Why do you buy Swedes????

BadgerDog

BadgerDog

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Hello folks.......... :)

I got an email from another member who asked why I collect so many Swedish rifles, since they never really saw much combat, unlike U.S. milsurps or German K98k's as an example.

Well, it's simple...... in my opinion, they're great financial investments over time. The stock market grew on average over the last 30-40 years approximately 15% per year. Collectibles in the right genres easily outpaced that kind of investment. So, as long as the government doesn't ban non-restricted rifles, I believe they will increase substantially, as we see an ever increasing baby boomer aging demographic with lots of cash and time on their hands, looking for hobbies. Some of them will inevitably choose old milsurp collecting. ;)

There's a lot of empirical data to support Swedes in particular as a premium non-restricted rifle collectible, but here's just one that I think tells a lot of the story.

Quantity Manufactured

1. ALL Swedish Mauser Production 804,000
2. M91 Russian 9,360,000
3. M91/30 Russian 17,450,000
4. US M1 Rifle 6,034,000 (approx)
5. US M1 Carbine 6,225,000
6. K98k German 11,500,000
7. No.1 MkIII British 3,000,000
8. No.4 Mk1&2 British 3,530,000

SOURCE: "Neutrality through Marksmanship"
A collector's and shooter's guide to Swedish army rifles 1867-1942 By Doug Bowser
Click to expand...

On the other hand and again, it's my opinion only, revolver and pistol collecting as an investment is NOT the place to be. Threats of government intervention and bans, plus the overly restrictive licensing and transport requirments (ie: ATT's etc), makes it both a high risk and a challenge to get into these as a narrow collectible investment strategy.

So, I use my collecting both as a source of leisure and portfolio diversification outside of RRSP's and other retirement planning financial vehicles, however, you need to be careful and make sure what you're buying will actually appreciate at a decent rate. I never even think of buying SKS's or Norinco's as highly appreciating collectibles, but purely as enjoyable shooters. Don't get me wrong, they will rise over time if sources become scarce and the laws of supply and demand kick in, but they'll never appreciate as much for example, as a 1900 era Carl Gustafs Swedish m/96.

Just my two cents, which hopefully is appreciating towards four cents daily ............. :D

Regards,
Badger
 
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I will point out one major flaw to your arguement Badger,

Of the 804,000 Swedes made, a VERY high percentage survived to see the North American milsurp market, many in excellent condition.

Here's the breakdown as I see it:

1. ALL Swedish Mauser Production 804,000 - ~80% made it to surplus in decent shape, therefore about 640,000 nice ones are out there.
2. M91 Russian 9,360,000 - ~ 50% were lost in WW1, most of the rest were used up in Turkey, rebuilt by Finland, were stripped for receivers and rebuilt as 91/30's or were defaced by the communists and lost much collector appeal as a result. I'd estimate well under 1 million collectable examples still exist, many of which are still in eastern europe.
3. M91/30 Russian 17,450,000 - virtually all on our markets are 1960's rearsenals. Original guns are MUCH rarer here, though undoubtedly there are lots still in Russia yet to be released.
4. US M1 Rifle 6,034,000 (approx) - It was made n the USA and therefore will always command a premium with Yanks. That being said, ALOT have met Captain Crunch, close to a million also rusted away in Vietnam after being given as war aid, more were used up in Korea and the Philipines, etc. I;'d say less than 2,000,000 nice ones still out there.
5. US M1 Carbine 6,225,000 - MANY were sued up after conversion the M2 autos. MANY more were demilled. They are restricted and not often imported to Canada and still command a premium.
6. K98k German 11,500,000 - the VERY VAST majority were captured by Russia and turned into mixmasters or captured by the allies and recycled to French issue for Indo-china and for post-war German use. Original guns are VERY rare and the correct K98k is arguably the most expensive and sought-after non-sniper bolt action collectable. The appreciate ALOT mor than anything else, Swedes included. But I know you collect these too, so I think you knew all this!
7. No.1 MkIII British 3,000,000 - I assume you mean MkIII* as well? Far less of these around than the No.4's these days and nice examples are getting scarce, but they are still fairly common and not as rare as nicer Swedes are in Canada - unless a pre-WW1 MkIII no star ;)
8. No.4 Mk1&2 British 3,530,000 - Agree.
 
Those are all fine points, but at the end of the day I think you & other swede owners are just rationalizing. The real attraction comes from surrounding yourself with some of the most beautiful objects ever carved out of premium steel.
 
Why by swede's? Well, because I can, there's another reason?:D They are handsome rifles that shoot well and kick little with lots of character. All the reason thats needed.....
 
Sweed's

New at collecting Swede's, but somewhere in "Crown Jewel's" I read that Finland received some from Sweden, cant recall any numbers though. Would be interesting to find one with SA on it.
Have to consider how many were bubb'd over the years, although not as significant as combat loses, it has caused them to be quite hard to find in excellent, original condition. Anyone who was into guns in the early 80's can probably recall when these were pouring into the country for $50-$100 depending on condition. I remember back then a Quebec shop across from Ottawa who made his living selling bait and bubbing Swede Mauser's, I'm talking crates and crates here!
Geoff
 
Not sure where you got your figures but my figures for Lee Enfield production are as follows, source "The Lee Enfield Story."

Pre SMLE: 1,8842,963
SMLE & #3: 7,334,226
#4: 4,981,849
#5: 251,468
all 22's: 130,000
Snipers: 66,334
All others10,787

Grand total: 14,617,290

All figures are approximate as some production total were never properly and there may be some duplication; eg, 22 and sniper models.
 
As an Enfield collector, I have always thought that the Swede mausers are smart looking. They are well kept rifles, the 6.5 round is very pleasant to shoot, and despite being a Mauser they are pretty accurate.

Cheers
Brian
 
The AG42b on the other hand only had a 35,000 production. So having a minty one is probably more of a rare item as time goes on than a M/96.

But M/96s are in my opinion better looking :D
 
Gibbs505 said:
Not sure where you got your figures but my figures for Lee Enfield production are as follows, source "The Lee Enfield Story."

Grand total: 14,617,290.
Click to expand...

Wow....... :eek:

With these numbers being over twice that of Bowser's research, I'll take them. I think all my Swede values just rose proportionately..... :D :D

The source I used was only for comparative convenience, as a broad range of rifles from different countries were listed together. I never did any due diligence on the data, but I quoted the source in the original post.

SOURCE: "Neutrality through Marksmanship"
A collector's and shooter's guide to Swedish army rifles 1867-1942 By Doug Bowser
Click to expand...

Regards,
Badger
 
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My M96 is my most favourite milsurp bolt-action rifle. I like the way the stock is so graceful and the overall workmanship is fantastic. There aren't many milsurps made to that level of finish, especially at that price point.
 
Swedish mousers are boring.
You yust aim at de center of da target und it makes little holes in it, all close together.

Svedes is not boring, De yust do boring tings!

Saying that, I own five!

No carbine, as I value what hearing I have left;)
 
And to think I almost missed out on my little M/38 Husky...which sat in a local fishing tackle, and ammo store for almost a year totally ignored in plain sight.

I look it up on the web, and have puppies!
OMG! I have to have it!:D

The day I go buy it 3 other guys are trying to bid on it, but I got there first and saved her just in time, and one of the guys said he wanted to "sportsterize it". :eek: I almost slapped him! :mad: :D

Anyway that's the story Blond Swede Safe Queen. :)
 
Nyles said:
I need no reason, I just like them. Particularly shooting them.
Click to expand...

+1 My M96 is the most accurate iron-sighted rifle I've ever shot.

SA marked M96:
Finland bought 77,000 M96 (from Sweden) during the Winter War.
But returned 25,000 of them before the start of the Continuation War.
In 1951, the Finns had 48,700 M96 that were released to surplus.
 
Darren Constable said:
Now the 96's are attractive, but the AG42 is just plain sweet. I sold my mauser but I kept it! (of course, it's easier to find the bolt gun anyways...)
Click to expand...

The swedes surplused the AG42 before their M96 rifles..........if that tells you anything.

Why buy a swede? The same reason I buy swiss rifles......well made and accurate, and generally in great shape.

I had a couple of M96's, sold them as they were not in the condition I was told before hand. I'd buy another one if it was in nice shape.
They have a nice, mild recoil for the wussies........:)
 
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