Let's have a little variety. I haven't seen a Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine posted on the Smith & Wesson forum, so here goes. Your late summer jolt!

This is an adaptation of a thread I posted on another forum in Sept. 2010. Here is a Model 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer I bought back in 2010.

Most of you will know, the Model 1903 is the wonderful little gun chambered for the 6.5x54 M-S round.

These are not particularly good photography. I took these pics outside and suffered a lot of glare. Anyway, here's a look:



















































This rifle, proofed in 1908, was a special order with a 55cm (21 5/8") barrel. It is virtually mint, aside from the rubs on the buttplate, and may be unfired since proof. The bolt shows almost no rubs. It's so cherry it's scary.

I have a full compliment of loading dies, brass, and bullets. So far I haven't even loaded ammo. I suppose I'll shoot it, but I'll have to build up my courage.

The rifle came to me from William Larkin Moore & Sons. I have the greatest respect for that company and the Moore family. I have done business with them for 20 years or so. Every transaction has been perfect. This rifle was described conservatively, and my impression when it arrived was that its condition is better than I expected.

The M1903 M-S is a rifle that created many legends. I wish this 106 year old rifle could talk.

Curl

That is a beautiful rifle and i have wanted one like that all my life. I had a Model 1908 takedown rifle in 9x56 MS caliber. It had the original cleaning rod sections in the butt trap and had a pistol grip trap with spare front sight blade. There was a folding tang sight inlet into the stock behind the bolt that folded up and down when you worked the bolt or you could lock it down and use the folding leaf sights on the barrel. I never did find ammo for it and didn't want to spend a fortune for loading & forming dies plus 9mm rifle bullets weren't exactly common either so I sold it.

The very picture of elegance. You photography is very good. It would be great if it could talk.

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S&WCA 1729

Like Walter, I've wanted one of these since about age 13, when I built one from a (Revell, I think) plastic model kit. SWEET little rifle and that 6.5x54mm would be a new shooter's darling.
Please shoot it and tell us all about it.

Larry

Pure Art......

Thank You for the fine pictures

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I Love This Site

Pure class. Love the styling, have always loved Mannlicher-style carbines. I have a Ruger 77 RSI in .308, which in no way compares to your M/S, but it's close enough for a poor boy, I guess.

those are great rifles. one of the real classics. typical high quality from the prewar days. both wars.

Wow! Looks like you opened a time capsule. I restored my dad's 1927 Breda M/S. The 6.5x54 cartridge is a wonderful but neglected round. The rifle shoots respectably at 100 yards. It is not the trophy you have but it is very dear to me. The designs of both the action and the magazine were very impressive, even by today's standards. I wish ammo was more available as I don't reload. I truly envy your find.
DaNang class of 72

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Beautiful!! When I would have been the owner of this little gem, I would need all the courage I could get for NOT shooting it!!

Thanks Cpt, That's my grail gun. You are a fortunate man.

Ed

We've done Mannlichers here before. Member Gator Baiter has at least one.

Mine was a M-1908 in 8X56mm M-S caliber. I found some DWM ammo, but the supply ran out and the importer brought in no more. One box of Western brand loads from the 1930's came with the carbine.

Like Larry above, I built a model from a Revell kit, and my idol, Dr. Roy C. Andrews, used them in Asia on his famed scientific expeditions.

I loved a TV show, Ramar of the Jungle, where the hero used a M-S carbine. And I think Jungle Jim had one in some of the comic books.

I see that Cpt. Curl's has the half round pistol grip. Mine had the steel cap, which I prefer. But both look good.

I used to see them in, The Shooter's Bible and drool.

Be still, my heart! I have lusted after a 1903 carbine for decades, but availability and a healthy condition of the wallet have never coincided -- yet. I continue to live by my state's motto -- "Dum spiro spero" -- "While I breathe, I hope!"

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Pisgah

I may quit opening your threads!

Man, that thing is beautiful!!!!!!!!!

Very nice. Can't get much cleaner that that!
Interesting, the Lyman 36 swing arm rear sight. Quite a little marvel in itself. I have one on one of my 1908M/Ss.
I do prefer the standard sights or a bolt peep over them as neither requires a cut-out to the wood. But that's just my personal like and means nothing.

Those #36 sights alone are quite sought after. Even a few custom made ones produced not somany years back to feed the market. Same with the cleaning rods,,usually gone from under the trap butt and sought after.

Great caliber the 6.5. I load it and the 8 and 9.5 M/S. Never had a 9x56M/S for some reason,but certainly wouldn't refuse one!
I have to get going and complete some loads for a 256 Gibbs Magnum cal Sporter built on a M1903 Greek M/S bbld action. Plain gun, well used but classic British look by Geo Gibbs. An old Aldis Bros 'scope in QD mts tops it off. One of my better finds at a show lying un-loved for $400 IIRC

I have a question; Are those stocks made from one piece of wood or are they composed from 2 pieces to cut the grain to avoid warping ?

The stock is one piece.

As I recall, the SAKO L461 with its full-length stock was two pieces joined under the barrel band.

Curl

That looks a challenge to me- stocking a full-stock rifle with a slender barrel in such a way the wood movement due to humidity changing does not affect the POI!

Yeah, the round knob pistol grip is seen on the earliest examples. The steel cap came later, after WW1. I like the steel cap also, but I can't say I prefer it to the round knob.

I just love the way the checkering is laid out on these early ones. The little triangular panel just behind the top tang was discontinued fairly early.



And it really is art the way they went slinking around the knob.



I wish we had production rifles like this in today's market.

Curl

The classic M-S caliber is 6.5 X 54. I think 6.5 X 55 is a Swedish round. Can you confirm the caliber of yours? It is a beautiful rifle. I have a near identical carbine in 6.5 X 54. Karamojo Bill killed many an elephant with one.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Yes, me too but then, who can pay for them? Something for a selected public, thus commercially the company would be doomed to be banc-rupt within a year.
We can be happy, there are still craftsmen around to make a rifle to ones likings!

You are quite right. 6.5x54 M-S.

I corrected my typo and thank you for pointing it out.

Curl

The Dutch Army used that round in the rimmed version in their Hembrug Rifles and carbines in WWII, the Germans really soon found out, that those rounds were more accurate as their 8x57IS caliber and used those supplies and rifles when Holland did surrender.

Ahhhhh, those Bavarians,.....so meticulous.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

How do you mean?

Old world craftsmanship at its finest. Looks like a work of of art, and the condition is amazing. What a great find!

Well, I have seen examples of your gunsmiths that are just as good!
For production rifles, they just had to go that way, it was milling, turning and boring and above all, heat treatment,hardly any short-cuts possible.Remember their Kropatschek actions, never ever a smoother action has been made.
I own a Steyr Mannlicher SL in .222Rem. which is some decades younger in age, the metalwork is perfect but what to think of a plastic snail-house magazine and a plastic magazine-funnel/trigger guard on such a rifle?

Simply stunning in its beauty and craftsmanship.

I (stupidly) passed up the opportunity for one in 9.3 x 62 several years ago, primarily because it was such an odd caliber to me. They are works of art.

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Even older, even crankier....

When you have a look on Egun, a German gunselling site,something like Ebay for guns, you perhaps will find one!

There is one for sale right now, with a scope with the original 3-claw mount in cal. 6,5x54for 1399 Euro. Good looking rifle! I would buy it myself but our hunting permit allows for a maximum of 6 rifles/shotguns, have 4 shotguns and 2 rifles already.

These rifles were made in Steyr, Austria

Gorgeous rifle and superb photography. Earnest Hemingway would approve.
Bob

It's so cute!

And beautiful, all at the same time.

Put me down as another who has long wanted to add one to the collection. One just like that one, in that caliber, would do just fine.

Holland and Romania used the 6.5x53 rimmed cartridge starting prior to WW1. Steyr made rifles and carbines.
Holland was then licensed to mfg the rifle at their arsenal at Hembrug.
Slick, smooth operating rifles like the M/S with the difference of a straight line feed system and not the rotary magazine.
A packet loading system used as in the German 88 and the Italian Carcano.

They have their own following. Most all the great Brit names can be found on the sporters as well as German and Austrian made ones.
I have one, a carbine w/ full length stock made on a Steyr made Romanian M92 contract bbld action. Nicely sporter stocked, dst, engraved, ect. No name or retailer on it though.
A WW2 bringback so said the guy I bought it from at a show. No one had shown any interest in the rifle so I got it in straight trade for a Western Field 12ga SxS that had seen better days. Maybe I had to give up $25 too,,I'm not sure on that part now. It did come with one 'clip' and a single lonely round of 1917 dated Dutch military ammunition that I still have.
I use 303brit brass to make 6.5x53R cases and use 6.5M/S dies to form and load. Fun to shoot.
Tiny sights,,those guys back then must have all had good eyes!

...Just love those early European rifles and shotguns.

Old world craftsmanship, exquisite detail, and style.
(Actually, that's a line from a Don Henley song.)

Texas Star, I'm no geography expert, but I believe that Austria, at least part of it, has at times, been considered part of Bavaria.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this was the rifle used by LTC Repp (the bad guy) in Stephen Hunter's "The Master Sniper". I remember reading this novel in the early 1980s - long before Al Gore invented the internet, and trying to imagine what the rifle actually looked like. Imagine things like a schnabel, claw mounts, and rotary magazine for a guy like me who grew up around pump shotguns and lever action rifles!

Thank you for posting and sharing photos of this beautiful piece, Captain Curl.

Regards,

Dave

I'm jealous. Beautiful gun, I've wanted one for many years.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

SWEEEEEEEET.....Beautiful rifle...... I've always loved the Mannlicher look!

30 years ago I missed out on a custom "Flags" built mannlicher in 6.5x5? My gunsmith had it on consignment and told me to buy it ... but being young and dumb........ I waited and it was gone before I got back...(no internet to do research in those days.)

I made do with a Ruger 77 International in .243.......which is still a head turner at most Pa. deer camps!!!!!!

For those of us who can't afford or justify a real one.....LOL..... take a look at CZ's offerings.......mini and micro and full size Mauser actions in Mannlicher style stocks ....... listed as FS models

I've purchased several of their FS(Mannlicher) stocked rifles over the past 5 years...... 452s in .22lr and .22mag and 527 in .223/5.56........ topped w/ Leupold 1-4x20 scopes... they represent my " walk in Penn's woods rifles"

They represent great value for the $$s....... and are moa shooters!!!

There are also their 550 "full size".... FSs w/ 6.5x54 being a favorite!!!!

You can change those CZ's into sub-MOA shooters if you pay some attention to the bedding and free-floating of the barrel, had 3 of them, 2 in .222Rem and one in .223Rem. All of them were bad fitted into their stocks and turned into nail drivers after a good glass-fiber/resin bedding of the action and sanding the barrel part of the wood to guaranty a free floating barrel. They are cheap and that makes, not all the attention has been given to those details.