- Location
- Western Manitoba
I am working with that "Crown Jewels" book by Dana Jones for a reference - some aspects, I can not find answer. I am working my way through a nice looking (re-finished) m38 Swede Rifle - has the Husqvarna name - 1942 - on the receiver - various metal parts, but not all, match to that receiver. So some questions that maybe someone here can answer.
Wood stocks - is several here with the rifle serial number stamped into the wood under the chamber area - this stock has serial number for a made-in 1899 m96 - which might plausibly have been made by CG into m38 configuration, since apparently the Carl Gustaf Arsenal, circa 1937, started making m38 by cutting down "in service" m96 rifles. At early WWII - private gun maker Husqvarna got contract to build m38's, more or less from scratch, for the Swede Military - apparently Husqvarna did not cut down any m96 to make m38 rifles - early on, they might have used some straight handle bolts for m96 from CG - but were finally approved to use their turned down handles on their m38's. I think Husqvarna only used stocks and hand guards that they made - but I am not sure of that - so, there are at least "two" types of Swede m38 - depends who made them? (Most "facts" about m38 manufacture, are from that Dana Jones book).
From that serial number, and what I can see, this stock clearly a former m96 stock - one of the "air chamber" slots is filled with a wood blank, to allow the upper band spring to be installed into more solid wood. However, what should I expect to see on the inside / underside of the hand guard?? I have some Swede m96 stocks with 6 digit serial number on inside of hand guard, and same six digit number under the chamber area on the main stock, but not finding (in that book) what was "correct" for the Husqvarna m38? The hand guard has a single "straight up" Swede Crown - normally means made at CG Arsenal - if it was a "spare", would explain why no serial number - but did Swede armourers apply a number when they used a spare hand guard - like they did on the Husqvarna bolt parts?
Most of the metal parts have the LAST three digits of the receiver serial number. However, the butt plate has the FIRST three digits used - is that correct? The butt plate does have the "tilted" Swede Crown, so I think that part of it is "correct" for a Husqvarna made rifle - just not finding what was supposed to be marked on the butt plate.
As mentioned - this made-in 1942 Husqvarna looks "pretty" - the wood stocks have been "refinished" for sure - makes the made-in-1944 one, here, look pretty rough.
Wood stocks - is several here with the rifle serial number stamped into the wood under the chamber area - this stock has serial number for a made-in 1899 m96 - which might plausibly have been made by CG into m38 configuration, since apparently the Carl Gustaf Arsenal, circa 1937, started making m38 by cutting down "in service" m96 rifles. At early WWII - private gun maker Husqvarna got contract to build m38's, more or less from scratch, for the Swede Military - apparently Husqvarna did not cut down any m96 to make m38 rifles - early on, they might have used some straight handle bolts for m96 from CG - but were finally approved to use their turned down handles on their m38's. I think Husqvarna only used stocks and hand guards that they made - but I am not sure of that - so, there are at least "two" types of Swede m38 - depends who made them? (Most "facts" about m38 manufacture, are from that Dana Jones book).
From that serial number, and what I can see, this stock clearly a former m96 stock - one of the "air chamber" slots is filled with a wood blank, to allow the upper band spring to be installed into more solid wood. However, what should I expect to see on the inside / underside of the hand guard?? I have some Swede m96 stocks with 6 digit serial number on inside of hand guard, and same six digit number under the chamber area on the main stock, but not finding (in that book) what was "correct" for the Husqvarna m38? The hand guard has a single "straight up" Swede Crown - normally means made at CG Arsenal - if it was a "spare", would explain why no serial number - but did Swede armourers apply a number when they used a spare hand guard - like they did on the Husqvarna bolt parts?
Most of the metal parts have the LAST three digits of the receiver serial number. However, the butt plate has the FIRST three digits used - is that correct? The butt plate does have the "tilted" Swede Crown, so I think that part of it is "correct" for a Husqvarna made rifle - just not finding what was supposed to be marked on the butt plate.
As mentioned - this made-in 1942 Husqvarna looks "pretty" - the wood stocks have been "refinished" for sure - makes the made-in-1944 one, here, look pretty rough.
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