[nothernug]

M48bo

They're correct on it being an M48bo.

But the Egyptian story is just MARSTAR ad hype and pure phoney baloney. Certainly many were sold to the Middle East including Egypt. Such an order may have been balked as stated (no evidence has been produced to support this story btw) but the bottom line is that the "bo" is the single most numerous M48 model produced. They're fairly rare here though because most were shipped out for export.

It maybe "scrubbed," in fact, probably is. The "bo" did not become a dedicated production model until 1956, concurrent with the model M48B. The first "bo"s were pulled "off the rack", scrubbed and refinished for export to many of those "Liberation Front" type insurgencies so popular in the '70s.

To date, I have not found or heard of a confirmed "bo" configured as an M48A. If you have one, please let me know.

Your $250 price tag is no bargain but reasonble.
That help?

 

[nothernug]

Hey Cheap shot. That's new info to me. Can you provide a source for that??? Have any pics of such a critter???

 

[nothernug]

thx

Thanks Cheap shot!

My M48bo is just like sn1945's. V prefix with bolt and butt cap in the white. The serial # is V54,347 (or something like that. I haven't looked at it in a while).

Those letter prefixes just denote the contract anyway.

One more question please. Is it configured as M48 or M48A?

Would you mind if I lift those pics and send copies to a friend of mine doing research on Yugo mausers?

Thanks again.

 

[nothernug]

My "BO" is in the W serial number block (W09150) and has a bright bolt and butt plate. What contract are the "W" prefix rifles for.

Here's Branko's explanation of post WWII rifle serialization...

The serial numbers on the Yugoslavian rifles are a big problem. In fact, at the beginning the service weapons were produced with serial numbers without either preceding or succeeding letters. But the problem is that the weapons had not been produced in continuity day after day starting from the number 1 up to the end of production of certain model. Everything depended on the available material at the plant and financial sources and the need of the army.

The rifles used to be produced in the batches in different quantities. After each break or pause a new batch started from the last serial number of the former one but with preceding letter denoting a continuation of production i.e., a new batch of the same model rifle. In addition, a decision to stop marking the batches makes the thing more complicated. So, practically speaking, the preceding letter means nothing as far as it concerns the serial number itself.

The same rule was applied to the export military Mausers. The serial number was given a Latin preceding letter according to the purchaser's request i.e. according to the terms of the contract. I hope you understood this complicated explanation.
Branko

What contract or contractor the letter designates is not now known (or that I know of anyway).

 

[nothernug]

Makes sound reasoning to me.

Was that one you got configured as a 1st model or a model A?