| Louis |
| (.375 member) |
| 18/04/22 10:31 PM |
Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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In 1896 the Kingdom of Sweden adopted the Mauser m96 rifle in calibre 6,5x55mm and, although production had already started at Carl Gustafs factory in 1898, Waffenfabrik Mauser also manufactured 38,600 m96 rifles at Oberndorf am Neckar in 1899 and in 1900.
I acquired at a UK auction in 2015 one of these Waffenfabrik Mauser m96 proofed in 1899; her serial number was # 30116 and she still brought the GF initials of Gustaf F. Fredenberg, the Swedish Inspection Officer then seconded to Waffenfabrik Mauser at Oberndorf am Neckar. She also displayed the Birmingham (UK) Proof House “BNP” marking, in service from 1954. Of her service history I can’t tell.
At some stage in the following years, I decided to have this service rifle converted into a sporting one. I therefore asked Joël Dorléac if he would agree on turning this top pedigree pumpkin into a formula one coach, which he kindly accepted in spite of permanently having an almost full order book several years in advance. Decisions were made for:
• keeping all original markings in order to pay tribute to the rifle’s previous history;
• keeping the excellent 6,5x55 caliber and fitting the new sporting rifle with a 25 inches / 635 mm Lothar Walther match grade barrel so that the ammunition can work to its full ballistic potential;
• carving a classic nice but not fancy walnut stock with rounded pistol grip of the pre-WW1 era style;
• mounting a Swarovski Z3 3-10x42 rifle scope with BRX reticle;
• and keeping weight as low as reasonably possible.
All ingredients were gathered on paper for a potentially exceptional mountain working rifle!
Then gestation occured.
I received last week from Master Joël photos of the resurrected rifle, 123 years after she went through initial proofing; they were the best Easter Eggs I ever enjoyed! The rifle is still in the white but already zeroed with Norma Bondstrike Extreme 143 grain ammunition. Last cosmetic operations such as blueing, engraving of the rear/front rifle scope bases, etc., are still to be completed before this rifle of a lifetime is hopefully ready for mountain hunting later this year.
I now look forward to sharing with you all more photos of the rifle when completed and – needless to say, to provide feedback on first mountain hunt when time will come.
Louis
| Igorrock |
| (.400 member) |
| 19/04/22 12:27 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Very nice rifle, indeed. I just hope Joel has shortened the lenght of firing pin movement. At original condition it´s quite slowly. In Carl Gustav "heavy" m/63 model it has been shortened quite simply and clever way.
I mean this rifle:
| JDL |
| (.300 member) |
| 19/04/22 03:13 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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What an elegant gem of a rifle! Joel Dorleac is simply astounding at making art from walnut and steel.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 19/04/22 08:42 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Louis - is that 1899 I see on the receiver ring?
The second "9" seems a little distorted. Might have been the flash?
| eagle27 |
| (.400 member) |
| 19/04/22 09:03 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Very nice classic 'Rigby' styling. I actually like the look of the rifle in the white with the black scope, would be nice if nickel finished instead of blued.
Re engraving I hope you do not follow the silly fad for engraving on the floor plate the number of cartridges the magazine holds. I just don't understand why many owners find this necessary. If an owner doesn't know how many cartridges his magazine holds perhaps he shouldn't be using a firearm. About as bad as USA produced rifles having "Caution - Read Owners Manual Before Using This Firearm" imprinted on the barrel.
Will be a nice Alpine hunting rifle and cartridge.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 19/04/22 11:02 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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"50 years ago, the owners manual of a car told you how to adjust the valves.
Today, the owner's manual tells you not to drink the contents of the battery."
Just say'in.
NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 19/04/22 01:24 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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So nice. One day I want Joel to make me a Rigby styled 7x57.
Louis', thanks for posting to the forums. I have seen Joel lost several galleries of firearms. Without a functioning laptop at the moment, itsxa lot of work to repost them. Thanks for doing it.
| Louis |
| (.375 member) |
| 19/04/22 06:07 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Dear All, thank you for your answers, questions, comments and suggestions:
- Igorrock, I am sure the length of the firing pin is something Master Joël has taken into account; this m96 sporter is not his first one and, without any disrespectful intent, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"!
- Eagle27, engraving should be extremely limited as I value minimalist style.
- Daryl, yes the date is "1899"; see the below photos of the action after the military m96 was dismantled.
Louis
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 19/04/22 08:10 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Oops Louis. That is your wonderful rifle. Well done. Congratulations.
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 19/04/22 08:29 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Much as I like the 65x53R/54 mm M-S in my vintage curmudgeon mindset, in medium power 6.5s I think the 65x55 SE is the best. The Steyrs are hampered somewhat by the rotary magazines. Usually loaded with heavy 160 gr RNs. The 55mm shines with 140 gr pointed Spitzers. As well as 120, 125 grs.
The .243 was very popular in Australia. For roos, euros, wallabies, feral goats and pigs. Fallow, chital, hog deer etc.
My opinion is a 6.5 is a better choice for Australia. And better for red and rusa deer, sambar deer should be legal as well.
Louis,vwhat are your plans for this rifle? What will you hunt with it?
| 260rem |
| (.375 member) |
| 19/04/22 08:47 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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I had a, couple like that, but I never thought to get it done up like that, I kind of wish I had now.
| Ripp |
| (.577 member) |
| 20/04/22 01:52 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Beautiful firearm... thx for posting
| Louis |
| (.375 member) |
| 20/04/22 05:56 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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John
This rifle’s primary use will be for mountain hunting isard/chamois as well as for hunting roe deer in the lower lands.
Louis
| PatagonHunter |
| (.300 member) |
| 20/04/22 10:22 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Hello Louis,
A wonderful rifle, as usual with a D&D one! Congratulations!
PH
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 21/04/22 03:04 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Beautifully 'done'.
| Vintage_Canvas |
| (.275 member) |
| 23/04/22 12:34 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Louis
congrats on a well chosen donor rifle for this project! At my local gun dealer there is 4 Carl Gustaf target rifles in the corner on display!! Maybe I must pay him a visit tomorrow?? If this remarkable work of Joel is what possible with these ugly ducklings I might just have myself one build into a custom job... Well done Joel on a great job!!!
@John, I am also a big fan of the 6.5x54MS and use mine to hunt anything from springbuck to kudu! Although limited to 160gr RN bullets, there is still nothing out there that handles like a 6.5x54MS in Stutzen or Carbine model!!
@Louis, please post photos of the final product!!
| justcurious |
| (.333 member) |
| 23/04/22 08:55 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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I do not believe that the original action shown in the pictures here , is the same which was used by the D&D superbly made rifle.
| Louis |
| (.375 member) |
| 24/04/22 03:04 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Just Curious
Difficult to believe indeed hoverer the below photo trail shows the same action through the various stages of its resurrection, thanks to the outstanding skills of the "Büchsenmachermeister"that accepted to lead on this project:
Holt's catalog:
Action "in the raw" after having been dismantled:
Action after some initial filing & polishing work:
Resurrected 123-year-old action
Louis
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 24/04/22 10:18 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Amazing work. I had also thought the pits were too deep to get sharp stamps and smooth steel, but I held my tongue. LOL
| Louis |
| (.375 member) |
| 24/04/22 06:17 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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You are our master in wisdom, Daryl!
Louis
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 24/04/22 08:18 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Louis,
Questions.
1. Did you keep the cock on closing ?
2. It looks like the original flag safety. Does it clear the scope?
3. Do you know what trigger was used?
One day I need to get my Mauser 96 improved. I will leave mine as a cock on closing action. Main thing needed is a good trigger. Still has the mil two stage trigger.Stepped mil barrel. Plastic cheap stock. But it shoots very well.
| Louis |
| (.375 member) |
| 26/04/22 06:19 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Nitrox, answers to your questions:
1. Yes, sporting rifle still works on cock on closing.
2. Yes, original safety flag; clears the scope by a hair's breadth.
3. Trigger mechanism is a Recknagel one for Mauser 98 modified for fitting Mauser 96 (don't ask me how, but I'll share photos when possible); the trigger's shape was re-worked for fitting nicely into the trigger guard.
No one asked the question yet but I will mention that the cocking piece (see below) was removed from the action as it brought little value to a sporting rifle.
Louis
| Waidmannsheil |
| (.400 member) |
| 26/04/22 07:38 PM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Louis, magnificent rifle and one no doubt you will be very proud to own, Joel has done a splendid job. I too was going to ask about the safety but you have answered the question, although how easy is it to manipulate under the scope.
Matt.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 27/04/22 02:29 AM |
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Re: Mauser 96 in 6,5x55 Swede revisited by Joël Dorléac
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Quote:
No one asked the question yet but I will mention that the cocking piece (see below) was removed from the action as it brought little value to a sporting rifle.
Louis
LOL- THAT'S why the action looked strange to me - thumb release on the striker.