Author Topic: Can anybody tell me what I have? (Read 3709 times)

DalesCarpentry · « **on:** November 01, 2009, 05:41:50 AM »

I bought this some time back. I was told it is a 96 Swedish Mauser in the 6.5x55 swede. I am not sure that is what it is though. In my search on the net it would seem that the 96 mauser has a straight bolt handle. Mine does not it is curved. I think it might be a 98 Swedish Mauser. I would like to get a different stock for this rifle and I need to know for sure what I have to do so. Do any of you have a good link to a site that has stocks for this rifle? Any help would be great. Below are some pictures of it. Thanks Dale

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2009, 05:46:55 AM »

Also is the bolt on these guns stainless steel? The reason I ask is because all I have seen have bright metal not blued. Dale

Skunk · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2009, 05:47:57 AM »

Dale, what is printed on the top of the receiver? Can you post a picture, please? Lots of Swedes had straight bolt handles.

Edit: I see you posted pics while I was typing.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2009, 05:49:23 AM »

Here are a couple more pictures. Dale

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2009, 05:51:54 AM »

It has some writeing under one of the bases but I can't make out what it says. Dale

Skunk · « **Reply #5 on:** November 01, 2009, 05:57:33 AM »

Dale,

Go to this site and page through it (use "next" button at bottom of page) and see if the pictures can help you ID yours:

http://members.chello.nl/r.swiader/DaSwede/ds1.htm

This is also an excellent site. It might even be more helpful than the above site:

http://dutchman.rebooty.com/

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #6 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:00:03 AM »

Thanks I will give it a try. I want to use this rifle for deer this year. I have not even fired it yet.

I need to get a scope for it and get it to the range. Dale

Siskiyou · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:07:46 AM »

It looks similar to my M96. The key information you need is under the front mount. If it is a Swede it will say who manufactured it, and what year.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:17:23 AM »

Dale looking at the lack of a cocking peice on the bolt makes me think it is a 93 mauser of some type. THe 96's I have seen always had a knurled cocking peice. See the pic in this link looking at the right side of the gun the bolt handle is marked red and so is the top of the cocking peice. Also the bolt handle on your rifle is not in its original configuration. The original for this was either cut off and a new style welded on, or it was forged into this shape. THey redid the bolts for scope clearence when they sporterized this gun. I would also guess it has an aftermatket barrel. I have built one of these small ring 6.5x55s for my son and am working on another. When done I had a rifle that was a little over 7 lb with scope, that was suitable for coyote through moose. Enjoy your new toy, 6.5x55 is a great round.

OOps after seeing the barrel pic that does look like a mil barrel. But I still do not see the cocking knob.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #9 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:33:42 AM »

I have just removed the front base. It says 1923 on it. I has what looks to be a crown on it and these are the letters I can make out FABR then I can't make out a few letters but at the end of the word it says DERMAS. Does this help anyone? Thanks Dale

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:40:07 AM »

Well it is a small frame mauser (93, 94, 95, or 96)
the safety has been replaced with a after market scope safety.
Looks like the bolt was turned down (not a military 94, 95 Cav or carbine, or Cav 96)
Remove the bases and read what is on the reciever.
Also seeing the gun cocked will help. Show a picture of the cocking piece.
If it has a tail sticking up, it is a 96 or 38 (short 96).
The pictures do not show it well.
What length is the barrel?
Once we know country of origin we can we can tell if it was originally a carine or if it was cut down.
Good book to look at is MAUSER MILITARY RIFLES OF THE WORLD by Robert W.D. Ball.
(goes over every countries models and markings)
Or
Mauser Rifles
NRA Publications
goes over how to modify a military rifle to a sporter and what the marking mean.
And how you can tell a sport from a custom rifle.
Sport uses the old military barrel and custom has a commercial barrel. military barrels are stepped rather than contoured.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:46:52 AM »

Both spain and sweeden have crowns.
is the DERMAS
Fabrica De Armas? = Spanish
Crown and DEL'ETAT = Belgium
Another book that will help is Gun Marks. I do not have my copy currently, so I do not know who wrote it.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:55:10 AM »

The oval ruptured case vent on the left side of the reciever makes me think Spanish 95 action.
Are you sure on the 6.5X55 Swede as a caliber?
Are you sure it is not 7X57 mauser?
264 vs 284. Looks real close.
As far as the caliber goes you need to have a chamber cast made.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2009, 06:59:28 AM »

Here are some pictures of it cocked. Yes the person I bought it from said it was a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser although no where on the rifle is 6.5x55 printed. I hope this helps you. Thanks Dale

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2009, 07:01:13 AM »

here are a couple more. Dale

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2009, 07:38:43 AM »

I am going to say it is a 95 action.
Based on the ruptured case hole, the cocking peice (does not look to be ground off) and the swoop in the frame just ahead of the bolt.
It could be a 7X57 or could have been made into a 6.5X55.
Again your best bet is to have a chamber cast made.
If it is a 7mm it could have been modified to a 284 Win or 280 Rem.
It also could have had a 96 barrel screwed in and the bolt face opened.
7X57 is .473 rim (so is 284 and 280)
6.5X55 has a .480 rim.
Same goes with the 6.5 could have been modified to 6.5X57 mauser, 6.5-06 or other.
Same as the 8X57 98 actions were made into 8-06. Or some other strange European caliber.
The only way to tell is have a chamber cast made.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #16 on:** November 01, 2009, 08:40:02 AM »

The guy I bought it from said it was a 6.5x55 swede. He said he fired it so I would think it really is a 6.5x55 swede. Dale

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** November 01, 2009, 09:11:06 AM »

OK.
I just went out to the garage to see if a 6.5X55 would chamber in a 30-06 (shares the same body as 7X57)
the .477 base of the 6.5 stops it.
but then it could be a 6.5-284 that is "like 6.5X55"
The problem I am running into is the 95 was not made in 6.5X55 sweed.
The 94 and the 96 had a tail on the cocking piece. Does not mean someone did not swap the cocking piece wen they added the scope mount safety. but I do not see that Oval ruptured pressure relief and the frame swoop/ scallop on the 94 or 96 that were 6.5's.
But on the 95's i can find were either 7mm or the Luxembourg gov't had a 93 and 95 that was chambered in 6.5X53.5 but it is a large rimmed round .524. (measure the bolt face.
I guess one way is to do what I did. Get a 6.5 Swede and see if it chambers.
If it is not it will not chamber, then get a chamber cast. If it will chamber- get a chamber cast just to be sure.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #18 on:** November 01, 2009, 09:18:26 AM »

My local gun shop has some 6.5x55 swede rounds in stock. I will pick up a box of them next week and see how it chambers. Can you tell me where to get a stock for this rifle? Thanks for your help Dale

Graybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** November 01, 2009, 09:58:08 AM »

Once again Dale you are NOT listening to what folks are telling you. take it to a gunsmith and have a chamber cast made before shooting it unless you have supreme confidence in the person who sold it to you. Folks make mistakes. Almost certainly from what folks have said here your rifle is not wearing the barrel it left the factory with. The stock on it is an aftermarket stock so if you take it off inside it might say what it's made to fit and some additional markings might be seen to help with the ID.

Measure the bore to see if it's .264" or .284".

Firing such a rifle without having a chamber cast made to verify what it is REALLY chambered to is not a wise plan.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 01, 2009, 10:54:41 AM »

For a time, years back, Kimber was taking clean 96's, lowering the bolt handle, drilling and tapping em, and generally sportsterizing them, including a Ram-Line plastic stock. Does your rifle have a wood grain plastic stock? I do not know anything about the markings or chamberings of these Kimbers, but it looks like it could be one of them. But yea, if not clearly marked, have a chamber cast done, or at least try a set of 6.5X55 "go"/"no go" gauges. Any decent gunsmith can do either.

Larry

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #21 on:** November 01, 2009, 11:02:54 AM »

Yes it has a Ramline woodgrain plastic stock on it. The barrel measures 25 1/2" to where it screws into the receiver. Dale

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #22 on:** November 01, 2009, 11:12:00 AM »

Here is a link to where I bought it. Dale
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,180523.0.html

mjbgalt · « **Reply #23 on:** November 01, 2009, 12:25:52 PM »

that looks to me like the kimber sporterized 96 swedes.

the safety on the right side, the stock being ramline, and the no markings are typical of the kimbers.

have a gunsmith look at it, and if it is good to go, go for it.

those are great little rifles. if you decide to sell it i might be interested.

Graybeard · « **Reply #24 on:** November 01, 2009, 01:38:28 PM »

canon6 is a long time member here and seems a solid person who'd not likely steer you wrong. In his thread on it he says he has fired it with 6.5x55 ammo he hand loaded for it so I think it safe enough to assume it really is that.

torpedoman · « **Reply #25 on:** November 01, 2009, 01:39:31 PM »

It is a custom mauser that bolt handle is a aftermarket the originak was straight it was cut off and the new one added . The bolt release/stop (the box on the left you pull out to remove the bolt) screams mauser if the dat is correct it is small ring the caliber could be anything if the barrel was changed when the work was done only a chamber casting will tell you what it is unless it is marked on it.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 01, 2009, 01:46:00 PM »

I'm thinking it is not a 95 as it does not have the saftey ear behind the bolt handle. (OOPS the "saftey ear" was only on the Chilean mauser.) The rifle I built on the 95 action for my son with an Adams and Bennet barrel was on a 95 action. This fact with the lack of the cocking ear of the 96 swwede leads me to believe it is a 93,94 or 95 spanish.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 01, 2009, 01:59:42 PM »

OK after looking in my 91 to 98 Kuhnhausen manual, what we have here Dale is a 95/93 Spanish mauser. My sons rifle is a 95 Chilean mauser hence it had a "saftey" ear behind the bolt. THe way to tell if it is a 93 or 95 spanish will be by looking at the bolt face, the bottom of the 93 is squared, the bottom of the 95 bolt face is rounded.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #28 on:** November 01, 2009, 02:07:39 PM »

looks like you finally got that ''do it all'' with one rifle

now don't go broke and sell this one

this i probly one of the most versitile rounds
on a classic action

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #29 on:** November 01, 2009, 02:09:49 PM »

Quote from: billy_56081 on November 01, 2009, 01:59:42 PM

OK after looking in my 91 to 98 Kuhnhausen manual, what we have here Dale is a 95/93 Spanish mauser. My sons rifle is a 95 Chilean mauser hence it had a "saftey" ear behind the bolt. THe way to tell if it is a 93 or 95 spanish will be by looking at the bolt face, the bottom of the 93 is squared, the bottom of the 95 bolt face is rounded.

The bottom of the bolt face is square. Thanks Dale