I have an oportunity to buy an M96/38 that has a turned down bolt handle. Only the husky M38 had these, therefore this one was bubba'd (may have bought a replacement bolt and notched the stock, bent it etc.) Or this was rearsenaled later. It's bore is somewhat pitted and there is a repair on the forestock, what would the value be given the bolt handle is not straight, and the rest of the condition - no collector value is what comes to mind, so do I treat it like a sporterized enfield etc.?
M96/38 question
- Thread starter rolfyrolf
- Start date
Without pics its hard to have a clear idea but if really bubba get his hand on it, $150-$175 would be top i would pay.
Joce
It depends on the year, stamped on the reciever. NO the turned down bolt handle was not only on the husky M38. The early 94s had a turned down bolt and some of these bolts found their way onto early model 38s and 96s in the refurb by Sweden. So it's possible to find these with the turned down version that are correct.
Bill
Bill
I am sure some may have been refurbed later at the factory, but I found several milsurp sites where this was discussed and a collector reference book I have says that the turned down bolt was not brought in until M38s were being made by Husky, and that Husky started making them with straight bolts then switched over later in production. The pictures I've seen are not clear, but the bolt on this one looks bent down rounded, not angled like the ones I've see on most websites showing M38s. I guess from a collector viewpoint, this condition likely leaves them less desireable as they are not standard, or maybe valueable to some since it may be a rare example of a refurb if the bolt angled down straight.
b72471 is correct. Quite a few Mauser and Carl Gustaf M38's (aka M96/38's) had a turned down bolt handle. All M96/38's are "refurbed" at least once - the original conversion, then a possible second refurb. IMO since they are scarce, they should draw a small premium over a straight-handled M96/38. All that having been said, there are many bubba'd M96's and M96/38's with crudely bent bolt handles and notched stocks. I'd stay far away form them, as they are, as mentioned probably $150 guns at best.
