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I'd be delighted to help.

First, that is not your rifle's serial number, and the suffix does not necessarily indicate the year the MS was manufactured, though it generally coincides. That suffix in combination with the 'Made in Austria' stamp on your receiver, however, removes all doubt and indicates that it was, indeed, made in 1924.

How to 'decode' an original pre WW2 Austrian proofed MS:

In the above image of an M1903, the '411', '.08', and Npv stamped on its receiver indicate the 411th arm to be 'nitro proofed' at Vienna during calendar year 1908.

The '4143' on the rifle's barrel is its serial number which is also visible at underside of receiver (in front of lug) and should be repeated inside stock and underside of bolt handle. The '3001' is a proof house registry number, followed by the aforementioned '411.08', though in a staggered arrangement.

'C6.5' on the above example (as on yours) indicates the 6.5mm MS cartridge, which identifies it as an M1903 (M1905- C9.0, M1908- C8,0, M1910- C9.5...).

The mark obscured by shadow at the underside of barrel is the script 'EV' of the 'first proof' at Vienna.

Barely visible on above image (underside of receiver) is a number used at the factory to match chamber depth of barrel to receiver. A corresponding number will be on the barrel, my M1910 shows '-15' and '+15'. Another mark often encountered is a small 'T' in a circle which indicates the type of steel used (tiegelgussstahl, or crucible steel). If marked 'Antinit' on the barrel it is a superior grade that was available as a 'cost option'.

Your M1903 shows '1685.24', indicating that it was proofed in 1924. The 'Made in Austria' on your front receiver ring is an additional indication that your example was also manufactured in 1924, as that roll stamp was added sometime during that year.

In addition to 'Made in Austria' indicating a receiver made in 1924 or later, your receiver's left side rail will be marked Osetrr Waffenfabr.- Ges. Steyr, which was changed to 'Steyr Werke AG' during 1926. From the Anschluss (1938 'Nazification' of Austria) through the end of WW2, limited production of MS continued which was stamped 'Made in Germany' on front receiver ring and bore German proofs rather than Austrian.

Stamp used from 1900 - 1926, changed during 1926 to 'Steyr Werke AG

1900 - 1924

1924 - 1938

1938 - 1945

Your MS was exported to (or through) Britain, as evidenced by the British London proofs which seem consistent with its 1924 manufacture. Does it have a 'NOT ENGLISH MAKE' stamp? If so, it was British proofed after August 03, 1925, per this excerpt from Mannlicher Collector's Assn. Newsletter #48:

If yours is not so marked, that suggests it may have been British proofed shortly after its 1924 manufacture, prior to August 03, 1925.

Your M1903

My 1922 proofed, British marketed, M1910 which Grand-Dad bought 'second hand' in Ceylon circa 1931 lacks the 'NOT ENGLISH MAKE' stamp. It is, however, stamped with the size (width) of projectile and maximum powder charge e.g.. '.375 Nitro Ex 43 - 270 CORDITE' to indicate the .375 Nirto Express Rimless loaded to 43 grains cordite with a 270 grain projectile.

Well, there it is... come to NitroExpress for a bite of information and get a plate full!

*** edit *** I suppose I should have included an asterisk and some sort of disclaimer such as;
"There are few or no firm rules to dating Mannlicher Schoenauer rifles and stutzen. When you think you've found one, someone else will surely find the exception!"

It seems that much like Willys Overland, Kaiser, and AMC 'Jeep' production, whatever parts were in the bin on whatever given day were used as if to frustrate future cataloguers and historians.

The 'rules' are more like guidelines, it seems, never as easy as 'before serial number X it was like this and after serial number Y it's like that'. Such would just be too easy and the MS do have their mysteries.

I had originally posted that in response to a post about an apparently all original 'Made in Austria' stamped MS with a '39.' dated barrel.

Fortunately for the OP of this thread (Vintage Canvas), his is as 'straight forward' as it gets.
His has standard Austrian proofs of the same year that the rifle's 'Made in Austria' roll stamp was first used.

Edited by Rothhammer1 (10/12/20 07:49 PM)

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