[waterboygn]

I have a 1943 Husqvarna M96 and have a couple of questions about it. First I noticed that it had a rebuild stamp on it which I thought was kind of odd. Were the Husqvarna rifles rebuilt at the military armories too? I also have a question on the "S.S" stamp under the rear sight. Are these inspector's initials or something else?

 

[highpower0_4]

Inspector stamp

According to the book Crown Jewels. sometime in late 1942 Sten Stenmo took over inspection duties at Husqvarna for the m/38 rifles. This occured around serial number 658000. After this number all known m/38's bear his S.S. inspection stamp.

 

[USMCsean]

Yes, Husqvarnas were rebuilt at military depots too.

 

[waterboygn]

So Sten Stenmo must have inspected the M96 rifles as well. My serial # is 687185. One more question. As far as matching numbers go on these rifles. What should actually be stamped with numbers? And are the Husqvarna crowns always slanted because the crown on my cocking piece is not.

 

[USMCsean]

The Husqvarna series of rifles tended to not fit the standard marking of the matching numbers. Sometimes only the receiver, cocking knob, and bolt are the only pieces marked. Some have been observed with all the standard parts matching. Some also are stamped as some others are electro penciled.

Husqvarna crows are always titled. They are also different in appearance also. The crown looks different.

 

[arilar]

Lets dont mix m/38 with m/96.

Let see now...I doubt the Crown mark on the stock is a rebuild mark, rather an inspection mark. M/96 Husqvarna was made directly for FSR. Was made from scratch and not a rebuild old m/96. Does anyone have a Husqvarna m/96 with stock cartouches indicating reworks at an Army workshop ("Tygstation"). Did Husqvarna m/96 has electro penciled parts or just occasionaly on m/38? I know that military depots did some adjustments and repairs short after some FSR m/96 had been delivered to FSR-shooters (repairs was done by skilled civilian gunsmiths to). If I recall right did CG in Eskilstuna deliver some parts to Husqvarna for the production of m/96 but I am not 100% sure on that part and have to check the litterature from the period and get back.
Regards,
ARILAR

 

[waterboygn]

Is this cocking piece Husqvarna then? The crown looks the same as the one on the shroud but is not slanted. I have not seen any electro pencil marks on my M96. The only places that have matching #'s is the receiver, safety,butt plate, bolt and the firing pin, and if i remember right the wood. Everything else has a slanted crown proof on them

 

[USMCsean]

The cocking piece is not.

 

[USMCsean]

Lets dont mix m/38 with m/96.

I think I may be doing that arilar. whoops!!!

 

[swede]

There were numerous Carl Gustaf spare parts available when manufacturing was turned over Husqvarna in 1941 . So , your rifle may have gotten the CG cocking piece when originally made or at some later time . Your single crown on the wrist indicates no major work was done when rearsenaled . Your barrel is probably original unless stamped with a " Crown/C " or other letter , which are usually stamped on the wrist . Also , it could have a civilian replaced barrel . Check for other markings when ever you disassemble it .

Normally , all the bolt parts , buttplate & wood are numbered on the Husqvarna M-38 , but nothing else . Replacement bolt parts may be electric pencil etched . Fully stamped matching M-38's do exist just like the CG m-96's , but are rare . Many rebuilt M-38's are found with mismatched wood .

My 2 Husqvarna M-96's have only the bolt , safety , firing pin & buttplate numbered to match . The few Husqvarna M-96's that I have seen have the wood matched to each other ( 4 digits ) on the edge of the barrel channel , but do not match the receiver . It appears they were matched together before assembly and added as the rifles were made . Strange that both stock sets have matching numbers to each other , but one set has other mismatched 3 digit numbers in the barrel channel . The other set only the 4 digit numbers on the edge . Also , both stock sets have been sanded long ago & have the typical mousey brown finish that we see on beech replacements stocks . One stock has a sanded over crown on the the wrist & the other has none . Both of these rifles have the Soderin diopter sights & 30 m/m civilian disc in the stock cutout . Both barrels gauge 6.49 m/m .

 

[arilar]

CG cocking piece!!

And the style on the numbers "185" looks as they are put there much later than 1943 (just look on the style on the number at the receiver to compare). Most parts on Husqvarna m/96 has the tilted crown but are lacking number.
Regards,
ARILAR

 

[swede]

You are correct , the cocking piece is a replacement from a much later date , but it is a Carl Gustaf part .

 

[mauser_user]

The inspectors initials were stamped to the sight base because the Husqvarna receivers were hardened a lot more than those on the CG:s. The serial number was put there before the hardening process.

 

[waterboygn]

Here is the number on the receiver and the safety The safety also has a tilted crown but you cant' see it behind the cocking piece. The wood is not numbered. There is just a crown on the upper handguard on the inside.

Here is what is on barrel

 

[swede]

Your barrel is marked just like one of mine . I do not know the meaning of the "S" or "4" , but it is not like the " Crown/S " seen on sniper barrels or other rifles rebuilt at Stockholm . The " CO " with 2 dots over the "O" are the initials of Carl Oberg , another inspection officer . See top of page 154 in Crown Jewels . I see this "CO" marking on M-94 & M-96 barrels .

The font of your "5" on the safety is differant . So , most likely a replacement , rather than original .

 

[waterboygn]

Thanks for all of your help

 

[Waffenschmied]

Matching Husqvarna M96 1943 came yesterday

Although I collect 98k rifles, I've also collected several Swedish Mausers due, in large part, to their excellent workmanship. The particulars of my Husqvarna M96 1943 are: serial # 2889, with #889 on all of the following: bolt knob (tilted crown), bolt shroud (vertical crown), safety (vertical ), cocking piece (vertical ), floorplate (vertical ), triggerguard (vertical ), front band (vertical ), bottom band (vertical ), ejector box (vertical ), all rear sight parts (vertical). Both band springs have a vertical crown as does the metal end cap of the stock. The barrel has a crown over T just above the serial number on the chamber area of the barrel and another tilted crown about 3/4 of an inch away with a CÖ under the barrel. The sear has a tilted crown while the front sight and its blade each has a vertical crown. The stock has 2889 struck into the wood just behind the sight relief cut while the handguard has 2889 S struck just in front of the rear sight cutout. The outside of the stock has a crown just behind the triggerguard cutout as well as a second crown overT just below that one. I believe that's about it!
Waffenschmied

 

[swede]

With a 4 digit serial number , you have a replacement receiver for a CG 1898 dated M-96 . Not originally a Husqvarna M-96 that was made for the FSR in 1943 & 1944 . All the Husqvarna FSR M-96's are in the 6xx,xxx to 7xx,xxx range . Still , a neat collectable rifle to have .

 

[Waffenschmied]

Husqvarna 1943 M96

Thanks for your insights, Swede! Does this mean that the other parts with the tilted crown (Bolt, barrel and sear) were produced by Husqvarna as replacements, also?
Waffenschmied

 

[swede]

Yes , the parts with the tilted crowns were used as replacements on your M-96 . The Husqvarna FSR M-96 rifles were built new with parts having the tilted crowns .