Need Info on S&W Rifle in .308

[efkessler]

I inherited a S&W Rifle in .308 caliber. It has a Monte Carlo cheekpiece and a schnabel style fore-end. The barrel has SWEDEN Stamped on it, so I'm sure it was made by Husqvarna. Can someone tell me what model this rifle is (1500 or 1700) and what Prefix (A,B,C,D, etc)? Also, with the original iron sights and scope rings and in excellent condition (95%), what would the value of this rifle be?

Thank you.

 

[thadheth]

Welcome to the forum. According to the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, the Model B had a Monte Carlo cheekpiece and Schnabel front. The 1500 and 1700 series were manufactured by Howa (Japan). Someone else will need to comment on approximate value.

 

[FirebirdV8]

These early S&W rifles are very nice. I lucked into one a couple of years ago and found out how accurate they are. In any case I have attached a couple of pictures of my Model C Rifle. If you look right behind the rear sight or under your the front of your scope if you have one on your rifle it should have a single letter. Where mine says "C" yours should probably say "B". I have some rough numbers somewhere on my computer for production that I'll see if I can find. These rifle are hard to find at best.

 

[thadheth]

FirebirdV8's picture and description suggest some interesting discrepancies...the Model C pictured has a Schnabel forend, which is different from the information in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (but that rifle is certainly marked "C"). Perhaps the stock was changed sometime during the life of that gun, or the SCSW is incorrect. And, to further complicate matters, in checking the Blue Book of Gun Values (33rd edition, 2012) it does not list the .308 as a caliber for the Model B (although that could be an omission in the BBofGV, of course).
Have you found a model designation on the barrel?
Also, as for value, the Blue Book of Gun Values (2012) suggests $275 for a 90% gun, $305 for a 95% gun, and $475 for a 100% gun.

 

[Hammerdown]

I inherited a S&W Rifle in .308 caliber. It has a Monte Carlo cheekpiece and a schnabel style fore-end. The barrel has SWEDEN Stamped on it, so I'm sure it was made by Husqvarna. Can someone tell me what model this rifle is (1500 or 1700) and what Prefix (A,B,C,D, etc)? Also, with the original iron sights and scope rings and in excellent condition (95%), what would the value of this rifle be?

Thank you.

Hello efkessler
You gun was manufactured In Sweeden by Husqvarna. They had Two action's that were used on the Imported S&W rifles. one being the model 1640 action that was the first issue action and it was an in house made scaled down 98 Mauser action, often mistaken as an Original German made Mauser. The 1640 actions were made for S&W from around 1967-1970 time span. in mid 1967 time span the design team at Husqvarna got together and decided to build a refined action built off the lines of the 1640 actions. This new action was named the 1900 action. It featured a totally adjustable trigger, engraved floor plate, a smoother bullet push feed and a more positive locking lug design change. They offered this action for a short period of time on imported S&W rifles but they are not as abundent as the earlier model 1640 actions were. They offered their Imported S&W sold Gun's in Three configurations The A-model was a deluxe version finished in high Gloss urethane. It had a Monte-carlo designed stock with a raised cheek piece and slight roll over comb to it stock of European walnut Embellished with a rosewood foregrip cap. It had fine hand checking to it and a finger Groove mid way of it's forearm. It was a Push fed style action with a drop magazine. I have one chambered in 30-06 Springfield caliber shown below that shipped into S&W in 1967 The first year that they were Imported



The next configuration is the B-model. It had a shnabel style forend and Monte carlo designed stock. The last Model was the C-model which was of Manlicher design being a full wood stock and a shorter barrel version of the 1640 as well as 1900 actions. I have the first Variation S&W Imported rifle chambered in 30-06 that has the 1640 action. It was shipped in 1967 and when I bought it I paid $600.00 for it with the scope mounts but no Glass. I later mounted a period correct Redfield 3-9 wide field scope on it. It is hard to place a value on these guns as most are not aware of how accurate or well made that they are, I feel that I paid average for mine. The later made 1970 Improved model1900 action rifles will net a slightly higher price in the real market. I hope this helps, and here is my 1967 Model 1640 action Husqvarna rifle branded with it's S&W name. Back in the late 1960's to mid 1970's we saw many American gun makers offer European weapons with the American gun makers name on them. For example, Ithaca Gun company sold Tikka brand Finland made rifles, Colt sold the Colt Sauer rifles, S&W sold The Husqvarna rifles. Below is some very pertinent links to the Husqvarna rifles and this information should educate you an anything you need to know about The Husqvarna rifles. I hope this helps, Regards, Hammerdown

http://www.skydevaaben.com/husqvarna/m1900/info.xml

http://www.skydevaaben.com/allhvamodels/info.xml

http://www.skydevaaben.com/hvasno/info.xml

 

[fyimo]

That is one fine looking rifle you have there as it looks pristine and great pictures also.

 

[Hammerdown]

That is one fine looking rifle you have there as it looks pristine and great pictures also.

Hello fyimo
I appreciate your kind words. I bought it off Gunbroker.com after I contacted the buyer and asked if he would do a buy it now. I gave $550.00 for it shipped to my FFL dealer & it came with scope rings but no scope. I added the classic Redfield 3-9 widefield scope on it. I am still Hunting for the newer Variation with the 1900 action or more commonly called the Model of 1970. That one has a smoother bolt throw, adjustable trigger and a more Positive locking lug on the bolt. It was the last design change to come out of Husqvarna before they closed their doors for good. I did at one time have one located in .270 Wichester caliber but the deal fell through... Regards, Hammerdown

 

[L Pete]

I don't usually come to this section of the Forum, but I did for some reason today. After doing so, I must say that rifle is absolutely beautiful.
Congradulations Hammerdown.

Now, I have to start looking for one of those..........drats, just what I need. Something else to collect.

 

[Hammerdown]

I don't usually come to this section of the Forum, but I did for some reason today. After doing so, I must say that rifle is absolutely beautiful.
Congradulations Hammerdown.

Now, I have to start looking for one of those..........drats, just what I need. Something else to collect.

Hello L Pete
Don't stop at one, They made Two Husqvarna Rifles that were Imported to S&W. The early edition is like my Model 1640 action shown, Then they offered a Model of 1970 Model 1900 refined action rifle that had an adjustable Trigger, smoother bolt throw, and a better Locking Lug design. I am still Hunting for a Model 1900 and hope to add one some day, but they do not come along often. Regards, Hammerdown

 

[Michagun]

Were all S&W rifles made by Husqvarna?

 

[fyimo]

Were all S&W rifles made by Husqvarna?

later S&W rifles ones were made with the Howa barreled action made in Japan and were the Model 1500 and Model 1700. They are well made rifles and those barreled actions are currently being used on the Weatherby Vanguard series of rifles with a higher luster blue and a bolt shroud over the receiver end of the bolt.

 

[pmosley]

I have a Howa model 1500 imported by Interarms chambered for 270 manufactured in Japan ~95.

It is a very smooth and accurate rifle.

 

[Hammerdown]

Hello
As member Flymo has stated S&W did market Howa rifles but they came after the Husqvarna's. The Stringent Import regulation's forced Husqvarna off the Table in or around 1975 time span and Howa was the last High Powered rifle offered with the S&W trade stamp on it and distributed by S&W. I have had Four or five Howa rifles as well as a Weatherby Vanguard which were all made by Howa of Japan as well. They all were high Polished blue and had nice stock's but in my mind the Husqvarna's had a Higher level of quality and a stronger action, let's face it, it's hard to beat a Time Honored Mauser action. Many think that the Husqvarna's had an actual German made Mauser action but they wern't they were a Husqvarna in house made smaller version of the Mauser action.




I hand Loaded for Both rifles being the Howa's and the Current Husqvarna that I have now, which is chambered in 30-06 and The main difference I noticed as far as accuracy went was that my Howa's would group a dime or slightly Larger group @ 100 Yard's But my Husky will Make One Ragged hole at the same distance, Under the size of a dime consistently. I feel the reason for that is due to the barrel's of the Husqvarna's being cold Hammer forged, mated to The Super strong Husqvarna Made Mauser action is is Key to their Tack driver performance. My current Husqvarna rifle appear's to like Lighter weight bullet's as far as producing tighter group's, where as my Howa's were not as bullet finicky. Both are fine rifle's but gun to gun I prefer my Husqvarna over the Howa's that I have had. Don't get me wrong here, Howa's are great gun's I just Like my Husqvarna a little more....If you do not have a Husqvarna rifle you really need to add one to your collection. You will Not be disapointed.. Hammerdown

 

[alwslate]

There is some confusion about the Husqvarna rifles made for S&W and
their actions and model designations for sure. I have a model C in
30/06 that looks exactly like FirebirdV8s rifle. There is an excellent
description of the two different actions made in Sweden for these
rifles in the book " Bolt action Rifles" by Frank de Haas. The early
action is a small ring slightly modified Mauser 98 design while the
later action is a much different push feed design. The model C is a
20 1/2" barrel rifle with a stock that appears to be French Walnut
with a schnable fore end and a cheekpiece stock without a Monte
Carlo. A plastic buttplate is original. I too am curious about value
as the model C was imported for only a very short time.

 

[Hammerdown]

There is some confusion about the Husqvarna rifles made for S&W and
their actions and model designations for sure. I have a model C in
30/06 that looks exactly like FirebirdV8s rifle. There is an excellent
description of the two different actions made in Sweden for these
rifles in the book " Bolt action Rifles" by Frank de Haas. The early
action is a small ring slightly modified Mauser 98 design while the
later action is a much different push feed design. The model C is a
20 1/2" barrel rifle with a stock that appears to be French Walnut
with a schnable fore end and a cheekpiece stock without a Monte
Carlo. A plastic buttplate is original. I too am curious about value
as the model C was imported for only a very short time.

Hello Alwslate
In one of my Previous responses I provided a link to all of the Husqvarna gun's ever made. They made the First action of repeating rifles called the Model 1640 action. it was a drop magazine style action based on a Small Ring Mauser Style action. Often it is confused to be an actual German Mauser made action, but the Model 1640 action was made in house at Husqvarna and was a down scale stlye of Small ring Mauser action differing in size to a Normal German made Mauser action's. In or around 1970 the Engineer's at Husqvarna got together on their own and decided to refine the Model 1640 action's. These action's were still based on the original model 1640 action's by making the following change's of (1) The bolt shold have an absolutely smoother operation of the action. (2) The rear of the cartridge should be completely surrounded by supporting steel. (3) The safety catch should lock the firing pin. (4) Direct trigger mechanism independant of bolt tolerances. (5) Adjustable trigger pull without taking the gun apart. (6) A 10% production cost reduction compared with the 1640 action's. They were not authorized to improve this style action but once it was done and shown to the company they allowed the build of the Model of 1970 Improved model 1900 actions and they Remained to be a drop Magazine style action. They are easy to distingush from the Previous Model 1640 action's as the base floor Plate of the drop magazine Improved Model 1900 action Now had elaborate engraving on it, where as the earlier made model 1640 action's lacked the engraving they were simply matte bluing style finished.The Model 1900 action also had a Jewled looking Facet ground Machined bolt unlike the standard Non Facet ground jewled bolt seen on the Model 1640 actions

Husqvarna offered the Model 1640's and the Model 1900 action's in four different stock configurations being the A, B & C grade as well as what wood was used as they used beech wood as well as European walnut of high grain definition. The differences in each letter series of gun was the configuration of the wood stocks. The action's as well as the Lustrious Blue of all four differing Grades was the same just the configuration of the stock's made the differences in the Three letter grades offered by Husqvarna and some had a shorter style Carbine barrel on them. As far as I know the S&W Imported Husqvarna rifles were only made in the Two action's being the Earliest Model 1640 then in 1970 they changed to the Newer Improved 1640 that was now called the Model of 1970 Model 1900 action. Husqvarna also Imported gun's to Canada and they were distributed under the Tradewind's name. These gun's resembled the Imported S&W gun's but some of them had slightly different sized receiver's in them. If I remember correctly Tradewind's had a shipping Point in Washigton State where the gun's arrived then were shipped into Canada.


The Husqvarna gun's were pretty straight forward in their design and did not have many big changes over the year's, they were not a compnay that liked change or had the extra funding to expand on their In house designs. If you check out the link that I provided it will show you all of the exact changes through their Import guns. To me, they are an Excellent gun built when Swedish Pride was at it's top level they are no doubt to me, The Rolex of rifles. I have owned other European rifles in the past as a Pre-Garcia Era 1963 A-5 Sako, & several Ithaca LSA rifles in both standard and deluxe version's who marketed Tika brand rifles, and neither of them came close to the fit, finish and overall Quality of my S&W Husky it is one of my most Treasured rifles. I hope someday to add the Later Made Model of 1970 Improved model 1900 action Husqvarna rifle's that were also imported to S&W up to about 1974 when S&W changed over to offering the Howa made Model 1500 rifles that came from Japan. I Invite you to take a look at these Husqvarna rifle History Link's again that should answer any question's that you may have about Husqvarna Gun's & there is Lot's of good reading on these gun's here as I hope this helps, Hammerdown



http://www.skydevaaben.com/husqvarna/m1900/info.xml

http://www.skydevaaben.com/allhvamodels/info.xml

http://www.skydevaaben.com/hvasno/info.xml

 

[alwslate]

Thanks for the information Hammerdown. In his book Frank de Haas
refers to the Mauser type action as the HVA and the push feed type
as the Md 8000. If you like these rifles you should try to read his
descriptions. He has praise for the 8000 action as an improvement
over the Mauser type in some ways but I have to say I prefer the
older design. The simplicity of the 98 action and its controlled feed
and claw extractor appeal to me as a shooter. The collector
however will want both. There was a good write up on these rifles
in an old issue of the American Rifleman, which I still have around
here somewhere. I'll try to find it.

 

[Hammerdown]

Thanks for the information Hammerdown. In his book Frank de Haas
refers to the Mauser type action as the HVA and the push feed type
as the Md 8000. If you like these rifles you should try to read his
descriptions. He has praise for the 8000 action as an improvement
over the Mauser type in some ways but I have to say I prefer the
older design. The simplicity of the 98 action and its controlled feed
and claw extractor appeal to me as a shooter. The collector
however will want both. There was a good write up on these rifles
in an old issue of the American Rifleman, which I still have around
here somewhere. I'll try to find it.

Hello alqwslate
I like the Husqvarna rifles that were imported to S&W. There were two different rifle's that were marketed and sold by S&W that Husqvarna Imported to them. The earliest Version being the HVA 1640 action gun's, then the later Model 1900 action guns which in Essence are an improved version of the Older Model 1640 action guns. I know that Husqvarna made many other actions and style's of rifle's, shotgun's, pistol's and .22 rifle's but my area of collection is of the S&W Braded rifles only. Now, if I could ever find a nice Model of 1970 1900 action rifle stamped by S&W I would be sitting in Tall Cotton... Regards, Hammerdown

 

[gwcracker]

I saw one error in an earlier post concerning the S&W Mod B, that they were not chambered in 308 Win. I have two S&W Husqvarna, one a B Model, unfired with it's tattered box, in 308 Win. and a S&W 1900 in 270 Win, doesn't appear to be fired but no box. I did mount Weaver bases and a Burris scope on this one. It has the slickest bolt action I have ever owned.