M96 Swede surprise

[kjohn]

I was looking at my M96 Swede rifles this evening. I have three, actually four, but one has a scope mounted and has a "butterknife" bolt handle. I know this is blasphemy, and I did snap out of it, but I thought maybe I would take one to the Yorkton Gun Show and see what I might be offered.

Well, I noticed one has the SA Finnish Army stamp. So, I guess I will be keeping all three - or four. I bought a really nice one from H4831 a couple or three years back, so I definitely won't sell that one. I wouldn't sell The SA stamped one, nor would I sell the regular, normal M96. The only one I might even think of selling would be the scoped one, but....

 

[buffdog]

Swedes

It is a bonus to get one with a "SA" stamp on it. The Swedes "loaned" most of these to the Finns for a modest sum of money, and the option to buy them back and/or have the Finns return them to Sweden.

While some of them did make it to the front lines, particularly the scope mounted ones, most of them were relegated to secondary use, service troops, and others that might need a rifle at some point, but not primarily. It does make sense, otherwise there would be a supply problem in providing two different types of ammunition to the Front.

Most of the Swedes are in very good condition, thanks to non-corrosive ammunition, regular arsenal inspections, and the lack of actual combat use. When you add the fine "old world" craftsmanship and care taken in the manufacture of these rifles, how can you lose?

I love the m/96 FSR rifles, because they can tell you an even more story about themselves.

Does this mean you are forsaking the Ross rifles?
.

 

[kjohn]

Does this mean you are forsaking the Ross rifles?

No, I won't be doing that!! I have two 1910 and two 1905 Ross'. One of the 1905s has a "Sutherland Sight Co. NS" sight mounted on the barrel right about where a "smellie" sight would be. A bubba, to be sure, but interesting.