Recently picked up these two guns at auction after long years of searching for an example of either. A Hungarian Mannlicher 35M and 43M, both in pretty decent shape. They're pretty neat rifles, basically updates of the same Mannlicher turnbolt used in the Dutch and Romanian models, but converted to #### on close and with an M95 straight pull style cocking piece. They use an Enfield style 2 piece stock, since Hungary lost most of their good wood producing lands in 1919. They also use an interesting Lebel-style bayonet mounting system, although I unfortunately don't have the bayonet (or $700 to spend on one just now!) They're also somewhat unique in that their main serial number is stamped in very large numbers on the buttplate, which if nothing else would have made reading it easy!
The 35M is chambered in 8 x 56mm (same as the rechambered M95 straight pulls found pretty commonly) and uses a Mannlicher magazine. Mine was made in 1940 and matches, although its missing the front lower sling swivel and spring for the rear sight leaf. These were the main front-line rifle for Hungary in WW2 and would have been used by their troops in Yugoslavia and Russia, through to the near-destruction of the 2nd Army outside Stalingrad. There were about 185000 made between 1938 and either 1941 or 1943, depending on which source you read.
The 43M is chambered in 8 x 57mm Mauser and uses a Mauser type magazine. They're a result of the Hungarians building a rifle on contract for the Germans (the G98/40) which was basically a 35M in 8mm Mauser with a Mauser magazine and German style fittings. The Hungarians, after Stalingrad and increasingly dependent on the Germans decided to simplify their logistics by adopting a similar rifle, but with Hungarian fittings. There were 91500 made between 1943 and 1945 (and possibly 1947-48 again depending on source). These aren't dated, but serial number puts mine in late 1944. It's complete and in slightly nicer shape, though it has a G98/40 bolt.
The 35M on top with a clip of 8 x 56, and a 43M with a clip of 8 x 57.
Markings on both - interstingly they stopped with the factory marking on the 43M, which makes sense since there was only one to begin with. They also stopped dating the acceptance stamp and replaced it with a larger and more detailed Hungarian crest.
The C series on the 35M equates to 1940. The 43M is more of an estimate since they stopped marking the year but generally believed to be 1944. They were actually sending them right from the factory to the front lines during the Soviet siege of Budapest in 1945.
Interestingly the 43M's bolt knob is flat like the Kar 98a and not round like the Kar 98K, which I would expect.
The muzzle end of both is identical, although they should both have front sight have front sight protectors they're almost always missing.
Rear receiver of both, you can see the 43M's thumb cutout and stripper clip guides.
Cool loaded indicator on the 35M - with a fully loaded clip a tab on the magazine follower sticks out of the clip ejection port.
The 35M is chambered in 8 x 56mm (same as the rechambered M95 straight pulls found pretty commonly) and uses a Mannlicher magazine. Mine was made in 1940 and matches, although its missing the front lower sling swivel and spring for the rear sight leaf. These were the main front-line rifle for Hungary in WW2 and would have been used by their troops in Yugoslavia and Russia, through to the near-destruction of the 2nd Army outside Stalingrad. There were about 185000 made between 1938 and either 1941 or 1943, depending on which source you read.
The 43M is chambered in 8 x 57mm Mauser and uses a Mauser type magazine. They're a result of the Hungarians building a rifle on contract for the Germans (the G98/40) which was basically a 35M in 8mm Mauser with a Mauser magazine and German style fittings. The Hungarians, after Stalingrad and increasingly dependent on the Germans decided to simplify their logistics by adopting a similar rifle, but with Hungarian fittings. There were 91500 made between 1943 and 1945 (and possibly 1947-48 again depending on source). These aren't dated, but serial number puts mine in late 1944. It's complete and in slightly nicer shape, though it has a G98/40 bolt.
The 35M on top with a clip of 8 x 56, and a 43M with a clip of 8 x 57.
Markings on both - interstingly they stopped with the factory marking on the 43M, which makes sense since there was only one to begin with. They also stopped dating the acceptance stamp and replaced it with a larger and more detailed Hungarian crest.
The C series on the 35M equates to 1940. The 43M is more of an estimate since they stopped marking the year but generally believed to be 1944. They were actually sending them right from the factory to the front lines during the Soviet siege of Budapest in 1945.
Interestingly the 43M's bolt knob is flat like the Kar 98a and not round like the Kar 98K, which I would expect.
The muzzle end of both is identical, although they should both have front sight have front sight protectors they're almost always missing.
Rear receiver of both, you can see the 43M's thumb cutout and stripper clip guides.
Cool loaded indicator on the 35M - with a fully loaded clip a tab on the magazine follower sticks out of the clip ejection port.
