History of WWI Primer 124: Swedish Mauser 1896 Documentary

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Othais and Mae delve into the story of this WWI classic. Complete with history, function, and live fire demonstration.
C&Rsenal presents its WWI Primer series; covering the firearms of this historic conflict one at a time in honor of the centennial anniversary. Join us every other Tuesday!
Additional reading:
candrsenal.com/recommend-read...
Crown Jewels - The Mauser in Sweden: A Century of Accuracy & Precision
Dana Jones
Ammunition data thanks to DrakeGmbH
/ drakegmbh
Animations by Bruno!
/ @baanimations3689
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[@hickok45]

Great video! The Model 96 is one of my very favorite rifles of all time.

[@theluftwaffle1]

Are we ever going to see a shoot with it?

[@Domino8619]

Mine too!

[@CounterClaws]

@@theluftwaffle1 He's already done 2 videos on it.

[@jj70098]

You the man!

[@davve54321]

You have to try Ljungman ag42b! Same caliber DI semi auto

[@gallagherws]

Othias (at 19:42): “...you cant lose the manual if its bolted to the gun...” every grunt ever: “challenge accepted.”

[@51WCDodge]

lose it, eat it, or breed it.

[@planescaped]

"Hey I snapped this thing out of the stock of everyone's rifle, wanna use them as chips in poker?"

[@salfox1820]

Hold my beer, Sergeant

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Lol, same with the instructions on the AT4, another Swedish international success.

[@SolarEmp1re]

laughs in 11B

[@Benny---]

My dad still carried one of these during his mandatory military service in 1983. He served in a logistical support role in an armored regiment so I guess the Army figured people performing that role didn't need more modern weapons. He also qualified on the pistol range with a model 1907 Husqvarna pistol chambered for 9mm Browning Long because the more modern m/40 pistols had been pulled from service due to safety issues, so the old 1907 was brought back for a few years until the Army bought Glocks to replace them.

[@noth606]

Benny G sounds odd, are you sure it wasn't one of the carbines or short rifles? Those are specifically meant for logistical support troops rather than the full length M96 rifle which is a pure infantry rifle.

[@Benny---]

@@noth606 It may have been an m/96 converted into an m/38 short rifle during WWII. My dad couldn't recall all the details but he could remember that it had a straight bolt handle (some m/38s still had that) and the receiver was manufactured in 1906.

[@RobinRobertsesq]

I love the 1907

[@Mikkemeister]

They did remain in inventory into the 90's and used by Hemvärnet to about that time (though mostly replaced by the Ak-4). Don't think I saw any in use when I did my military service in -94, and definitely none in use during my time in Hemvärnet 10 years later.

[@Mikkemeister]

The 1907 did a short comeback in the late 80's early 90's when we started having problems with our m/40's catastrophically breaking due to hard use and stout ammo. It was just a temporary measure until we could get enough Glock 17 (Pistol 88) to replace them all.

[@nemzeh]

Regarding the "mystery hole" in the bayonet lug: It is a variant of the rifle stacking hooks seen on some other rifles of the time, e.g. the Lebel 1886. You use the cleaning rod (which actually doesn't work as a cleaning rod, it's an original Mauser rod for 8mm, presumably because of the problems of tooling up in time), and pull it through the hole, stacking up rifles alternatingly left/right, and Tadaa!, you have an impromptu field rifle stand. Source: Am current user of Gevär m96/38 in active military service, Royal Guard, King's Company (Livgardet, Livkompaniet).

[@cookingonthecheapcheap6921]

Othias does say that when he's explaining the bayonet, he just couldn't confirm it through sources.

[@stefankroik1083]

Enda skälet till att du använder det är att du är i kungliga högvakten(I1 eller K1), vilket gör det till ett ceremoniellt gevär, men va fan bajonetten är allt som behövs :o Only reason you use that is because you belong to the royal high guard(I1 or K1) and it is an ceremoniel weapon, but what the fuck the bayonet is all you need :o

[@SonsOfLorgar]

The monopod also looks like the "wheel is on wrong, as if it's supposed to be a snow rest for ski infantry. It also wouldn't surprise me if both uses (hedge stacking and snow rest monopod) was intended but the snow rest was discontinued quickly due to impracticality in the field and not really needed by the troops. I was one of the last few home guard youths who were allowed to use the m/96 before some paranoid politicians decided it was diplomatically questionable to let 15-18yo teenagers train orientation, radio operation, outdoorsman skills and marksmanship with obsolete service rifles still in semi-active use while in army field uniforms led by passionate home guard officers born around the end of ww2 XD They swapped the mausers for Anchüts .22LR sporting rifles...

[@51WCDodge]

@@SonsOfLorgar .22 is a lot cheaper to shoot, and dosent require large heavy ranges. and for first time or young shooters, less chance of flinch. Not as much fun as the Big Boys though.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@51WCDodgenew .22LR is not cheaper than using the surplus ammo in cold war storage since ww2 to last 800'000 soldiers for up to a year that has not been in use with regular forces aside from a company of royal guard dragoons since 1970...

[@charlespayne1061]

Man I love the 96 Mauser! I bought my first one at the age of 11 years old saved up a year for it cost me $89.00 and the bayonet was free, it was a different time... A better time.

[@Silverdunk]

Lucky, the cheapest thing I got when I was 11 was a mosin nagant at a gun show going for $270

[@F15ElectricEagle]

Got my M96 from Turners Outdoorsman back in the the early 1990s for $79.99. I was in Turners Outdoorsman a month ago and saw a M96 built in 1913 in the used gun rack. The price was $899.99.

[@Kalleri13]

Wow, i am amazed... I bought mine for $50 in 2018, but this was i Sweden. What I see these rifles are getting harder and harder to find in decent shape. One might wonder how many got exported....

[@charlespayne1061]

@@Silverdunk well you could have done worse Spanish Mauser in 308 cendney I have no idea how to spell it but every one I have seen were crap

[@charlespayne1061]

@@F15ElectricEagle I got another one at that time 92 I think. Great rifles love to got a p08 in the 70"s they couldn't give away lol

[@michaelhayslip8439]

That is about the prettiest rifle I have ever seen. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

My humble opinion....best caliber and best Mauser for the time of WWI. Well made and a favorite of the military surplus shooters. Thank you for covering the neutrals.

[@bobmccormick5290]

Two additions: 1) You did not mention the middle position of the safety. This locks the trigger but allows you to work the bolt. This is handy for safely and quickly unloading the magazine by working the bolt. You don't need to chamber fully, just pick up the new round then pull back to eject. 2) The hole in the bayonet mount is used for stacking. You pass a cleaning rod through three or more rifles. It is clunky to have the rod as a big horizontal item, and slow to un-hook, but it works. My first milsurp is an M96. I got interested in them from you, Forgotten Weapons, and Bloke on the Range. Thanks for all the info!!

[@IceNinja2007]

My grandfather had a 1908 year production of this rifle. Bayonet and everything.

[@dobypilgrim6160]

Mine is also a 1908 with bayonet and all the leather gear, including cartridge belt/magazine pouches. Great rifle. Still an absolute tack driver out to 1200 yards.

[@filiphaglund7817]

I have the one my great grandfather built in 1925 during his service in the Swedish army. Complete with bayonet and (broken) leather strap. It's a treasured posession of the family for sure.

[@chimeranhorde4423]

Doby Pilgrim uhh... you shoot flat irons on an old Gustav at 1200 yards?

[@michaeldavis4651]

Mine is from 1910 with all matching serial numbers. I love it.

[@loganmerryman202]

I have a 1900 year production with bayonet

[@buddy22801012]

One of my favorite rifles and definitely my favorite Mauser of all time. Bought that Swede at a gun show in 1995 for $115 the stock was sporterized but all metal is in pristine condition and the gun shoots 1 inch groups at 100 yards. I also picked up a 1889 Schmidt Rubin 7.5 from an antique shop for $175 also fun to shoot. These old Mauser’s become addicting. Everyone I bring out to the range ends up shooting my old Mausers more than my modern scoped rifles. I always find that amusing.

[@ChitFromChinola]

A brilliant rifle for a brilliant cartridge. Love the 6.5 x 55.

[@larswesterlund8499]

The m96 Mauser gevär ( gevär = a fire arm that is fired from the shoulder) was the weapon of chose here in Sweden up till the 1990 for the sports shooters. It was cheap to come by and it has a great precision. Carl Gustav factory even made a model 63 which looks like a hunting rifle, equipped with diopter sight, semi pistol grip and some other things that made it an excellent rifle. I own one and it is made 1900 by Husqvarna model 96 and modified to an m1963. (it is for sale).

[@khaccanhle1930]

YES! I've been wanting to see this one for years. My favorite milsurp. I bought one in 2001 and loved it ever since.

[@jagdyster]

2001 when I was 16 I was a member of FBU ungdom (the swedish army's youth organisation). We still used the m96 and "mine" was produced 1899. It worked fine but I was able to switch to a m38 which I preferred. A few years later they discontinued to use the rifle. Apparently a couple of rifles exploded and at least one eye injury accord.

[@rmod42]

Excellent work as always team. Thank you for yet another superb presentation.

[@thatboy2025]

I love your channel its ridiculously in-depth and well researched keep up the good work 👍

[@Cyborg9799]

Plus Animation was especially spectacular. It helps me learn how the bolt action triggers and safety works. Just all around great video You guys were enjoyed to listen to and I appreciated the hard work you did on the history of this thing.

[@AfrikaKorp42]

Had a distant relative carry one when he was called up to service in 1940. In his words "I looked at the Germans and they looked back at me"

[@MaHaL1337]

"You can't lose the manual if it's bolted to the gun." That's a challenge Othais. That's definitely a challenge that at least one swedish or finnish soldier has taken you up on. Never underestimate a soldier's ability to lose random things.

[@graysonsnyder5048]

I'm surprised they didnt mention the special swedish steel used to make these

[@philale4602]

a slow process with cadmium and nickel

[@captkrypto4525]

You both are GREAT!! you put so much into your videos, #1 source for history details on MilSurps!! Thanks!! Great Job!!!!

[@snegal]

After hearing Mae's comment at the end of the video, regarding a pistol grip I remember the second M96 I purchased. It had come from a private gun club in Sweden as I'm told (still has the clubs inventory tag on the front sling mount) and in addition to the very nice target peep sight there was installed by an armorer a pistol grip. This screws onto the bottom of the stock and as I understand it was the only type used by the armorers to aid with accuracy. A modification rarely used but for this rifle it makes sense. I have photos if your interested in seeing it. Thanks for a wonderful video. Be well.

[@blueduck9409]

Mauser actions are quite possibly the finest in the world, even today. Remarkable.

[@dang652]

Glad to see you guys back.

[@Azorthefirst]

No mention of the absolutely crazy service life of these guns? I always found it impressive that these rifles were so high quality that the sniper version (which was just regular rifles they added scopes to) where still in use with the military until 1995 and as far as I understand where used by police into the 2000s. Weapons with manufacture markings dating back to 1899 still serving their nation 100 years after coming off the production line. Amazing.

[@Enetso]

SMLEs were used as sniper rifles by the British Army into the 1990s and is still in use by the Bangladesh police force to this day. The 7.62 TKIV 85 in use by the Finnish Defence Force uses the Mosin-Nagant receiver (sometimes even old ones from back when it was the standard issue service rifle), making the Moist Nugget the longest serving service rifle still in official use today. Some of these rifles have much longer lives than we might expect.

[@genericpersonx333]

It seems absurd, but there was a logic to it which makes the story of Swedish military Mausers all the more interesting. Keeping the Mausers around solved an economic problem in the 1970s where Sweden wanted to buy a lot of expensive Stridsvagn 103 tanks to counter the Soviet Union rolling over them with their famous armored hordes, but couldn't quite afford to do that. So they had the idea that they could save a fortune on infantry rifles if they handed out expendable Mausers to many conscripts in peacetime, keeping many of the more valuable AK4 rifles safely in depot where they wouldn't be beaten up in the field or worn out on the range. In theory, if a proper war broke out, they would hand out the mint-condition AK4s to everyone and the Swedish Army would be a marvel of Modernity. Of course, odds are that if Sweden had mobilized during the Cold War, a lot of its men would have ended up in the front lines with ancient Mausers because the best-laid plans of parsimonious ministers usually don't go as intended. Still, if you got to go to war with a relic of the last century, you could do much worse.

[@videodistro]

This series is on the Great War period.

[@george7951]

​@@Enetso L42's. Those L42's were made in the 60 and 70s. The overall idea/system is more than a hundred years old, but the action isn't. Swedish Mauser on the hand, they really could be using a 1898 made, converted m41b.

[@MaseratiChris556]

No way!! After discovering your channel I found the urge to buy a WW1 piece. This is what I ended up with a very very clean example as well. And now months later you make this. I’m in heaven!

[@stephenrick6672]

Fantastic series, I look foreward to every episode. I don't get to everyone of them currently, my 1896 is 95 years old and I still use it for competition shooting, it's still very accurate.

[@ReadinessReviews]

I've been hunting for one of these for my Mauser collection. Great video y'all!

[@shiftygoose7230]

Thank you for the most comprehensive m/96 video I've seen.

[@Major_Bomber187]

Man, Sweden does good on their firearms.

[@slaughterround643]

*their.

[@charles1964]

I bought my 1896 Carl Gustaf in 1984 for $79 bucks, it was wrapped in wax paper and twine but the stock was dark and relatively un-dinged. It had so much cosmoline on it that it took almost 3 hours to clean, but once it was, I was very impressed by its condition, and all the numbers matched. There were hardly any tooling marks on the action, and the bolt cycled smooth as glass. I ended up attaching an M-1 Garand canvas sling to aid in shooting but recoil wasn't that bad, and the 6.5mm shot vary flat, even with mil surplus ammo. So I had it for a few years before I was convinced to sell it for $350 and 35 years of sellers remorse...

[@benc1927]

Thank you for posting this, I inherited a Swedish made Mauser from my Grandfather, as well as many other Mausers. I am attempting to learn how to best care for them, I enjoy the history of them thoroughly.

[@efmiii8896]

Two long awaited episodes on the m/94 and m/96. Thank you. Why not a word about the famed Swedish steel?

[@drstrangelove4998]

I agree Swedish steel was famous, but what did Mauser use in Berlin at the DWM factory, imported Swedish steel?

[@efmiii8896]

Dr StrangeLove-reportedly, yes: the Swedes required the Germans to use Swedish steel.

[@kevinmarshall239]

Been looking for more information about my m96 for a while, thankfully this was a great video!

[@pistolpete6321]

Great review, very informative!

[@yuibot5998]

FINALLY got me one of these. 100% all-matching, pristine bore, nice stock. I love it. Now to work up a load for it...

[@teammosin9999]

Any M96 I've ever had my hands on has been beautiful and a sweet shooter and very impressive, mechanically. Got to have one some day!! Thanks!!

[@servicerifle16]

The first Mauser I ever fired was a 1912 production 1896 Swede, very accurate and pleasant shooting rifle.

[@MyMRT1]

Ohh Swedish Mauser... 😍 Lovely rifle. This video will be watched over and over again... and over again 😊👍

[@bjolly8924]

Outstanding channel!! Can't say enough thanks for the education.

[@comiketiger]

I like the straight grip on a bolt action rifle. Love it. Had a Remington 870 with a straight stock I use to love as well.

[@MatsGarage]

Maybe someone has already mentioned this in the comments but as for the longer finger grooves. Sweden had a conscript army as you mentioned and people come in different sizes. So to fit most soliders and also with winter gear (gloves) that could be the reason for the longer and quite deep groves. Also the thumb cut for loading would be sized to work with gloves on.

[@coreys2686]

The shooting sequence was so satisfying for some reason. The sound and recoil of the 6.5 seem so calming/zen. Weird.

[@kennethrutledge9222]

AMAZING!!! I love it!!

[@mag318]

Another great companion video and next I hope you talk about the FSR M96s and the WWII Husqvarna. Looking forward to the M38 video.

[@HasturT]

Mae should try the AG m/42. It could be what she wants. Just mind the thumb.

[@SuperRewt]

I have one of these made in 1908, threaded. One of my most favorite rifles!

[@illegalclown]

Neat. I bought one of those 1898 Carl Gustafs a decade ago. I had no idea it was that rare. I wanted one of the German made Swedes but it amused me that such a "modern" gun was legally an antique and didn't need any paperwork, so I bought it. It is an amazing shooter too.

[@jeffryheintz9405]

I have an M94 carbine, (1915 Carl Gustof, and an M38 short Rifle, (1942 Husqvarna) They both put the bullets exactly where you point them. Nice recoil also.

[@PaulMooneyOutdoors]

Nice video. Thank you.

[@panzerabwerkanone]

A good Mauser to have if you only have one Mauser rifle. I have seven. If you like the 6.5x55mm in the Mauser you will absolutely love in in a semi-auto AG42B Ljungman.

[@Vonstab]

Or the upgraded versions of the BAR used by the Swedes, only thing wrong with that gun is the lack of a top mounted magazine.

[@PaulA-bv1rt]

Yes,yes,yes. The Ljungman is my favourite semi auto and I also had 3 96s and 1 m38 . The Ljungman, so accurate and easy recoil when you do the whole mag quickly.

[@Juppe50]

I did my military service in the Swedish artillery in 1977/78. We were trained on several weapons: Artillery pieces, of course; kpist 45b (Swedish K), AK4 (FN FAL), ksp 58, Mauser 96 and more.

[@MCG55555]

This is the greatest Monday.

[@derrickmabbott9095]

I am surprised you did not mention the recoil. The 6.5mm in such a large rifle is a very easy shoot, as well as being very flat shooting. I have an 1896 Oberndorf edition as well as the later M41B sniper. They shoot beautifully. My late wife was tiny and yet she found this as easy to shoot as 5.56mm. What a wonderful rifle.

[@jsma9999]

How the Show back since and lights after the owner of the gun got it back. Love the work

[@chikitabowow]

Amazing video, entertaining and very informative! At 13:00 i remember my grandfather (He served at the P4 regiment in Skövde in the late 1940's) mention in passing that it wasn't actually a big deal if that notch was dirty or even caked up, because of the angle of the round doohickey at the bottom bayonet it'll kinda "scrapes" enough dirt out of that notch that it can go over the notch, and the spring is heavy enough that it pushes most of any remaining dirt out of the notch itself when the bayonet locks in. He was explaining cleaning the rifle when i was a kid, this was about 25 years ago so i might be misremembering the details but i remember him talking about the bayonet itself and attaching it to the rifle. I actually got that rifle on my wall now, although it's deactivated now.

[@bullseyedixon5660]

GREAT VIDEO

[@markpoffinbarger9207]

I like the fact that it's accurate and the recoil is very mild!

[@johnfulmore6673]

Thanks!

[@LeifLundblad-ko7mc]

That music you play att THE showing is a finish song and is called Björneborgarnas March. Thanks for a Bert Good Chanel. Leif.

[@egrith2127]

I remember seeing one a while ago at my local gun shop, decided against picking it up because i couldn't find much about it, kicking my self now.

[@fluffynupking7340]

Great vid, very interesting

[@hanskc3302]

That Maeversation was extra warm, lol.

[@Frob25]

Anybody else not getting notifications when C and Rsenal uploads a new video?? I have had to look to for it on its release day for that last 2 months.

[@thomastheisman1751]

I've been getting them late, like a day or 2 after they drop.

[@davidkohler7454]

One of my favorite mil surp. And my favorite round. So mild and accurate. I hand load my own.

[@Kraakesolv]

Love my Husqvarna M38, it's much smoother than my other Mauser models.

[@mattiasolsson8]

Hi there The hole in the front lug is for stacking the guns in the armory. You simply use the cleaning rod and push it true 5 rifles then they stack together in the armory. // m96 owner from Sweden

[@Lv-sl3rm]

Got one of these not long ago myself. Excellent condition produced in 1908.

[@bestestusername]

I got a 1907 with bayonet, sling and 17 notches cut into the right side of the stock behind trigger running back, you can see them as you shoulder it to fire, interesting and a great fun shooter

[@scottbuckley6578]

I love how may works that bolt

[@deltavee2]

Loved the shot of the GI using his Harley like a cavalry horse was used in WWI.

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

Perhaps the best shooting military Mausers made and very easy to get good accuracy from with reloads even with the huge "jump" to the lands

[@2011woodlands]

Nice grouping!

[@wedge259]

The day has finally come! Swede mausers are my favorite milsurp rifles, I have a full set of an M94, M38, and M96. My M96 is a 1916 Carl Gustav with Finnish acceptance stamps, and the muzzle isn't threaded. I only wish the sights were easier to see for my poor eyesight!

[@iankiller1]

Excellent video as always. Any chance of covering the 1895 Chilean Mauser?

[@CachingCadre]

Love my 96. Have the back and leather frog for it as well. I really need to pull it from my safe and liberate some powder soon.

[@CachingCadre]

•bayonet..sorry, typo.

[@alanbud5181]

Love mine, had 2 but sold one. Kept the best one.

[@Cyborg9799]

I really liked your video. I am often thinking about aquire vintage or contemporary 6.5 x 55 Swede mostly because I get a laugh and appreciate that there is a good number of the vintage ones available in lh. Of course I am South paw. I was happiest man alive when Bergara came out with LH 6.5 creedmoor.

[@geekdude1]

I have two of these models of Swedish mauser bayonets. really funky little guys

[@ibfubar]

Very interesting and informative. 🍻🤙

[@rextex4222]

I love my 96. I have harvested 20+ deer with it over the years. The only modification I did to it was buy a 100 yard front site for it. I still have the original 300-meter front site put up for safe keeping.

[@DrBreezeAir]

I wish someone would dive this deep into the plethora of sporting rifles. Starting with the first smokeless.

[@jukkatalari3896]

”Pasila, Porilaisten marssi” :D Excellent video, once again :)

[@yesthecrumbs5806]

22:40. That is Simo Hayha armed with our gun today. A Finnish sniper with the world's highest confirmed kills at 542. A stought man standing at only 5'3". Born: December 17, 1905, Rautjärvi, Finland. Died: April 1, 2002, Hamina, Finland.

[@yesthecrumbs5806]

​@markgrant3653yo i know that idk what tf i was doing when i typed that

[@AdurianJ]

I'm pretty sure those Mausers where gifted to Finland during the winter war. In either case post war Sweden forgave the debts Finland had accumulated which where quite substantial.

[@cookingonthecheapcheap6921]

All head shots at 70 yards........"no I've never seen this gun before" lol Gorgeous rifle.

[@stjairni2246]

benjamin donaldson with a point blank at 300 yards the natural phenomenon without correcting the front sight height is that the rifle shoots high at anything less than 300 yards or meters.

[@aussiebloke609]

I bet she also says "What's poker? Will you teach me?" while batting her eyes. :-P

[@cookingonthecheapcheap6921]

@@stjairni2246 and I said she knows the gun, what are you saying? You're repeating what I said. Read my comment before stating the obvious like a prat.

[@cookingonthecheapcheap6921]

@@aussiebloke609 lol I'd never bet Mae. On the range or at the table.

[@stjairni2246]

benjamin donaldson Have you ever shot one of these rifles at anything less than 100 yards or meters? Though Mae is undoubtedly a good shot , her results were quite predictable. Did you read my comment before your ego misfired?

[@salfox1820]

Such a beautiful rifle.

[@ronalddunne3413]

I bought an M96 years ago and was impressed with the condition and the accuracy. Came with the bayonet and original sling... Picked up a pricey case of new ammo for it at the time and still havent shot it all. This rifle is surprisingly accurate and easy to shoot, even with that loooong barrel. So much so that I am tempted to scope it, as I had bought it as a mountain deer and elk rifle in the mtns of N Mexico.. I find the stock sights fiddly compared to the '98 sights I grew up on. I was surprised to hear you call it a '93- thought that it had a bit more protection for the shooter in case of a ruptured case or burst primer? Hopefully I'll never find out by experience what that would be like- a cartridge blew up in one of my '98 Mausers and that was pretty interesting, everything blew out the magazine well! About that bayonet- pretty obvious the Swedes hadn't fought many wars needing an actual bayonet- too small to be a real pokey thing- however, Ive found it to be a useful hunting or a fighting knife in a pinch. I believe that is what the Swedes had in mind when it was designed. It's a superior Swedish steel and takes a horrendously sharp edge, easy to over-sharpen, and it cuts. They can snap if abused, something a sword-steel bayo won't do.. The hollow handle makes a good cache for fishing line, hooks, water-proof matches, tinder... plugged by a wine-bottle cork or rubber stopper. Thanks for this interesting piece on one of my favorite rifles!

[@Suckmyjagon]

You guys rock

[@AdurianJ]

We shot these in the Defence Youth here in Sweden in the 1990's and they came in all kinds of varieties. We always had the long rifles but some had cranked bolt handles and some had dial sights the oldest gun we ever had was 1894 or something.

[@sorino2817]

Nice video.

[@vinnydrew6263]

I love my M96, i didn’t realize until this video that mine was made in 1898. It was one the first 3000, serial number in the 2000s.

[@ivankrylov6270]

Have a Carl Gustav 1900 m96/38 with a butler creek stock, and all i have to say is that Mae is absolutely right on the semi-pistol grip

[@MaxMinXX]

WooHoo! Finally!

[@Steven-jz1bl]

sorry for the translation I am French.. For the hole here is an explanatory picture.. s946.photobucket.com/user/KABRG/media/DSC_0319_zps300f9470.jpg.html

[@genericpersonx333]

The question, though, is if this was the purpose of the hole, or something someone figured out you could do afterwards? So far as stacking aids go, it obviously would work to link the guns with a cleaning rod through a series of holes like that, but it clearly is not something you can disassemble in the blink of an eye like a more conventional stacking hook or bayonet system does. You don't just want your rifle tepee to keep the guns clean and out of the way, you want the guns to be available in an instant in case the enemy appears unexpectedly. Seems an odd choice to make. Not saying it is impossible, but certainly not the most obvious choice to make in my opinion.

[@erg0centric]

now we know how the clearing rod became bent

[@aussiebloke609]

@Generic Person X Agreed. The purpose of stacking is so they're at hand and available at a moment's notice, while keeping them out of the way and undamaged - this would actually make retrieving one's rifle that much slower, so I cant' see it as being the originally intended use. That said, it certainly looks to be convenient for racking and display purposes in this day and age. :-)

[@slaughterround643]

@@erg0centric more like erg0nomic amirite?

[@slaughterround643]

@@genericpersonx333 it seems useful for boxed transport and storage

[@fhsreelfilms]

Thanks for covering the Swedish Mausers. I have been very curious to learn more. I think the cock-on-open (COO) vs cock-on-close (COC) comes down to personal preference and there doesn’t seem to be one right answer for everyone. I shoot a 1903A3 and an M1917 in CMP matches, and while I love both rifles, I have a light preference for the M1917 because of the COO action and the extra weight to soak up recoil. The COO of the 1917 just feels smoother, and less tiring on the rapid fire stages, which makes it feel faster. The COC just feels like it puts the resistance in a motion that is harder to get strength behind. However, I have heard shooters say the opposite. Thanks again, C&Rsenal!

[@Dadirtydirty]

I’m lucky enough to have a Finned Marked M96. It looks like the 96 they used has been sanded.

[@viggenguy4411]

I'm in need of one of those to accompany my Finn marked m94 Carbine!

[@nordicbastard2328]

Yup, I have one too, saved it from being "bubba'd". Mine is a 1900 with what I think is a Finnish-produced replacement beech stock, simply because it's rougher and chunkier than a regular m96 stock and has a couple repairs and minor snow damage to boot (and several minor parts came from other guns). I wouldn't part with it for anything. It provides a nice contrast to my all original 1902 m96 in its near- perfect condition walnut stock.

[@johnritchie4801]

Great to to a Woman who love these Rilfes and can shoot Great Video both of you. I just bought one and cannot wait to shoot it.

[@richardcontinijr9661]

Hands down my favorite Mauser wish I had one

[@TehSquare]

The multiple types of wood being tested for stocks is pretty interesting. I wonder if it was mostly trial and error determining the optimal species of wood or if a lot of destructive testing was involved?

[@DS-si5cp]

I know that wood had a lot of graphs determining tensile and compressive strength depending grain orientation and species that date from this period

[@harpoonman234]

That's a good question, I have seen a lot of variation and in person have seen rifles with walnut, elm, and beech. I personally have a 1900 Carl Gustaf produced m96 with a beech stock, so I'd like to read up more on the choice of stock wood and if mine is a replacement or original

[@dwightehowell8179]

By WW II some countries started using laminated wood and stocks made of sections of wood glued together.

[@KarltheKrazyone]

That sort of information would have been fairly common and well understood expert knowledge of the time. We are still talking a time when a lot of wooden boats are being built, and so "industrial" carpentry would have been far more common than it is today. The characteristics of what woods, and how long they would have needed to been seasoned, in what conditions, what sort of prices, and what sort of industrial practices would have been something a subject matter expert would have been able to reference easily. For example, a certain wood might have the tensile strength, but maybe would need more specific finishing, or maybe was harder on the milling equipment, or another wood might be cheaper, but need to seasoned longer for stability. Its my understanding that the socket design on the lee enfield type rifles comes in part from the type of woods they would be able to get, and in what quantity.