M94 Swedish Mausers

[gerardjohnson]

I just bought my second M-94 Swedish Mauser at the Irishtown Gun Show last weekend. Both are dated 1917, inspected by HK, but the serial numbers are very far apart. One is #434### and the other is 94###. This seems like an unusual spread from the same factory. Was wartime production really that high in 1917?

 

[H Wally]

edit - reread. Don't know about the swedish manufacturing system, but if it was like some others they could have been drawing on recievers manufactured before, or from mixed parts, or who knows. Neither was refurbed?

 

[Baribal]

Swedish Mauser production

GerardJohnson,

in 1917, Carl Gustav produced 43 836 M/96 units.

Serialization is as follow;
Low Serial; 401933
High serial; 445769

94### makes it a 1901 production for a M/96,

The Karbin M/94 fits the serial of this rifle. They are not a common item in Canada.
Number produced in 1917; 7988 units
Low serial; 86545
High serial; 94533
So, you have a M/94 receiver
If the bolt is original tot he rifle, it must have a swept down bolt handle, like a M/38.

The original configuration for the bolt handle of the M/96 is of the straight confirguration.

Look for "bent crowns" indicating that the rifle was fitted with HVA-made parts. Also, check the sights for the "T" (Törped) wich indicates the rifle was fitted to shoot the M/41 ammo. While not that common, it is not impossible that your rifle have been fitted
The CG "crown" stamp is always standing "upright", while the HVA stamp is at an angle, hence the "bent" nickname.

 

[gerardjohnson]

The low numbered one is a M-94 in all respects, numbers matching. The receiver on the one I just bought looks identical, although the stock & barrel have been changed. It is now sporting a Browning .308 Win. barrel chambered for 7.62x39. The stock is a cut down Mauser stock, but not a M-94.
I just checked again and both have all numbers matching except the butt plate on the butchered one. It also has had the bolt turned down even more so it curves in to touch the wood. As far as the receiver goes, the only difference is the serial number. The crown is not bent.

 

[Baribal]

So, you then answered your question;
You have one Bubba'd M/96 and possibly one original M/94.

 

[smellie]

Saw a MOST interesting M-96 once upon a time, a Cavalry carbine on a Model 38 action with a 1943 date. Thing was stocked up just as if some mad gun-shrinker had got at it but all the work was just top-notch. I would have sworn that it was factory. As I recall, it was fitted for the standard 96 bayonet, not for the knife-type 94 bayo.

Story was that it was part of a single batch which were made up in 1943 for the Cavalry component of the Royal Swedish bodyguard regiment. Tale also went on that 50 to 100 had been so done.

It was a cute little thing, shot very nicely but somewhat thund'rous in its approval of IMR-4895. Deafeningly thund'rous, to be precise. I think it had about an 18-inch tube on it, could have doubled as a flame-thrower.

Anybody know anything about these?

 

[Baribal]

Unlikely an original.
The M/94 Karbin production stopped in 1918, but some special runs are known in 1929 (191 units) and 1932 (849 units). The cavalry was dismantled in the 1950's.
As far as documentation goes, there is no evidence that any M/38 or HVA made karbins were ever made.

There have been a lot of "fakes" made on spare parts in the past, (made on purpose or not, it's not clear) and I suspect this one was one. Without pictures and / or evidence, it's almost impossbile to validate or invalidate the rifle.

Husqvarna have documented production of M/96 and M/38, for a total production of 83 588 (about 18 000 M/96, and 65 588 M/38).

 

[gerardjohnson]

I guess what I want to know is: is there any difference at all between the M94 & M96 receivers? I don't have a M96 to compare, but I thought there were some minor differences.

 

[Baribal]

No, they are the same. But the (original) bolts handles are different, swept down for the M/94 and M/38 (some so-called M96-38 have a straight bolt handle, though) and straight for the M/96.