I've researched this topic quite extensively when I first came across the Tradeex site, and think that the M96 rifles can make an amazing platform so long as you do your homework before taking the plunge. Here's my summation for all that it's worth.
For starters, the guns currently coming from Sweden to Canada and the US stems from a law that they passed several years ago limiting hunters and shooters with a normal firearms licence from owning more than five firearms at a time. With a rate of firearms ownership in Scandanavian countries that compares to Canada and is perhaps only exceeded by the US, that's created quite the surplus of firearms that many owners have had to unload whenever they want to purchase a more modern rifle.
As to the rifles that Tradeex is carrying, their quality, value and collectibility depends upon several variables. The Husqvarnas were commercially produced sporting rifles made at the factory from new recievers, sometimes off of the same production line going into their military rifles. They are the most collectable and very well made. Second to them, companies like Stiga (which still produces other sporting goods but no firearms) took surplus M96 recievers after the war and used them as the basis for their sporting rifles. Since the recievers were not new when these rifles were put together, they are slightly less desirable than the Huskys though I doubt that that matters to most people who'd use them. Finally we get into the various sporters made by out of surplus military rifles, sometimes even retaining the stepped barrels, using cut down military stocks or aftermarket ones. though some of those rifles can shoot very well, their quality varies much like that which exists between the various Lee Enfield sporters that are out there.
For a modern Canadian hunter wanting a nice bolt gun in 6.5x55, there are a few things to look for in these rifles. For starters, the design of the M96 bolt even in its commercial form does not lend well to offering clearance for a scope, and sometimes a bit of work is required to make weaver type bases fit onto the rear of the reciever. Many older rifles used the side mount, that while highly collectable when available on the rifle, nevertheless put the scope higher than most modern shooters would find desirable. Many of these side mounts have also long since been taken off the rifles, leaving some unsightly holes in the side of the reciever.
For more conventional scope mounting, the Swedes did a couple of things. Firstly, many just mounted weaver bases and used AimPoint sights that were made in Sweden and did not extend behind the bolt handle. Another alternative was to use see-through mounts of the sort on Pharoh's rifle, which also sit the scope a bit higher than desirable. The third alternative, which in my opinion is the most desirable, involves the installation of Weaver type bases, bending of the bolt, and usually the installation of a side or low-swing safety, which allows the rifle to be used with a scope just like any modern sporting arm. Thus it is very important to pay attention to the description of each rifle when choosing amongst them.
The other consideration with the commercial Husqvarnas is the stock. The Swedes made some very ergonomically handy and light stocks for these rifles, but there's a few caveats. They were very tightly fitted and have developed a tendency to form hairline cracks at the tang and behind the triggerguard. It is important to relieve some space there, and almost mandatory that you consider glass bedding the action in order to prevent cracking. In those cases where hairline cracks are present, they can be repaired fairly easily with the same materials that you'll need to bed the action, so it's worth inquiring or asking for pictures when the stock's described as cracked, since the rifle might still be worth the trouble.
And lets not forget Bubba. While most of the rifles at Tradeex have had their bolts professionally altered, you do get the odd rifle that's been somewhat crudely modified. The Swedes seemed to have had a rather utilititarian attitude towards their hunting rifles, usually doing a very good job of cleaning the barrels and keeping the rifles functional, but on the otherhand were not averse to cutting notches or putting tacks on their rifles to record how much game they shot, or electropenciling their names into visible areas on the reciever, mag plate etc. Consequently, each rifle is an entity of their own.
Sadly, I have yet had the opportunity to fire the few M96 rifles that I've purchased from Tradeex, since my first attempts at bedding needed to be redone (I've bought Acraglass Gel for my second try, having found the normal mixture a bit too runny) and it took some time for me to get the reloading equipment for the two 9.3x57 and one 9.3x62 rifles that I've acquired. The 6.5x55 in a commercial Husqvarna configuration is a rarer varient, with perhaps 20-30 000 made in that calibre. I got one last year with Weaver mounts and a modified bolt handle to clear a scope, and look forward to trying her this summer after I bed her (she came with a hair crack at the tang that I've already repaired with Acraglass). I'll be posting more info here and at Gunboards.com, where their forum on Swedish civilian/commercial sporting rifles provided me with excellent information.
So in short, the older rifles at Tradeex can provide the source of much pleasure in the woods, be that with a 6.5, 8mm, or one of the 9.3mm rounds that are excellent for many applications on deer, bear and moose in many of the environments and terrain found here in Canada. Anthony has been most helpful when it comes to sending pictures or explaining more whenever I've needed more information, and is generally very conservative when rating the condition of the rifles that he sells. Depending on your tastes and what you want from these rifles will fundamentally decide whether you'll go for one of the older ones or pick up a newer Tikka, which is definitely a decent rifle in its own right.
With Regards,
Frank
PS. The Gunboards.com site recently went through a clean up that got rid of most of their older posts about these rifles, which was really unfortunate. Nevertheless it is regularly visited by several posters who are expert on most aspects of these rifles who'll happily answer any further questions. For instance, I owe it to one of them who determined that my rifle with "9.3mm" listed on the barrel was one of a special run of 229 made in 1942 in 9.3x62, NOT 9.3x57 which is what I thought it was. I probably saved about $100 off the price of the rifle as a result, though I'm glad that I discovered it before firing it!
confused
