Norwegian Krag in 6.5 Manlicher Schoenauer?

[yellowknifedave]

Just got a sporterized Norwegian Krag today.  It is supposed to be a model 94 and is dated 1917.  The barrel matches the receiver and the barrel is stamped 6.5 Manlicher Schoenauer.  Did such a beast really exist?

Any insight is welcome.

Thanks
YKD

[GatCat]

As far as I know, from several books ( "Bolt Action Rifles" by DeHass, and "Book of the Rifle", forget author, "Smith", maybe" ) the Norwegian Krag was originally chambered in 6.5X55, same as the Swedes. Both countries adopted the chambering at about the same time, but of course on country went with the Mauser, the other with the local-designed action. I would say that yours has been either set-back, and rechambered, or re-barrelled to what it is stamped. I think before I shot it I would do ( or have done ) a chamber cast to make sure.
It's kind of strange, I can't think of a time in the past when the M.S round was more popular, or available, then the 6.5X55, so why would one re-chamber or re-barrel to that caliber?? Maybe a past owner got caught-up in some of the old glory stories of the M.S. when it was used by "gentlemen hunters', who wrote the praise of the M.S. ?? Back around 1920-1940 or so??? I just re-read your post, you state the barrel matches the reciever ( serial #??). You know what I think, ( just a W.A.G., but it makes sense ), I think when it was sporterized, whoever did it wanted to stamp it with it's caliber, and simply stamped the wrong designation. Again, a chamber cast would be the ONLY way to go. Let us know what you find/figure out.
Mark

[chiefen]

Either somone has marked a new barrel with the original serialnumber or remarked the original barrel with a wrong caliber.
The Krag-Jorgenson did not have the kaliber stamped on its barrel (exept for small runs chambered in 8x57 produced in the late 40s-early 50s).

Is there any other markings on the barrel? Also-if you give me the serialno I can check and see when anf for whom this rifle was made.

[yellowknifedave]

Thanks for the input so far.  

The serial number is stamped on receiver and barrel in the same font, and the same size.  Serial number is 121707.  The date is stamped 1917.  It carries the Kongsberg cartouche.  There is another stamp that I cannot make out on it, and a C on the bottom of the barrel.  

The 6.5 mm Manlicher Schoenauer stamp looks professional.  It is very deep, and looks like it is supposed to be there.

I was expecting it in 6.5X55, and will be sending it back to the seller.  I am curious if it was manufactured in that caliber.

Thanks again.  Hopefully you can add more info.

Dave

PS. The chamber seems to have reasonably fresh tooling marks and a bit of filings in the action.  It will need a chamber cast; I think the chamber has been reamed.  Swede ammo will not fit though.  I do not know what it would have been reamed to. 

[Skookum]

 I ran across this old post and just thought that I would help clear up the mystery. I have a Norwegian Krag in 6.5 x 54 M-S. These were imported into Canada in the 50's. 6.5 x 54 was readily available in Canada, much easier to find and cheaper than 6.5 x 55 Swede at that time. The importer had these rechambered by use of a sweated-in chamber bushing / insert converting them to 6.5 x 54 M-S.

 Mine has a good bore with strong rifling, but with slight frost in the grooves. It will hold a 1" group at 100 yds using the same point of aim with everything from 160 gr Hornady RN to 100 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. And sub MOA with Sierra 100 HPs. The draw-back is that brass is currently hard to find, and a bit spendy when you do find it.

I wouldn't trade it or sell it for any reason short of starvation.

The stock had been roughly sporterized "chopped" and sanded. I re-shaped it and added an ebony fore-end cap, new recoil pad and a Lyman 57K receiver sight.

[1911crazy]

There are many 6,5mm rounds out there besides the swede 6,5.  There is a 6,5mm JAP, a 6,5mm Dutch, a 6,5mm norwegain, 6,5mm carcano and more too.  I think there maybe 10 or more different ones.  We just got the 6,5mm swede ammo offered here after many years of having nothing.  I don't think its been that long that we have had the 6,5mm swede ammo.  But time does fly.

Maybe S.S. will chime in or Mikey too they seem to be the guru's of the 6,5mm's. I'm not sure if one shoots better than the other but S.S. says his 6,5mm jap rifle is accurate too.

[Skookum]

 All Norwegian Krags were chambered for the 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser cartridge.

 I've had several rifles in 6.5 x 55. I have a Kimber 84 Montana in .260 Remington (6.5-308) that is extremely accurate also. I had a 6.5 Jap Sporter years ago, that would group a consistant 1/2" at 100 yds.

 6.5 caliber is probably my all around favorite.

[GatCat]

Skookum;
Nice looking rifle, and thanks for your input about the Norwegian Krags being modified for sales to Canada. A few years back I bought a Norwegian Krag with a "sporterized" stock, but it has a poor bore. It's on my list of "to do", have it rebarreled. Hope it turns out looking as good as yours !!!!!
Mark

[Skookum]

 It's sad that alot of these old Norwegian Krags are found with rough barrels. Due to the lack of availability of non-corrosive factory ammo , many used corrosive military surplus ammo and didn't clean the barrels properly, if at all.

 Several years ago I bought nearly 1000 rounds of 6.5 x 55 Swede ammo at an estate sale. After getting home I discovered that most of it was military surplus, with the bullets pulled and replaced with soft nosed commercial bullets. I dismantled some of it and replaced the corrosive primers, but the mercuric primers had taken their toll on the brass which was very brittle. I had to scap most of it.