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Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 8:41 am
by knormal
Won this at auction on Saturday, 1915 Carl Gustafs m/96 reworked to an m/38. All the metal seems to be in great shape, stock has lots of "character" but based on the color/age of the marks, it was all earned in service. Man, the Swede's put serial numbers everywhere on this (all numbers match which is nice.) Looking forward to trying it out soon. Have a Lee handloader kit on order...
action
overall
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 9:08 am
by millman
Should be a great shooter.
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 9:35 am
by sheepdog
Those came with some different sights, one a micrometer with a dial that sat in the old m/96 sight and the later ones a ladder with a T stamped on it. Check to see what you have and that it's set up for an m/38 not an m/96. Threaded barrel, the Swedes used plastic thread protectors, don't let anyone talk you into putting one of those bogus flash hiders on it. That little 6.5X55 is one hell of a round once the right load is developed, start out with a medium to slow powder.
Congrats, you started out with one of the finest Mausers ever made.
How about a picture of the bore disk? Those are always interesting.
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 12:00 pm
by TnBuckeye
Absolutely love shooting mine. I would say if the bore looks decent you won’t be disappointed!
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Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 2:47 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:24 am
by qz2026
Nice! Congrats, you will love this rifle.

Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 8:58 am
by knormal
Thanks for the support! Here's a photo of the disk when I brought it home - rubbed some of the dirt off, but have not polished it. The bore looks OK to my eye after a good cleaning, but the plate says condition 2.
data plate
Last night I found out how to dismantle the bolt and got the rest of the old goo out - it's pretty slick now with just a little oil in there.
BTW, are there any grease points on this rifle, or is oil just fine?
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 9:29 am
by sheepdog
Oil is fine. Number 2 bore means some minor corrosion but a number 2 bore is still a very good bore.
Here is some good reading on Swedes
http://surplused.com/tip-how-to-read-sw ... ock-disks/
http://dutchman.rebooty.com/
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 9:35 am
by qz2026
The decent thing about the bores in these guns whether marked 1,2 or 3 will still out shoot most shooters. I've seen a few 2 bores and for the live of me I couldn't find any pitting, light or otherwise. But, the bore had brilliant shine.
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 12:06 pm
by sheepdog
Those Swedish armorers were a picky bunch and since the invention of non corrosive primers the Swedes always used non corrosive ammo. Never used in a war either unless you see the Finnish SA stamp on one. I've never seen a Swedish Mauser with a sewer pipe for a bore.
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 4:38 pm
by Ironnewt
sheepdog wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2019 9:35 am
Those came with some different sights, one a micrometer with a dial that sat in the old m/96 sight and the later ones a ladder with a T stamped on it. Check to see what you have and that it's set up for an m/38 not an m/96. Threaded barrel, the Swedes used plastic thread protectors, don't let anyone talk you into putting one of those bogus flash hiders on it. That little 6.5X55 is one hell of a round once the right load is developed, start out with a medium to slow powder.
Congrats, you started out with one of the finest Mausers ever made.
How about a picture of the bore disk? Those are always interesting.
Where if anyplace are the plastic thread protectors available?
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:35 am
by sheepdog
Ironnewt wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2019 4:38 pm
Where if anyplace are the plastic thread protectors available?
PM me your address, I have an extra or two or could also cut a 1/2" off of some 5/8" PVC tubing.
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 6:12 pm
by RazorBurn
I really dig the Swede Mausers. Every one I have fondled was buttery smooth even with quite a bit of cosmoline present.
Nice score!
Do you mind me asking how much it set you back?
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:47 am
by knormal
Thanks for the tip on the thread protector - I see a fellow online selling metal ones, but don't know that a $20 price is worth it. I'll see what I have that can fit, or just get some tubing like you mentioned.
@RazorBurn I bid $250 at a local auction which had several Mausers (husqvarna, serb, portugese, german, etc), some went more, some went less. After all is said and done I spent $310 out the door.
Also, I'm going to go back and try cleaning the barrel further, just in case the cleaner helped soak in a bit more this week. Might leave it in the Texas sun for 5 minutes to help soften up crud/grease. Bayonet is on it's way.

Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 4:27 pm
by RazorBurn
knormal wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:47 am@RazorBurn I bid $250 at a local auction which had several Mausers (husqvarna, serb, portugese, german, etc), some went more, some went less. After all is said and done I spent $310 out the door.
You did very well especially if all the numbers match. Very nice score indeed!

Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 2:40 pm
by knormal
Thanks, I'm just glad it doesn't have a glaring import stamp on it - it's descretely done under the barrel, half hidden by the cleaning rod.
a few boxes of 6.5x55 arrived last night... hoping to take it to the range on Saturday with my Mosin M44.

Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2019 8:41 am
by sheepdog
PPU 139 gr. soft point seems to be the ticket in ready rolled for Swedes. Much better than the PPU FMJ.
Re: Bought my first Mauser!
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:59 am
by TnBuckeye
knormal wrote:Thanks, I'm just glad it doesn't have a glaring import stamp on it - it's descretely done under the barrel, half hidden by the cleaning rod.
a few boxes of 6.5x55 arrived last night... hoping to take it to the range on Saturday with my Mosin M44.

Let us know how it goes. I suspect your M44 might start feeling a little lonely and neglected after that range trip!
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