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Hello, new member. I was advised by a few folks at AR that this would be a great place to find out some information on my 1903 I recently acquired.

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These photos tell us that your rifle appears to be a very nice M1903 Mannlicher Schoenauer with, perhaps, an original 'cost option' and a few appropriate period correct embellishments.



The image above reveals your rifle's serial number, which should be repeated in the barrel channel of your stock and on underside of the bolt handle. Also visible is 'Made In Austria' on the front receiver bridge, which dates it to 1924- 1938.




The side mount scope is an addition, not done at the Steyr factory, yet possibly appropriate to the time. Better photos of scope and mount would tell us more. The bolt handle has been 'relieved' to facilitate scope clearance.




Above image has the 'meat and spuds'. These proof marks are exactly as they should be for an original MS of the period. From top to bottom:
The 2137.29 on both receiver and barrel indicate the 2137th arm to be proofed at the particular proof house during 1929, and confirms that the barrel is original to the receiver. NpV indicates that the 'nitro proof' was done at Vienna.
C6.7 on barrel is a groove to groove measurement of the barrel for a 6.5X54 cartridge, proper for the M1903. Below the C6.7 is the script EV of the Vienna proof house.
The -.05 on your receiver will have a corresponding +.05 on the barrel. These were used to match chamber depth at the factory.




Your MS stock, if original, has a 'cost option' upgrade, the "Horn cap at muzzle end of sporter type" as shown in detail from the 1939 Stoeger catalog page shown below:


The trap door buttplate, the more I look at it, does not appear to be original. Aside from the engraving, the top screw location is 'off', as is the shape of the door and certainly the opening within. Compare to original:




A few other images from 1939 Stoeger:








Also a link to another half ton of MS info: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/ma...velocity.47277/

Establishing the retailer of a particular MS is really only possible if the arm is so engraved or marked (beware of forgeries, however) or if one has records matching the serial number to a retailer's records or receipts. Cased MS often have retailer labels in the case lid but these, too, can be reproduced and cases are not numbered to rifles.

Oh, and by the way, welcome to NitroExpress!

Also, are we to presume this is your first MS? If so, prepare to fall in love.

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