M96 Swedish Mauser target rifle

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gerardjohnson

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I just aquired an M-96 Swedish target rifle with what looks like an excellent quality peep sight and globe rear sight. I would like to find inserts for the front sight if anyone knows of a source.
On top of receiver: CARL GUSTAFS STADS GEVARSFAKTORI 1913
No. 3155xx

There is an oval silver plaque on the side of the butt stockwith:
Paul Mellstroms
Anders Larsson
Minnespris 1974

On the top of the rear sight:
Elit M/ edstrom

Many parts are stamped with a small crown, in one case with a large "C" under it.

I'm not sure if it has a heavy barrel or not.
ahead of the front sight it measures 0.610" while just behind it the barrel measures 0.687"
On the bottom of the butt stock is is a connected NP in a circle.

If anyone can tell me more about this rifle's histiry I would appreciate it.
 
You will have to find out what kind of front sight you have on the rifle in order to know what type of front inserts you will need. There are several different options available. Since you say you have an Elit rear sight, I would have to say it is likely that you also have a matching Elit front sight. The inserts can be a challange to find at times but are out there if you look hard enough.
 
gerardjohnson said:
I just aquired an M-96 Swedish target rifle with what looks like an excellent quality peep sight and globe rear sight. I would like to find inserts for the front sight if anyone knows of a source.
On top of receiver: CARL GUSTAFS STADS GEVARSFAKTORI 1913
No. 3155xx

There is an oval silver plaque on the side of the butt stockwith:
Paul Mellstroms
Anders Larsson
Minnespris 1974

On the top of the rear sight:
Elit M/ edstrom

Many parts are stamped with a small crown, in one case with a large "C" under it.

I'm not sure if it has a heavy barrel or not.
ahead of the front sight it measures 0.610" while just behind it the barrel measures 0.687"
On the bottom of the butt stock is is a connected NP in a circle.

If anyone can tell me more about this rifle's histiry I would appreciate it.
Click to expand...

it is so unfair to brag about your new toy, without showing us some kind of nice pictures.
You know very well that we are all drooling.
 
Take out the front sight insert that is there already.
Measure outside diameter without the wings. I'm betting it is 15.9mm

Check with Slimline for their Size B plastic front sight inserts:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/mcdougal...ye & Slimline/R. McDougall Imports page 1.htm

Or Paul Reibin, of Range Sports in B.C. if he has any old Walther style M16 size front sight metal inserts still in stock. Tel: 250-372-7030, he has no email or computer.

Usually front sight apertures in the 2.8mm to 3.4mm range are the more usable ones for round targets

015ca2c7.jpg


SwedeElit.jpg
 
The barrel dimensions you have given is for a standard m/96 barrel. Take out the insert that is in the front sight now by unscrewing the rear of the front sight (IF POSSIBLE). If the front sight has ONE wide tab at the bottom, (about 9mm wide) then the sight is probably an ELIT. If the front sight has two tabs at the horizontal positions, it could be one of several types. Many of these are 17mm diameter, and Anschutz sights may fit. Be aware that these two tabs are probably of different dimensions, one side smaller than the other.

Unfortunately without pictures, many of the markings and position of these markings can mean a few different things. The NP in a circle is Norma, and this is possibly where the rifle received it's diopter sights, or, it could also be a mark for a periodic inspection of the rifle.

It is also possible to make a GUESS from your description of the writing on the stock blank but without a picture, it is just that, a GUESS. Going on what you have written, the center name might be engraved in a different font type. If so, that is the winner. If the first name, "Paul Mellstroms" is at the top outside of the plaque, then this rifle was a FSR prize rifle, the "Paul Mellstroms Memorial Award," and was won by Anders Larsson in 1974. If it is a Silver Plaque, there are small "characters" stamped into the plaque that will give a lot of information on the Plaque itself, such as maker, date made, silver purity, where made, etc. These are known as Hallmarks.

The old adage, "One picture is worth a thousand words," is true when attempting to get a good identity on a rifle.
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Thanks for your very informative reply. The inserts have tabs on each side, one wider than the other. They are about the same as those on my Ishmash but the tabs are a bit wider. I agree with your explanation of the plaque, although I was just guessing. I was wondering if this was the winning rifle, or the prize. The Hallmarks are so small I can't make them out but the plaque sure looks like real silver. Would these sights have been installed by the military, or are they a later addition for sport shooting?
 
I found a stronger glass and can now read some of the hallmark on the oval silver plaque. It has BEFA at the front and Z9 at the end. The 3 symbols in between I can't make out.
 
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The Plaque with the Hallmarks is Silver. Z9 is the date code for 1974. BEFA is the Jeweller who made it and the other stamps are the City, and Purity stamps.

"Minnespris" in Swedish translates to "Memorial Award" but it is sometimes used colloquially for "Second Prize."

Generally, what you have is known as a FSR rifle. That is, an accurate rifle used by a Civilian shooter or Gun Club. The Frigvillia Skytterorelsen, (FSR) or "Volunteer Shooters Association," was the governing body for shooting in Sweden, much like the NRA in the US or the DCRA in Canada. It changed names a few times but in the period this rifle would have been assembled, was known at the "Skytte OS" or "Shooters Association Supreme Board", (Skytteforbundens Oversstyrelse.)

The sights were put on the rifle sometime after the late 1940s. Generally this was done by a FSR approved Gunsmith or a Inspection/Repair Depot, (Tygstation) at the request of the Civilian shooter. However, some rifles were given out as Prize Rifles for winning shooters, so these rifles were ordered especially by the Gun Club or Organization for that event. Since your rifle has the name of an actual person rather than a Company or Event name, I think the "Memorial Award" translation is the more accurate one.

Underneath the wrist of the stock, there should be stamped some Crowns and/or other symbols that can provide more information. This is why it is essential to post pictures to get an actual history or evaluation on a Swedish rifle. There are other stampings in various locations, such as the barrel, that can provide clues as to if the rifle has been rebarreled for example. To Swedish Collectors, a rebarreled rifle is acceptable and does not really detract from the value of an original rifle.

The ELIT rear sight is one of the better diopter sights for target shooting. You are going to have to measure the diameter of your front sight insert, (not including the tabs) and go from there. Take care when putting it back into the front sight as one tab and the correct slot might be larger than the other one, and if so, the insert is designed to go into the front sight one way only.

Your FSR rifle will probably turn out to be quite accurate, depending upon bore condition. Generally the best and more accurate rifles were used. If you think about it, the Swedes were very proud and conscious of their shooting heritage and no one wants to give out a crappy prize. Also, no one will spend a lot of money mounting expensive target sights on a rifle that will not shoot well on the range.

If you do not reload and intend to shoot this rifle, you might have to try different brands of ammunition to see what it likes. If you do reload, I would not be surprised, depending upon shooting ability, to see one inch groups at 100 yards.

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The only markings on the wood are under the wrist and consist of the connected NP in a circle (Norma) and a crown with a C under it. The crown with a C (Old English) under it also appears over the Carl Gustafs on top of the receiver. About 1/4" ahead of the serial number is YT. Is that part of the number or does it have another meaning? Yes, I do reload. Is there any particular load that works best in these rifles? I currently have 120, 129, & 140 gr. bullets. I have several loads ready to try with H4831SC (140 gr Hornady SP) and H4895 (120 gr A-MAX) plus 17 rounds of Remington Core-Lox 140 gr PDT SP.
 
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"YT" is not part of the serial number. It is the weapons officer who inspected the rifle and approved it first when it was made.

Frans Yngve Tellander, born Feb 23, 1880 and died 1958.
First Officers Commission - 1901
Regiment - 2nd. Artillery
Inspection Officer at Carl Gustafs from Oct 1, 1911 to Sept. 31, 1914
Rank at Carl Gustafs - Lieutenant

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