Thanks LW! I will hit it with penetrating oil and then heat.
The fixed screw that the stud screws onto looks off centre in the hole in the mount base. It may be affecting the operation of the release button.
Mannlicher Schonauer 1903 carbine - photo heavy
- Thread starter geologist
- Start date
Thanks LW! I will hit it with penetrating oil and then heat.
The fixed screw that the stud screws onto looks off centre in the hole in the mount base. It may be affecting the operation of the release button.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Yay!
When I was around ten years old there was an old time hand logger by the name of Einar Johnson who had a full-stock 6.5x54 mm Mannlicher Schoenauer carbine fixed on nails over the bunk of the old boat he lived on.
“What kind of gun is that Einar?” I asked him one time. The stock of the rifle had been broken and a splint of thin wood had been attached with a course of green fishing twine wrapped around and around it.
“Oh, that’s a Man-Licker,” he replied, and having seen full-stocked Lee Enfield surplus military rifles in the Eaton’s and Simpsons Sears catalogues, I was convinced that it too was an “army gun” as I thought of them at the time.
“What kind of gun is that Einar?” I asked him one time. The stock of the rifle had been broken and a splint of thin wood had been attached with a course of green fishing twine wrapped around and around it.
“Oh, that’s a Man-Licker,” he replied, and having seen full-stocked Lee Enfield surplus military rifles in the Eaton’s and Simpsons Sears catalogues, I was convinced that it too was an “army gun” as I thought of them at the time.
Next job, get the detachable, rotary spool magazine to come out. It's stuck, even after I press the retaining button inwards.
After that I will pull the action off the stock.
What is the best oil to rub on the stock? Lemon furniture oil?
Does anyone have an idea of what other stripper clips will work on this 1903? I figure my chances of finding a M-S 1903 stripper to be pretty slim.
After that I will pull the action off the stock.
What is the best oil to rub on the stock? Lemon furniture oil?
Does anyone have an idea of what other stripper clips will work on this 1903? I figure my chances of finding a M-S 1903 stripper to be pretty slim.
I think it is a 1950 era carbine because:
It has the Monte Carlo style stock.
The barrel is 19.6" long and not the 17.7" of the early 1903s.
It weighs 6.6 lbs, not the roughly 5.5 lbs of the early shorter action length, shorter barrel carbines.
The butterknife handle is in white (I think) but it is not swept back and there are no white spacers on the grip cap nor the butt plate.
So I think it is a 1950 or 1952 model of the M-S 1903.
It has the Monte Carlo style stock.
The barrel is 19.6" long and not the 17.7" of the early 1903s.
It weighs 6.6 lbs, not the roughly 5.5 lbs of the early shorter action length, shorter barrel carbines.
The butterknife handle is in white (I think) but it is not swept back and there are no white spacers on the grip cap nor the butt plate.
So I think it is a 1950 or 1952 model of the M-S 1903.
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I find alot of these are stiff and caked with dried oil. They seem to have been seldom used. Keep an eye on ebay, the cleaning rods come up from time to time. Also, always wear glasses with these rifles. I had a casehead breach and got a faceful of brass and powder. Pretty much ended my affair with them.
The date will be on the the side/bottom of the receiver / bbl root when you take it apart, as it is part covered by the wood.
I use Shaftol oil, as it used a lot by the euro industry.
Bits of Pieces gunsmith in BC has it usually.
It is a nice rifle and will clean up nice.
Just to be sure, when you depress the circle of the mag, you did turn the cover plate that forms part of the mag 90 degrees to be perpendicular to the mag? That allows the tab that rides under the trigger guard to be set free.
I use Shaftol oil, as it used a lot by the euro industry.
Bits of Pieces gunsmith in BC has it usually.
It is a nice rifle and will clean up nice.
Just to be sure, when you depress the circle of the mag, you did turn the cover plate that forms part of the mag 90 degrees to be perpendicular to the mag? That allows the tab that rides under the trigger guard to be set free.
Yes, counter clockwise when looking at the rifle inverted but the mag plate won't budge.
sasksp generously sent me a ton of 6.4x54 M-S brass for gratis! Thanks sasksp!
I tried them in a 7.62x39 clip (Norinco white box). The cases slide into the clip but they are tight and don't slide easily.
The clip fits the clip cutout in the bolt but it's a sloppy loose fit.
But the cases fed from the clip into the rotary magazine.
BTW I love the magazine release button that empties the loaded mag without have to cycle the live rounds.
I tried them in a 7.62x39 clip (Norinco white box). The cases slide into the clip but they are tight and don't slide easily.
The clip fits the clip cutout in the bolt but it's a sloppy loose fit.
But the cases fed from the clip into the rotary magazine.
BTW I love the magazine release button that empties the loaded mag without have to cycle the live rounds.
No I can't get it to budge.
Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks for the warning. If I can get the magazine to come out, that'll be as far as I go disassembly wise.
It's been bedded so I want to see how it looks plus get a look at the receiver markings to know when it was made and get the serial number.
I just learned that the 17.7" barrel of the pre-war 1903s are measured from the where the bullet sits in the back of the barrel, not from the bolt face where I measure it as 19.6". So it is a 17.7" barrel, with the old style bolt release and a steel butt plate so it is a pre-war.
I still can't get the magazine plate to rotate for removal. I can't find my brass punch set but once I do I'll clamp a rod onto the mag release button and then gently tap the end of the mag plate from both sides in the release rotation direction.
Once it's off, I'll clean the magazine in solvent and more importantly will be able to read the receiver markings and check the stock bedding.
I still can't get the magazine plate to rotate for removal. I can't find my brass punch set but once I do I'll clamp a rod onto the mag release button and then gently tap the end of the mag plate from both sides in the release rotation direction.
Once it's off, I'll clean the magazine in solvent and more importantly will be able to read the receiver markings and check the stock bedding.
