The rear sights of this M96, although very basic are a work of art in themselves.  The main spring is beautifully nitre-blued, every component is numbered and they work perfectly smoothly.  They either function as a simple open “U-shaped” notch when lying down, or by using the ramp which is graduated  from 3 to 600 hundred meters.  Or, in the upright position graduated from 700 to 2000 meters.

Most people who appreciate a well made items are going to enjoy this rifle, for a very long time.  Lets face it, it has lasted since 1918, it looks as if it will outlast an awful lot of us! and still carry on doing its job as effortlessly as ever.

Stock No’  f 397

Sold

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