M95 Repetier-KarabinerStutzen Questions

[Eaglelord17]

Hi all,

I recently acquired a Budapest manufactured M95 Repetier-KarabinerStutzen in the original 8x50r. Manufactured in 1910 and accepted into service by Austria (W-n marking on the barrel instead of BP). Stock is mismatched as is the bolt (bolt is Steyr manufacture not Budapest). The stacking rod was also removed at some point. My questions are if anyone can identify the stock marking on there, why there is a wooden patch on the stock (maybe there was a sling swivel there?), and if anyone can identify the star on the front barrel band/bayonet band. The star in particular has aroused my curiosity as it is purposely struck on there, and I haven't heard of one being used on a M95. I was thinking it might be a property mark of some sort for some country but I really don't know.

Here are some pictures,








Here is a photo of the stock marking and the repair

Here is a photo of the stock marking and repair with flash to give a different view point

A picture of the bayonet band with the star marking

Any help is appreciated

 

[Eaglelord17]

Thought I would do a update with the information I have found. The stamping I believe is a 'AO' in a circle. Looking online I have found reference to these being Italian Captured M95s (which would make sense, as it is still in its original caliber, but has received some rebuilding which was common due to the amount of M95s captured by Italy). Most the Italian M95s are marked 'AOI' and were used in Italian East Africa (which is what the 'AOI' stands for in Italian), but apparently some weren't used there (I have found reference to some being used in Libya for example), so 'AO' could just be another province that it was sent to.

At least I now know that it was captured by Italy either as post-war respirations or during combat (both are equally likely, as it was manufactured in 1910 it would have been around for the whole war so it could have been captured on the battlefield).

 

[JTF#]

good info.
the little star is just a proof marking. have you checked the rest of the metal parts? there might be another one. here is on inside the stock.

 

[Eaglelord17]

Thanks for the information JTF#, I haven't noticed any others when looking at my other ones so I assumed that it was a maybe a country marking. Good to know that it is just a proof.

Part of what I love (and hate) about these rifles is they are so interesting but there is so little information available on them. Personally I am waiting a little bit, but I intend to buy the book 'Mannlicher Military Rifles: Straight Pull and Turn Bolt Designs' as it really is about the only book on them in the English language. I don't even really intentionally collect them, they just tend to come up at a good price and each one is interesting so I pick it up.

 

[Horilka]

Italian capture is a good score. Mostly I see Bulgarian refurbs. The book you mentioned is must have, however I don't recall it having detailed info on captured rifles.

 

[Eaglelord17]

Italian capture is a good score. Mostly I see Bulgarian refurbs. The book you mentioned is must have, however I don't recall it having detailed info on captured rifles.

Thanks, I ended up getting this from P&S Militaria, and so far I am very happy. These are truly interesting little rifles, as there is so much possibilities about them and places they could have ended up.

 

[sail32]

The mix of short rifle and carbine sling swivels would suggest an arsenal rework.

 

[Eaglelord17]

It has definitely been reworked/rebuilt. The bolt isn't original, and stock is mismatched which is normal enough with these rifles. It would be a carbine just not the earlier model of carbine. The later manufactured ones (Repetier-KarabinerStutzen) if I understand correctly, had the solid sling mount with sling swivel on the bottom for the middle band, and both sling swivels on the side and bottom of the stock. It does get very confusing very fast as they had a bunch of rifles that were virtually the same, just using different sling configurations to determine the model designation. This is why I am going to be buying the book mentioned above to get a much clearer picture of the rifles, and how they were assembled.