1900 Swedish Mauser. What do I have?

[WeeHooker]

Figured I’d ask the vintage military rifle group here for some help IDing some specifics on this rifle that I took in trade yesterday for some fishing equipment

Receiver is marked 1900 Mauser Orbendorf, 25” barrel, 6.5x55 cal, bolt and receiver have matching numbers. Condition wise, it appears good. I’ve seen it shoot tight groups at 100 yds and the bore looks bright. Everything seems to function as designed. There is a hairline crack starting from the butt plate forward (maybe 3”) but you have to look for it. The rear sight is odd and what I believe they call a Navy” sight? It seems pretty much like my 1911 Carl Gustaf Mauser if not for the shorter barrel and rear sight. Any help with IDing model/variant (and value) would be appreciated.

 

[roostercogburn98]

This is the second DWM Mauser posted this week I believe. Must have been a fire sale somewhere

 

[roostercogburn98]

My bad it’s not a DWM

 

[roostercogburn98]

Mauser produced M96

 

[WeeHooker]

Mauser produced M96

So the made the M96 in two different barrel lengths?

 

[Calfed]

Mauser produced M38.

Early Swedish Mausers were made both in Sweden by Gustafs and in Germany (using Swedish steel) by Mauser. Yours was made in Germany, originally as an M96.

Originally produced as the M96, with a 29" barrel, beginning in the 1930's Sweden began to cut some of the 29" barreled M96's to 24" and renamed those as M38's. In the 1940's, Husqvarna made approximately 80,000 new M38's.

Yours has a Vasteras rear sight insert to correct for the difference in trajectory of the bullet from the shorter barrel.

 

[Calfed]

These are M38's...(two lower ones are Husqvarna)

These are M96's

 

[Calfed]

Value-wise, some people believe the M38's are worth more because there were fewer of them. I don't usually see much difference in the value, which these days seems to be $600 or so, in matching , good condition. If your bore condition disc in correct, your bore is in good condition.

By "matching" I mean all matching, which includes bolt, receiver, butt plate, stock, floor plate, bolt release, all bolt parts (bolt body, bolt sleeve, etc), barrel rings

 

[WeeHooker]

Value-wise, some people believe the M38's are worth more because there were fewer of them. I don't usually see much difference in the value, which these days seems to be $600 or so, in matching , good condition. If your bore condition disc in correct, your bore is in good condition.

By "matching" I mean all matching, which includes bolt, receiver, butt plate, stock, floor plate, bolt release, all bolt parts (bolt body, bolt sleeve, etc), barrel rings

Oddly, the barrel rings and floor plate have no visible serial number. The butt plate has one that is different from the receiver . The bolt and parts match. I'm thinking $500 would be a fair price to flip it to a friend who is interested. I have 90 or so rounds to give with it.) I'd keep it but already have a favorite 96 that I shoot at our club match's.

Thanks all for your input. it was very helpful!

 

[Calfed]

I would agree with around $500 as a fair price. Later replacement parts were sometimes only marked with a tilted crown. The Husqvarna M38's sometimes had EP'd serial numbers on the bolt parts.

 

[WeeHooker]

I would agree with around $500 as a fair price. Later replacement parts were sometimes only marked with a tilted crown. The Husqvarna M38's sometimes had EP'd serial numbers on the bolt parts.

Thanks again. Yes, the floorplate and barrel bands do have the crown.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

I found this regarding the stock disc, which I thought was pretty neat:

Stock Discs for 1894 & 1896 Swedish Mausers

 

[Lange Carabine]

You rifle was made in 1900 as a Model 1896.
Later it was modified to M38 specs.
The correct model designation for your rifle would be M96/38.

 

[Calfed]

You rifle was made in 1900 as a Model 1896.
Later it was modified to M38 specs.
The correct model designation for your rifle would be M96/38.

Actually, the term"M96/38" is a term only used by US collectors. The Swedes never used that term. An M38 was simply an M38, whether it was made by Gustafs, Oberndorf, or Husqvarna

 

[Lange Carabine]

Actually, the term"M96/38" is a term only used by US collectors. The Swedes never used that term. An M38 was simply an M38, whether it was made by Gustafs, Oberndorf, or Husqvarna

 

[Random Guy]

I too have a 1900 dated Mauser Orbendorf in the safe, but it's the M/41B sniper rifle configuration. I need to take it out to the range this year.
For a rifle made 122 years ago, and a scope that was originally made in 1941 (both were re-built in mid-1950s), its a pretty neat old sniper rifle.

 

[Calfed]

Beautiful M41B, RG.

I've got an 1899 Gustafs M41B.

 

[Calfed]

Here's my real M41B next to my faux M41B

 

[WeeHooker]

Thanks for all your input, as it turns out a long term friend of mine was looking for one of these to shoot in our vintage military matchs. I made him a deal he couldn't refuse!