Mannlicher Schoenauer Rifle Serial Numbers
MattieA65, There are others here more knowledgeable of Mannlicher- Schoenauers, but I'm guessing you have a refurbished Mod 1903(guessing it is 6.5x54-you didn't say). Even though it likely had the original front scope mount dovetailed into the receiver ring, the replacement had to be mounted with the base on the barrel. Even though a great many rifles had the receiver ring cut to mount a scope, this procedure was prohibited sometime after WW2. Some gunsmiths had cut too deeply and pierced the receiver ring. Sometimes, this caused damage to the rifle and possibly the shooter. As a consequence of this, the proof houses stopped accepting rifles with the scopes mounted this way. If the receiver ring wasn't pierced, the dovetail could be plugged and matted over, and accepted by the proof house.
Mannlicher, Steyr, & Blackpowder Cartridge Rifles Mannlicher Schoenauer DATE If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Jan 29, 2018 - Mannlicher Schoenauer Rifle Serial Numbers. Shivam-shyam.welcome to TFF. What you have is a Mannlicher-Schoenaur Model 1903.either.
Then it was a matter of if it passed the definitive proof, it passed. If the ring had been pierced, it wouldn't pass the view proof. You didn't include enough photos for me to tell the serial number of the rifle, but I would guess the last three numbers are 940 as shown on the trigger guard tang. The number on the barrel is not the serial number and without seeing other markings, I can't tell what it is. I didn't see any number on the stock. You have a nice rifle, use it and enjoy it.
If I'm wrong, someone will answer and correct me. One feature distinguishing the M1900 from the M1903: The M1900s had a flat spring inlaid into the left side of the cocking piece, retaining the firing pin nut. The M1903 omitted this unnecessary spring, replacing it with a small tab on the bottom of the nut. Early M1900s had the cartridge release button on the outside of the action rail, between metal and wood. Ones, like your's and the one shown above, had it inside the action rail just like all other M-Schs from the 1903 on.
Be careful on disassembling a M1900 bolt(I learned it the hard way): Like with the later M-Schs, you remove the bolt from the action and uncock it. You push the safety flag forward a bit an swing it to the right, safe position. Now you unscrew the striker nut a quarter turn. On the later M-Schs the bolt head stays captive and has to be turned to remove it, striker and main spring. Not so on the M1900: As soon as you remove the striker nut, the mainspring will eject itself, the striker, bolt head, extractor and ejector out of the bolt body. These parts usually fly into the darkest corners of your room, after shattering a precious Ming China object.
Especially the tiny extractor likes to disappear forever. Axel, how did you see all those differences in the photos posted here? Is the caliber 6.5x54 MS? Mike, MattieA's question was: ' is this a real M1900?' He asked the same question both here and on the Nitroexpress.com forum. So I posted the same answer twice.
As I know a thing or two about Mannlichers and Mannlicher – Schoenauers, I noted the stock shape and the uncommon (on M-S rifles) front sight bases at once. The Stutzen shown by me resides with a forester near. The other two items, the striker nut securing spring and maybe the position of the cartrige retainer button, are useful to identify a M1900 action.
All M1900s were in 6.5x54 M-Sch originally. This model introduced the cartridge, not the M1903. Myself I have another M1900 military action and barrel, once sporterised by George Gibbs, Bristol & London. It was the barreled action only, so I restocked it myself. Someone had it rechambered to 6.5x55 SE and duly reproofed in Birmingham 1982. Of course the Schoenauer spool magazine does not work well with the fatter Swedish cartridge.
I am still working on it. Gentlemen, on the advice of someone from the Nitroexpress forum, I removed the action and barrel from the stock. I found a lot of extra markings. The most encouraging was the number '940' on the bottom of the front receiver ring. Since there is a matching '940' on the bottom tang, I assume the rifle is pretty much of a piece, i.e. Not assembled from parts somehow.
The cocking piece does indeed have the flat spring on the left side, which further encourages me to assume this is a real M1900. Here are photos of the markings that were concealed by the stock.
Their British-ness makes me think this rifle was marketed to the UK.
Mannlichers are exotic rifles and were especially in demand in the post war years. Ruger made their international carbine which was popular for a number of years before being discontinued. Mannlichers are characterized by butter-smooth actions and bolt travel. Your rifle has quite a bit of drop at the heel, typical of Mannlichers.
Also, they usually require the services of a Mannlicher-skilled gunsmith to get them to group. Ammunition is available and the cartridge would be ideal for North American big game without also half-killing the guy behind the rifle. The rifle may be convertible to 6.5 Swede, a much more popular chambering. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ONE, BUT THE BEDDING ISSUE OF A BARREL IN A FULL LENGTH STOCK, ALWAYS LED ME TO QUESTION THE ACCURACY OF SUCH A DESIGN. THIS THINKING APPEARS TO BE VALIDATED BY POST #4 ABOVE, BY federali, THAT EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR A MANNLICHER SKILLED GUNSMITH, TO GET THESE RIFLES TO GROUP. INACCURATE FIREARMS, NO MATTER HOW PLEASING TO THE EYE, DO NOT INTEREST ME.
I haven't had a chance to shoot the rifle yet, so no report on the accuracy. I'm not worried about it, if it's a problem, I'll find a way to address it. My Steyr Mannlicher SL Fullstock just found a new home and nothing touching the barrel works for one ragged hole groups. I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT NOTHING TOUCHING THE BARREL WOULD HELP. I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THE STOCK COULD BE RELIEVED TO FREE FLOAT THE BARREL, FROM THE RECEIVER ON FOWARD-BUT, NEVER HAVING EXAMINED ONE OF THESE BEAUTIES UP CLOSE-ITS HARD FOR ME TO ENVISION, HOW OR IF, THERE IS NO BARREL TO STOCK CONTACT AT THE MUZZLE, TO INTERFERE WITH THE NATURAL HARMONICS OF THE BARREL.
I haven't shot my M1903 (safe queen), but I am confident that any Mannlicher Shoenauer in good condition will return good accuracy. They were precision made and carried an excellent reputation back in the day when available. If they were hopelessly inaccurate the hunters of that day and time would not have bought them.
I do have a M-S Model MCA carbine chambered in.358 Win. I can report that it shoots quite well without any fiddling or tinkering. They were top quality rifles. Those of you who shun them for lack of bench-rest accuracy can please send them my way. I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT NOTHING TOUCHING THE BARREL WOULD HELP. I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THE STOCK COULD BE RELIEVED TO FREE FLOAT THE BARREL, FROM THE RECEIVER ON FOWARD-BUT, NEVER HAVING EXAMINED ONE OF THESE BEAUTIES UP CLOSE-ITS HARD FOR ME TO ENVISION, HOW OR IF, THERE IS NO BARREL TO STOCK CONTACT AT THE MUZZLE, TO INTERFERE WITH THE NATURAL HARMONICS OF THE BARREL. I’ll retract the “nothing” part and change it to “almost nothing” as the wood’s tip is held by a lower band/screw arrangement.
Will post pictures tomorrow, hear that King George!!!! I haven't shot my M1903 (safe queen), but I am confident that any Mannlicher Shoenauer in good condition will return good accuracy. They were precision made and carried an excellent reputation back in the day when available.
If they were hopelessly inaccurate the hunters of that day and time would not have bought them. The full stock could lead to accuracy issues as the barrel heats up, if you took it out for an all-day plinking session, American style. But that would not occur to your typical European hunter. We had a MS 1903 “Stutzen” (the German term for the full stock shorty) in the family for generations. It got buried rather than turned in at the end of WW II, and was exhumed around 1950 when it was safe again. My dad shot his first roe buck with it, although he only borrowed the rifle, and I don’t know where it ended up.
I get a kick out of all the 6.5 MM Cartridges that have come out in the last few years. But 6.5X50, 6.5X52, 6.5X54, 6.5X53R, 6.5X55, all were around from the late 1800s till after WW2 and guns were available to hunters at very cheap prices after WW2. My late brother swore by his 6.5X55MM Swedish Mauser. Creative sound blaster live ct4780 driver download for windows 7.
Winchester & Remington both tried 6.5 with limited success now there seems like the 6.5 MM is the cartridge that everyone wants now. I would love to have a 6.5X54 Mannlicher Shoenauer 1903 Carbine. I remember talking with an old Maine hunter over 50 years a go and he was telling me how wonderfully his 1903 M S Carbine killed deer for him. I've got a couple 6.5 M/S 1903's, one in the restocking phase as it was only the metal parts when I got it. Another is a Greek M1903 done over by Geo Gibbs of Bristol, England to a sporter. It's chambered in their 256 Gibbs Magnum. I make brass from 8mm Mauser with 303Brit and shortened 6.5Swede dies.
Mannlicher Schoenauer M1903
Complete w/Aldis Bros scope in detachable mounts. A Sporter built on a Romanian M93 Mannlicher in 6.5x53R is a nice carbine and shoots very well. 5-shot en-bloc magazine fed,not the rotary magazine version. Brass made from 303Brit on 6.5M/S dies. A near handfull of Model 1908 and 1910 M/S complete the bunch. No safe queens in the lot, a couple with cut full length stocks, ect. I once owned an M/S Model 1905 in 9x56mm caliber.
It was a half stock British takedown rifle instead of the usual Mannlicher full length stock. I want to say the barrel was 22' or 24'. It still had the cleaning rod in the butt trap, a spare front sight blade in a pistol grip cap trap and a cool flip up aperture rear sight in the wrist. I was never able to find ammo, dies were very expensive and most importantly the correct diameter and weight bullets were like unicorns. I ended up selling it. Wish I could have been able to fire it, it was a beauty.
I HAVE NEVER OWNED ONE, BUT THE BEDDING ISSUE OF A BARREL IN A FULL LENGTH STOCK, ALWAYS LED ME TO QUESTION THE ACCURACY OF SUCH A DESIGN. THIS THINKING APPEARS TO BE VALIDATED BY POST #4 ABOVE, BY federali, THAT EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR A MANNLICHER SKILLED GUNSMITH, TO GET THESE RIFLES TO GROUP. INACCURATE FIREARMS, NO MATTER HOW PLEASING TO THE EYE, DO NOT INTEREST ME. I'm a fan of accurate rifles. For quite a few years I went even further and became fanatical about accurate rifles.
I have single-shot rifles and bolt action rifles that will easily shoot 1/2' groups at 100 yards, and game animals can be taken at 1/4 mile without too much difficulty. After hunting the Colorado high country for many years, usually keeping the freezer stocked with deer and elk, it occurred to me just how seldom I have ever taken a game animal at more than 80 or 90 yards. I remember a mule deer buck at about 400 yards once, standing perfectly still while I had a good rest to shoot from, and it took 3 rounds (.30-06, 165BTSP) in the boiler works before he went down. I remember an elk at about 250 yards, grazing peacefully while I had a good rest to shoot from; easy meat. But all the rest were taken at under 100 yards, sometimes under 50 yards, usually offhand or prone shooting with trees and brush in the way to make it a challenge, sometimes moving uphill or downhill; not easy shots for a careful hunter who wants to put the critter down properly. So, the old Winchester.30-30 with receiver sight, or the Savage 99 with Weaver 3X, even an as-issued 03-A3 Springfield, any of those would have served me just as well while being easier to carry all day in the mountains, even though none of them are particularly accurate when compared to a 10-12 lb. Tack-driving rifle/scope combo that shreds the X-ring on the range.
I think that gorgeous Mannlicher 1903 would make a great hunting rifle, even if it prints 3' or 4' groups at 100 yards. Lightweight, compact, plenty of power for typical game and hunting conditions. It should be a joy to carry and shoot! I'm a fan of accurate rifles. For quite a few years I went even further and became fanatical about accurate rifles. I have single-shot rifles and bolt action rifles that will easily shoot 1/2' groups at 100 yards, and game animals can be taken at 1/4 mile without too much difficulty. After hunting the Colorado high country for many years, usually keeping the freezer stocked with deer and elk, it occurred to me just how seldom I have ever taken a game animal at more than 80 or 90 yards.
I remember a mule deer buck at about 400 yards once, standing perfectly still while I had a good rest to shoot from, and it took 3 rounds (.30-06, 165BTSP) in the boiler works before he went down. I remember an elk at about 250 yards, grazing peacefully while I had a good rest to shoot from; easy meat. But all the rest were taken at under 100 yards, sometimes under 50 yards, usually offhand or prone shooting with trees and brush in the way to make it a challenge, sometimes moving uphill or downhill; not easy shots for a careful hunter who wants to put the critter down properly. So, the old Winchester.30-30 with receiver sight, or the Savage 99 with Weaver 3X, even an as-issued 03-A3 Springfield, any of those would have served me just as well while being easier to carry all day in the mountains, even though none of them are particularly accurate when compared to a 10-12 lb. Tack-driving rifle/scope combo that shreds the X-ring on the range.
I think that gorgeous Mannlicher 1903 would make a great hunting rifle, even if it prints 3' or 4' groups at 100 yards. Lightweight, compact, plenty of power for typical game and hunting conditions. It should be a joy to carry and shoot!
Great comments from someone who has real life experience in the field with various rifles. Though my rifle will not be used to hunt game with ( not legal in Ohio except for wild boar and coyotes) I appreciate the experience of someone who uses them the field. Hemmingway had one and used it in Africa. He also wrote about it in a couple of his stories. As one writer said he called it a 'very good rifle' and knew the difference between good and very good. A guy I knew had one in 270 and it would keep 5 shots in a playing card at 200 meters.
He bought it in Germany in the service. I would shoot it and see what it does before worrying about things that might be wrong. Trust the craftsmen who built it, they maybe knew what they were doing. By the way the people who bought these in Austria used them for hunting not group shooting.