A decent article, but not without error.
I posted a reply to that article two years ago which contains two errors of my own.

Where I detail the 'three (magazine) lengths during prewar manufacture' I was wrong. In fact the M1903 through M1910 have the same length of magazine, the M1924/25 were longer, and the later 'magnum' offerings were larger than those. Also, the 'Sequoia' was originally manufactured for export by the Sequoia Importing Co., not Stoeger.

Along with that, I've read more about W.D.M. Bell and his M1903 and he writes of only one instance where he used the MS on elephant. He did take five tuskers with it in one day, all 'brain shots', but after digging out and analyzing the spent bullets he expressed dissatisfaction with the British made ammo that was available to him at the time and that he no longer trusted it for use on dangerous game. He did, however, write of his overall fondness of the light, quick carbine and favored its use to get game "for the pot" and for wingshots on birds that he did to keep his aim sharp.

Here is that reply:

Rothhammer1
Good readers:

There is an error in the author’s listing of Mannlicher Schoenauer sporting models.

They are listed in the article as “sub-variants with minor changes in 1903, 1905, 1908, 1920, 1924, 1950, 1952 and 1961 [sic]…” The designations of Models 1903 through 1910 (1910 was omitted from author’s list, there never was a 1920) indicated which proprietary caliber the rifle (or carbine) would be chambered for at the Steyr factory, thus:

M1903 – 6.5×54
M1905 – 9X56
M1908 – 8×56
M1910 – 9.5 X 57* The 1910 is also referred to as 9.5×56 and, by the British, as .375 Nitro Express Rimless.

The M1924 Mannlicher Schoenauer was built for export to the U.S. (Stoeger) as the ‘Sequoia’, chambered in .30-’06 caliber. About 1000 were built, unsold examples were returned to Austria and many were rebarreled and converted by Steyr to various calibers (7X57, 7X64, 8X57JS, 8X60S, 9.3X62 and 10.75X68 for the European market (they are oft referred to as M1925).

The action and spool magazines came in three lengths during ‘prewar’ manufacture; ‘small’- M1903 (and M1900, previous military models), ‘medium’- 1905, 1908, 1910 and ‘large’- 1924 (‘high velocity’).

All of the above models were available in halfstock and fullstock (stutzen) configurations and with various barrel lengths. Factory ‘British’ takedown models were also offered from Steyr as were various levels of engraving, tang sights, scope mountings, spare sight beads in a hideaway grip cap, etcetera. The pre – WW2 MS rifles and carbines had a trapdoor buttplate that, when opened, revealed storage for the original cleaning rods and two ‘oh sh!t’ rounds.

M1950 and later, though Austrian made Mannlicher Schoenauers, had more significant design changes and are widely regarded as not being as well made as their predecessors. They are still, however, among the finest sporting arms ever built.

W.D.M. ‘Killimanjaro’ Bell’s favorite (and Ernest Hemingway’s) was the handy 1903 carbine (6.5X54). They had a very long projectile which had exceptional sectional density, imparting a great deal of energy to a 6.5mm spot when delivered to the target, piercing thick bone and flesh. The MS rifles and (especially) carbines were very highly regarded as fast, light brush and dangerous game guns with instinctive sight acquisition when used without scope, as they were designed to be.

I am proud custodian of my grandfather’s M1910 ‘British Takedown’ (Osterr. Waffenfabr-Ges Steyr factory takedown system) with Gerard claw mount scope and original fitted case. With the takedown, after removing the Schoenauer rotary magazine, a flip of a lever forward of the triggerguard and removal of a forend pin releases the barreled action from the stock. The only ‘tool’ required is a bullet with which to release the magazine. When assembled, the ‘prewar’ Mannlichers can be quickly and conveniently loaded by use of a five round ‘stripper clip’ from above (‘postwar’ models omitted this feature). Pressing a button alongside the bolt channel releases all rounds to the shooter’s waiting hand if desired.

Handling and shooting the M1910 is, indeed, a pleasure and was my introduction to reloading – a necessity with most of the MS proprietary calibers and worthwhile part of the experience of owning one.

I highly recommend these rifles and carbines to anyone who appreciates history and fine craftsmanship, particularly for reloaders.

BR.