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I usually start my day in early morning by reading the Forum’s new posts and browsing the web while sipping a jug of coffee, before starting my day’s work; earlier this year in late May, while visiting the website of a German auction house, I stumbled onto a Mannlicher Schoenauer Model 1905 stutzen that looked in really good condition and was to be auctioned later in the day. As I already have far too many Mannlicher Schoenauer of every pre-WW2 model (but no M.1900) at home I had made a while ago the decision to stop acquiring any new one, however I could not refrain making a small offer at the silent auction; the entry bid was very low and with my also very low offer I really had no chance of winning the rifle! However later in the day I received an email from the auction house informing me that I was the lucky new owner of the MS 1905 stutzen I had bid for; this silent auction had probably attracted limited attention at the time of the COVID crisis’ first peak in Western Europe, in May 2020!

I received the rifle in early August; she looked fine but was entirely coated with a crust of dust hardened by desiccated lubricant. Instead of taking the risk to damage her while attempting to dismantle her in that condition, I spread her abundantly inside/outside with gun oil, then rolled her into rags and let her soak for some time.

Some days later the crust had melted and the rifle was easily stripped thoroughly - but the trigger mechanism that I never take the risk to dismantle, and cleaned again and again until reaching an acceptable result.

Apart from minimal usual dings & dongs to the wood (very dark in some areas, probably saturated with gun or storage oil) this Model 1905 stutzen is in perfect condition and will pair perfectly with the Model 1905 take-down (see http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....true#Post342767 ) I already have on the gun rack:
- The bore, the action and the rotary magazine look to be factory-new; only the folding leaves of the rear sight, the front sight ramp and the scope’s front & rear bases (parts probably made out of iron and not of high quality steel) bear some limited signs of “orange peel” – as one says in French, but this is only superficial and will be easily remedied with some polishing and a new bluing.
- All parts bear the same serial number, even the smallest ones on the bolt head and the two small metal disks inserted in the wood on each side of the front sling swivel.
- This rifle holds a removable front sight cover I have never seen yet on MS rifles - I can’t tell if it’s original (I saw some very similar models on K98 rifles) as well as a probably factory issued cleaning rod.

- It is also fitted with a foldable peep sight in prefect working order.

The most unusual things with that rifle are that she bears no proof marks, is fitted with both an express rear sight with distances in yards and German double-triggers - an uncommon combination, and is fitted with scope bases a model of which I have never encountered yet:

- The rifle – which doesn’t seem to have been altered, bears absolutely no proof mark. The only visible marks are some factory ones: “+05Y” & “-05X” (I think related to adjustment between barrel & action), “472” (serial number), “T” circled (I think for “Tiegelgussstahl”, a specific quality of steel at that time in Austria), and “V” circled on the barrel (of which I do not know the meaning and would appreciate feedback). It looks as the rifle has left the factory without going through the Vienna Proof House!

- Express-type rear sight: fixed front leaf marked “200 Yrds” and two folding leaves marked “300” & “400”.

- Scope bases for which any information on type and associated scope mounts would be welcomed, see photos hereafter:

Last, it would be good to know when this rifle was manufactured:
- Serial number 472 is obviously low; my other MS 1905 dated 1922 bears S/N 6287 (assuming that production fully stopped during and shortly after WW1, c. 6500 MS 1905 rifles manufactured in c. 14 years give an average annual production of 400 to 500 rifles, but this is theory only as production probably varied in time according to market demand).
- Rifle #472 should therefore have been manufactured between 1905 and the immediately following years i.e. 1906 or 1907? Any feedback from owners of MS 1905 with low serial numbers that would bear a proofing date would therefore be welcomed.

Louis

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"Everything that doesn't kill me makes me stronger"

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