Here’s a Carl Gustav 1903 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55

baltimoreed

baltimoreed

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Found this 6.5x55 Swede in Raleigh Saturday. It’s in very good shape for it being dated 1903, crisp grasping grooves, no dings or cracks. The important numbers match, the barrel bands don’t. A little rust on the buttplate and at the upper swivel. Wondering if it was only a target rifle as opposed to a military issued rifle. Other than the too heavy mainspring and straight bolt I like it as much as my ‘03 Springfield. Reloading dies, a Lyman mould and other equipment is on the way. Btw. Is the safety supposed to be red?

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That is a nice one. Never seen a red safety.
 
That is a beautiful rifle....even as Swedish Mausers go (which are often quite good) that's a really nice one.
Some fingernail polish remover (acetone) will fix that safety right up!
 
Yea someone definitely painted the safety. Curious if you found that at an LGS or if it was a private sale?
 
I bought one of these a few years back in great condition, intent on shooting vintage military matches with it - but never really fell in love with it. I only had some hunting ammo for it, so that might have affected my opinion too. My shooting partner at Butner this year had a short version of this rifle, and he earned a silver medal with it. That rifle was just hammering 10's in slow prone.
 
My only gripe is the straight bolt. I’ve got a unissued bolt coming and hopefully it will work on my rifle and then I can get it bent. Not enough for a scope to be mounted but just enough to be bent and to clear the stock. I don’t want to mess up the pretty wood it’s wearing.
Finally tried it on paper and after an elevation adjustment shooting at 40 rds off a rest it’s shooting my cast loads into an inch. I tried and hit my small 65 yd steel once out of 5 offhand, what I use for my Model 52 .22 target. I’m very impressed, that 119 year old Swede can shoot.
 
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My rifle is at a smith having the extra bolt fitted and turned down [but not enough to require stock modification.]
 
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$69.00 at Rose's in Wilmington.
I'll have to get mine out of the back of the safe.. I remember that it has beautiful wood on it.
 
baltimoreed said:
Found this 6.5x55 Swede in Raleigh Saturday. It’s in very good shape for it being dated 1903, crisp grasping grooves, no dings or cracks. The important numbers match, the barrel bands don’t. A little rust on the buttplate and at the upper swivel. Wondering if it was only a target rifle as opposed to a military issued rifle. Other than the too heavy mainspring and straight bolt I like it as much as my ‘03 Springfield. Reloading dies, a Lyman mould and other equipment is on the way. Btw. Is the safety supposed to be red?

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Wow that stock is immaculate
 
Oh that's beautiful, there's some nice patterns in the wood, and everything's such nice visual condition! Congrats on that find
 
The Swede is by far my favorite small ring Mauser. 6.5×55 is the most underrated of the euro calibers. And the best part was that even the milsurp blasting ammo was near match quality.
I wish I hadn't been on the @$$ end of the pyramid when it came to collecting them though.......
 
Dan0311 said:
Nice.

A MilSurp thread is useless without the, "These were $40 a dozen, stacked in barrels and crates at gun shows 30 years ago...." :D
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Nah, Swedes were $100 each at the time :)
 
IMG_3572.jpgMaybe one of you lads will know what I've got here; I'm not exactly sure. I believe it is a Kongsberg M1894 Norwegian Krag 6.5x55, made in 1899. I've never seen a milsurp that was this beautifully finished. I have not found a reference photo that looks exactly like this one. I believe the barrel and front end of the stock were shortened; the stock otherwise seems identical to the military stocks I've seen, but it bears no military markings. I am guessing it was being prepared for sporting use as, along with shortening the barrel, the front and rear sights were missing; I have found replacements and installed them. I got it from a fellow who had bought it at auction and didn't know exactly what it was either. Perhaps it is a commercial civvy model?
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Red Marley said:
View attachment 596962Maybe one of you lads will know what I've got here; I'm not exactly sure. I believe it is a Kongsberg M1894 Norwegian Krag 6.5x55, made in 1899. I've never seen a milsurp that was this beautifully finished. I have not found a reference photo that looks exactly like this one. I believe the barrel and front end of the stock were shortened; the stock otherwise seems identical to the military stocks I've seen, but it bears no military markings. I am guessing it was being prepared for sporting use as, along with shortening the barrel, the front and rear sights were missing; I have found replacements and installed them. I got it from a fellow who had bought it at auction and didn't know exactly what it was either. Perhaps it is a commercial civvy model?
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I'm afraid I can't help in terms of identification, but wow, that is so incredibly beautiful!
 
Red Marley said:
View attachment 596962Maybe one of you lads will know what I've got here; I'm not exactly sure. I believe it is a Kongsberg M1894 Norwegian Krag 6.5x55, made in 1899. I've never seen a milsurp that was this beautifully finished. I have not found a reference photo that looks exactly like this one. I believe the barrel and front end of the stock were shortened; the stock otherwise seems identical to the military stocks I've seen, but it bears no military markings. I am guessing it was being prepared for sporting use as, along with shortening the barrel, the front and rear sights were missing; I have found replacements and installed them. I got it from a fellow who had bought it at auction and didn't know exactly what it was either. Perhaps it is a commercial civvy model?
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Maybe an Engineer carbine? It is beautiful!
 
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