they were made in the early postwar period as a low budget bolt action hunting rifle for hunter who lost the hunting gun in occupation times. times were still hard and money was low, many pre war makers were out of business for years.
thats the explanation I heard.

otherwise is a very large part of this rifles in 10,75x68. read somewhere that lions, leopards and other increase in the war years because there were no rifles, ammo,time and manpower for hunting them and this makes troubles in the colonies. the mas 36 action fits the 10,75x68 much better than a standard mauser action because its made for a case with the same diameter.