Indians For Guns

I have recently come across an uncommon rifle available with a dealer who actually does not know anything much about it. He says that it is of Austrian make and uses 9mm. rifle ammunition, whose availability is restricted /erratic and dear at about Rs.200per cart. It has marking on the breech end " Mannlicher Schoenauer; Model 1905." On its barrel is written, "oesterr Waffenfabr-Ges styer."

I must admit that I have fallen to the looks and the finish of this rifle .It has all the originality of an old beauty and looks to be in great condition. My dilemma is that what type of ammunition(s) does it work with and availability of the same. Does any of the member know of this rifle and its merit/demerit. Please enlighten............

i think thats a model 1905 chambered for the 9x56MS.its an expensive rifle in the usa and one in great condition goes for around $2000 or more.it is a beautiful rifle indeed but do consider the ammo availability before you go for it.BTW Whats the price quoted??

cheers

Happy,

You are buying a very expensive stick.You will not be able to get any ammo for it in India.

Indian,

The prices that you see on the net are for guns/rifles that are in very good nick.Some have been professionally restored.Most of the guns left in India are plain trash. Buy the gun and not the brand.I have seen H&H/Purdey/WR/Rigby rifles/shotguns and even a H&H Paradox that are plain junk. However the sellers quote very fancy prices.All sorts of stories are woven around them.

In recent times,I have seen the trend of people buying these 'brands' to boast about how they were custom made for one of their forefathers and how with it ,he cleaned up the adjoining jungle of dangerous game with a maneater or two thrown in

i totally agree with you penpusher

Steyr rifles are coveted in the US with prices ranging a lot. What you are looking at is probably a bolt action 1905 Mannlicher - 9x56mm Mannlicher-Schoe, I doubt it will be chambered in 9mm. You can visit this thread for some pictures and info, and confirm if its the same thing you are looking at.

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=37209

penpusher";p="63698 wrote: In recent times,I have seen the trend of people buying these 'brands' to boast about how they were custom made for one of their forefathers and how with it ,he cleaned up the adjoining jungle of dangerous game with a maneater or two thrown in

Happy, The 9X56 Mannlicher Schonauer,which I think it is, is a nice rifle provided it's in good condition.But, without ammunition it is practically useless.Is it possible for you to take a few pictures of the rifle and post it for us?Especially the markings on the rifle?Thank you.

Best-
Vikram

Ammo for this rifle is available in Patna, through the usual route, Tahir Arms Bombay or other Delhi dealers at Rs. 300 a round.

But not commonly available.

It all started when the dealer, a keen sportsman himself purchased a 9.3 x 62 double. Then he got hold of about three more rifles, in 8 mm, 9 mm and 9.5 mm ( all single barrel, bolt actions )

The 8 mm Mauser sold ( actually it is a 7.92 x 57 , with a .323 calibre bullet ) has a telling effect on Blue Bulls ( The holder is armed with permit to shoot Blue Bulls, Wild Boars and Monkeys classified as vermin ).

My brother has a 6.5 x 54 MS ( 256 ) and I am facing similar problems in getting ammo for him, we did get a couple of boxes by RWS ( 158 grains ) at Rs. 350 each but that's a bit expensive.

Can you please post the price of the rifle and also some pictures if possible.
What kind of magazine did it had?? was it a rotary type?
please tell me your location.
Thnaks.

Happyhunter,


I'll second what penpusher just said, the originality/condition of the rifle you've just seen is nothing but a plain lack of use, courtesy of the non-availibility of ammunition for it, whether its a 9x56 or a 9x57, they're both obsolete and impractical, unless you're rolling your own, no matter how pretty the rifle is, but if you're picking up something just to save a licence and getting it at a reasonable price, its your call.

In 2001, a friend of mine picked up what was possible the cleanest and most pristine example of a take-down Mannlicher-Schonauer 1905 (or any rifle for that matter!) chambered in 6.5x54 MS, cartridge trap in the steel buttplate he got the rifle for a measly 12,000 clams, at the time Norma 139-grain ammo was only just starting to enter the market at 250 each which was a helluva lot for that caliber considering older RWS 169's could be had at 100 bucks each. The rifle was very accurate and handled like a dream, in a rapid-fire situation I used to wonder where those 5 rounds went! The gun would print both loads into the same POI surprisingly despite the difference in weight, all of this with open sights at 80 yards.


So before you go in for something like this, just do a little scouting around regarding the ammo if you want to shoot it a bit.

For what it's worth, prior to WWII Steyr rifles were marked with the year the particular chambering was introduced. M1903 for the 6.5x54mm, M1905 for the 9x56mm, M1908 for the 8x56mm, and M1910 for the 9.5x57mm. All, except the 6.5mm are totally obsolete, and no longer loaded by any maker. The 9x56mm will usually handle 9x57mm Mauser cartridges as well, which may be easier to find. An 8x56mm can be easily, and safely, converted to the 8x57S Mauser by a competent gunsmith, requiring a simple rechambering and slight widening of the feed lips in the receiver. Cheers.

"oesterr Waffenfabr-Ges styer." should be on the receiver not on the barrel, btw whats the serial no. of the rifle?
Regards

The Mannlicher Schoenauer rifle are among the best made factory rifles EVER. They were called the Gentleman's rifle. The are silken smooth in operation with a fantastic rotary magazine design that feed the ammo from the middle (not a staggered stack like the Mauser etc.)

Here is my 1903 6.5X54MS carbine (a 1930 Greek conversion) which I stocked myself.



Here is a 1903 original sporter made before 1924 - with trapdoor butt plate etc.



Here is my 1910 9.5X57 MS made before 1924 - stock was replace in the Tea Estates of Ceylon or South India. this is a take down model with flip up peep sight. Metal is in perfect condition with no rust at all. I have to re-stock this. This was also known as the 375 MS.

Goodness, those pictures! I think I'm going to faint from covetousness. Lovely, simply lovely! When something is that nice, I'm not sure I care so much whether I can shoot it -- it feels good to hold it and look at it.