Is it just me or are M38 Swedes becoming exceedingly rare?

[Eaglelord17]

The "real" 1940s produced M38s with bent bolts made by Husqvarna are quite scarce. Grabbed mine a few months back for $450. Steal of a deal. Ammo is hard to find and pricy, unfortunately.

The M96 long rifle and converted M96/38 are much more common as others have stated.

The M38 was intended to have a straight bolt handle, Husqvarna asked to be allowed to use the bent bolts they were already producing in the rifle as opposed to it being a requirement, hence why there are both straight bolt M38s and bent bolt M38s.

To me the M38 isn't rare, I would even argue they are common. Plenty of them out there, simply many don't want to sell them (like many common rifles in Canada). The M96 tends to be a easier sell for people with its longer length, not as many people interested in using a rifle almost as tall as they are. To me the availability of all surplus has dropped significantly in recent years even though the supply has increased for some of it.

 

[fat tony]

If you want a shooter why not get one of the bubba m96's and modify? You can't screw up these m96 bubbas. Things can only improve. If collector then disregard.

 

[Philthy1]

Many of the M96 sporters are very fine guns actually. That being said, they are cheap.

 

[Puma]

I mail ordered a M38 from SIR in the late 1970's. I think I paid 79.00 When I received it, found a pristine matching 1942 Huskie.

Promptly took it to the smith to have it drilled, tapped, bolt bent and safety upgraded to a Buhler. Next the stock was changed to a synthetic.

Hunted deer and moose with it. Still have it. Brings tears to my eyes everytime when I think about what I did to it.

 

[gunsaholic]

I have a Husqvarna M38 as well as a 96/38. I have not fired either since acquiring them a few years ago. I've been downsizing a bit and keep debating on what guns to sell. Perhaps the time has come to move these two. Decisions, decisions, lol!

 

[Reaper of the apocalypse]

Yeahh, I'm probably never gonna sell my M38 haha. So comfortable to shoot and sounds amazing, I also love the #### on close. Mine has a mint bore, the disk isn't even marked with a 1.
And yeah, like someone said, definitely reload if you have a 6.5x55, I'm just finishing setting up my press.

 

[kawicrash]

Yeah, I wouldn't let me M38 go unless I was getting over $700 for it... Plus shipping.
& I really want a Garand but damn are they expensive.
I remember when you could get $300 K-31s at Canadian tire.

That was only two or three years ago..

 

[Airborn_69]

You must be joking. Norweigian reworked k98k are not rare in the slightest.

There are way more M38's than 30-06 K98kF1's in this country.

 

[can14]

Lever had thousands of the 38's I got husky 1940 with and without threaded barrels They do shoot and most of them were mint

 

[mbogo3]

I have a 41 Husky 38 turned down bolt ,crown was washed from over zealous cleaning with a steel rod so I had a new 38 barrel installed as of yet unfired.Not a collector piece but unmessed with.

 

[Tinman204]

I suspect that people aren't too anxious to unload them in the 4-500 range. I know I'm not. Plenty of guys willing to part with their K31 and Garands though

It's funny but I'd rather unload my k31 then any of my swedes even if they were valued at the same price..

 

[PinkyPlinker]

It's funny but I'd rather unload my k31 then any of my swedes even if they were valued at the same price..

Me too. I haven’t shot my K31 since I got my first Swede. That’s how good they are.

 

[Keithjohn]

The "real" 1940s produced M38s with bent bolts made by Husqvarna are quite scarce. Grabbed mine a few months back for $450. Steal of a deal. Ammo is hard to find and pricy, unfortunately.

The M96 long rifle and converted M96/38 are much more common as others have stated.

I had one that I paid $500 ( which was top dollar at the time ) 1.5 years ago , it was sold as excellent condition , and I thought it was . It had the threaded muzzel that I later found out ment it was one step from retirement ( lots of wear ) plus it didn't shoot all that well compared to my 96 and kicked like a mule . I sold that one for my money back and have kept my eye out for a better one without the threaded muzzel , I have seen quite a few threaded in not bad shape $500-$700 range but not one with a disk that shows low wear without threads .

P.S. - my disk read 1&1 with tight bore . .??

 

[Tinman204]

Me too. I haven’t shot my K31 since I got my first Swede. That’s how good they are.

My problem is Buffdog introduced me the swedes several years ago and I've been spoiled ever since.

I have an m96 that is set up with diopter sites. It's my most accurate rifle, regularly printing sub 1/2 moa groups if I do my part and feed it the load it really likes.

I also have a k11 chambered in 6.5x55 so I tend to shoot that and the k31 sits on a rack.

My m38 has gotten quite a bit of use as a varmint rifle around the yard, I shoot lite loads with 120 grain bullets which does the trick.

 

[Syphen]

I had one that I paid $500 ( which was top dollar at the time ) 1.5 years ago , it was sold as excellent condition , and I thought it was . It had the threaded muzzel that I later found out ment it was one step from retirement ( lots of wear ) plus it didn't shoot all that well compared to my 96 and kicked like a mule . I sold that one for my money back and have kept my eye out for a better one without the threaded muzzel , I have seen quite a few threaded in not bad shape $500-$700 range but not one with a disk that shows low wear without threads .

P.S. - my disk read 1&1 with tight bore . .??

Threaded muzzles don't mean a worn barrel. It was just a modification done to most M38's for a blank firing device.

 

[Tinman204]

My m38 has a threaded muzzle and more bore wear then any of the swedes I've owned.

It drive nails though with 120 grain bullets and lightish loads of 3031.

 

[Keithjohn]

Threaded muzzles don't mean a worn barrel. It was just a modification done to most M38's for a blank firing device.

I was told ( by one collector ) that when they downgraded from active use they were used for training ( blank firing device ) next downgrade - refirb