Swedish M38?

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gerardjohnson

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I have what appears to be a Swedish M38 but on top of the receiver is "WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER OBERNDORF A/N 1899". It has a straight bolt handle and a 23.6" barrel. I have one reference book that says they all had turned down bolts and another that says the Infantry had straight bolt handles, while the calvery had bent bolt handles. Would this be a M38 that was made from a M96 that was made in Germany in 1899? It's in excellent condition.
 
That is a 96/38. There were purpose built M38s and they all had bent bolts. The 96/38s were M1896s that were cut down to conform to 1938 standards, sometimes they had the bolt replaced with a bent bolt and sometimes they retained the straight bolt. Hope this helps.
 
Thank you, that pretty well answers my question. What does the smaller A/N after the manufacturer stand for? What about value? Similar to that of a M38? Any other info you can provide will be appreciated.
 
Value I would say somewhere around 300-450$ (a rough estimate) depending on condition. I have no idea as to what the A/N would stand for, I just know some cursory facts about these rifles (mainly model designations and calibers), I haven't even handled one. There are some on this website who are much more knowledgeable about these rifles however (they maybe along soon). Best of luck in finding the info you are looking for.
 
I have 2- Both husky built M38s. In my opinion one of the nicest shooting most accurate bolt action military rifles of all time. Accurate,well made and finished . 6.5 x 55 is a joy to shoot with light recoil and muzzle blast. Factory ammo is available but handloading is a better option.
 
Gerry

A/N is just part of the manufacturers address.

All Swedish rifles of the 1938 pattern either cut down M96's or rifles manufactured in that pattern originally (Husqvarna)were simply M38's. The 96/38 designation is something somebody made up at some point for god knows what reason, possibly marketing or some such. To the Swedish Military, the M38, whether cut down from an M96 or manufactured in that Pattern from New (Husqvarna), whether it had a straight bolt or bent bolt was still just an M38.
Husqvarna made M38's for 4 years, and convinced the Swedish Ordnance people to allow them to manufacture the bent bolt, since their production lines were already set up for that style. Repair manuals of the period specify that the straight bolt from an M96 could be used as well. Some M94 carbines were converted to the M38 pattern and if still retaining their original bolt, it would be the bent bolt.

Hopefully this helps.
 
Old Ranger said:
I have 2- Both husky built M38s. In my opinion one of the nicest shooting most accurate bolt action military rifles of all time. Accurate,well made and finished . 6.5 x 55 is a joy to shoot with light recoil and muzzle blast. Factory ammo is available but handloading is a better option.
Click to expand...

+1

Of all the Swedes I've owned the one I have kept is my Husqvarna mfg M38 made in 1942.

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In 1938, the Swedes recognized the value and need for a shorter rifle. A program was instituted by Carl Gustafs to convert some of the existing m/96 rifles to the m/38 standards. When WWII broke out, the Carl Gustafs State Arsenal concentrated on heavier weapons, such as machine guns, and Husqvarna was asked to continue with the balance of this program, and also make new m/38 rifles. The Swedes considered ALL these rifles as m38 rifles and no distinction was made between them, thus the converted m/96 is a m38 and not a m96/38 or any such designation.

Early conversions had the straight bolt handle, and the proper rear sight is the Vasteraas micrometer adjustable rear sight. After Husqvarna started making the new m/38 rifles, they received permission to use the turned down bolt handle, as they were already set up for it with their sporting rifles. A few very early HVA m/38 rifles did have a straight bolt handle.

Your rifle is part of a 40,000 production of rifles made by Mauser in 1899 and 1900. Serial numbers were in a block from approximately 19,000 to 59,000. This was to keep the Swedish Military rearmament on schedule, as machinery for production by Carl Gustafs was delayed. The A/N after the Mauser name is for the factory at NECKAR.

As far as wood goes, most of the conversions used the original stocks. Wood up to about 1915 was generally Walnut, but due to a scarcity of supply due to WWI, alternates were tried. Most common were Beech, Elm, and Maple, but some Mahogany stocks exist. After about 1919, Beech was the wood of choice for the m/96, and the newly made HVA m/38 rifles. Sometimes Beech replacement stocks are found on a converted rifle, but that was because the original stock was not serviceable.

Not all m38 rifles had turned down bolt handles, and the Infantry generally retained their m/96 rifles while the m/38 were more common issue for secondary troops such as Artillery, and Supply Troops who did not have an urgent front line need for a rifle.

The best reference book for Swedish Mausers is "Crown Jewels." Unfortunately it is out of print and almost anyone who has a copy guards it like the Crown Jewels.
 
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Oberndorf A/N stands for Oberndorf am Neckar (Oberndorf on the River Neckar) which, as previous posters indicated, was the site of the Mauser factory in Oberndorf in Baden-Württemburg.
 
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