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We had gobs of the Swedish "overstock" rifles {sold off due to excess to ownership limits} here in the USA for years hitting the peak I think about 10-12 years ago. I bought some 9.3x57, 8x57, 6.5x55 and there were other calibers also like 9.3x62, .30-06, .270. Huskies and the VD guns as shown here. I visited SARCO in NJ at the height of the importation and got to stroll around in the back of the storage, documentation and repair rooms and there were racks and racks and stacks of them. Many were junk but some were very nice like the OP's. Many are made on the 2-lug 94/96 actions, some on the so-called "strengthened" 94/96 action {left rail without thumb notch for stripper clips} and some on commercial FN 98 actions. I've had examples of all of them. Are they still coming in to Canada? Rule of thumb on lots of Huskies and VD guns: 1} Some have insufficient thickness of stock between bottom metal and barreled action. Requires the stock ferrules to be removed and thrown away or inletting shimmed or built up with epoxy bedding or {Shhh... Just our little secret...} a little filed off the magazine box so there is adequate clamping of upper to lower metal. 2} Lots have cracks from poor inletting or from tangs setting back into the stock wood behind the tang. Repairs normally can be made easily and tangs relieved to prevent further mayhem. 3} Check the twist rate as I think you will find many .30-06's w/ 1/12 twists. 4} Some, as the OP's, come with neato little extras like the peep sight. I had a jaktdiopter on a gun I got. The VD guns as well as the Huskies can be, as this one appears to be, very nice rifles. Some steer away from the 94/96 actions for the .30-06 and other high pressure rounds but they seem to be pretty strong. There HAVE been some reports of blown up 2-lug small-ring actions. Most I've seen were Huskies dated 1942 and the issue appears to be simply poor heat treatment involving too low a tempering temperature or possibly burning of the steel during heat before quenching. Not sure the exact processes used. |