I recently picked one up in 6.5x54 and I want to know if it's a factory configuration or custom. Single trigger, sporter stock with a nice piece of walnut, trap door buttplate, and Griffin Howe side mount which I know is not factory. I picked up some vintage Norma ammo and am anxious to shoot it soon. Any help would be appreciated.

I haven't posted pics in a long time and it appears Photobucket isn't what it used to be. If someone can direct me on how to post pics from my phone that would be great. Thanks.

There were, at least here in the UK, a number of retailers who sold this rifle (and its predecessor models) that semi-bespoke (or that awful word semi-custom) options would have been very possible. Fraser for example or other Scottish gunmakers.

I've seen for example Steyr-Mannlicher rifles in the old clip loading 6.5x53R chambering with side mounted scopes. Indeed one owned by a notable Victoria Cross recepient.

My advice would be to search the websites of the major British auction houses...Holt's, Gavin Gardiner, Bonhams and Etc.

You will see many slight variations on what may have left the factory in Austria as a "standard" item but that the buyer had tweaked to his personal requirements by the British gunmaker he bought it from.

Good Luck! The trapdoor I'd maybe say means that the rifle was retailed within continental Europe rather than in the UK.

British "hunting" then was hill stalking in to an intended chosen single deer so a fully charged magazine would be all that was required. So no need to recharge the magazine from rounds carried in a trapdoor.

I do have the original 3 pc. cleaning rod in mine. There are 2 holes bored, the other could be used for a couple of extra rounds r a replacement front sight, etc.

Are there any visible proof marks? Other proof marks with the stock removed?

If you send me a PM I can help you get photos of this one posted here.

I personally wish someone would offer the service of posting photos (at a price,of course)

Thought I had IMGUR figured out until the next time I tried to use it, they had moved the finish line.

Anyone?

I have a few Model 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauers, both original and modified, and know a fair bit about them.

But I can't help you much regarding yours without photos. I'll send you a PM with my email address. If you'll email the photos to me, I will post them for you.

It would be best if you can pull the barreled action out of the stock and get photos of all stamped proof marks, etc. The SN, showing the first couple of digits at least, would also be useful.

Mannlicher-Schoenauers were made in full stock and half stock versions, and take down models were available with half stocks. They are beautiful and handy little rifles.

Lots of after-market remodelers took the stock models, modified them and sold them under (or really by adding) their own names, most particularly the English makers.

I sent photos to Michael, thank you. Naturally this will help much more.

The scope is an old Noske, 2 or 2.5 power. Very fine crosshair and dot reticule. Fairly clear still. It's not a G&H mount, maybe an Echo? That manufacturer comes to mind but could very well be something else. Did not see any markings on the mount itself.

I have one. Its a 1903 Model 6.5x54MS Stutzen. I've reloaded for it extensively mostly using Hornady 160 grain RN bullets .264 diameter. Some of these rifles have larger bores and if so you can use the 160 grain .268 Hornady bullets made for the Mannlicher Carcano caliber. My rifle has the trap butt with the cleaning rod space and additional spaces for two rounds.

When I bought it the rifle had claw bases installed but no scope so I had J. J. Perodeau install rings to fit the bases- perfect job and with a 1950s Weaver K-4 it looks and shoots good. I looked for an older "period" german scope but didn't want to spend the money and finding one that is functional is problematic.

Anyway, its a great rifle and shoots the 160 grain bullets well but understand that velocity with the 17.5" barrel averages 2050 fps.

I've had poor luck with Nosler 140 grain partitions and they don't feed well. I have not tried the Lapua 155 grain bullets yet but given the accuracy of the 160 grain Hornadys there is no need to try the 155s. I'd be happy to answer any questions- they are nice, high quality rifles and come with lots of history.

Initial reaction is that your rifle is indeed a Model 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer, made in 1929, and modified by adding the side scope mount and grinding the bolt handle to clear the low-mounted scope. It also seems to me that the stock has been modified or perhaps even replaced. The checkering does not seem to be factory, and I don't recall ever seeing an ebony fore end tip on a M-S. And the curve of the grip is tight, not as open as a factory stock. Does it have an oval cheekpiece?

It does have a cheekpiece I sent a pic if you want to post it. Thanks a ton for your help.

No problem.

This confirms that the rifle has been restocked, as that is not a factory cheekpiece.

The M-S cheekpiece is not shadow-lined, and is much smaller.

Still, nice job on it.

That's a nice rifle and is definitely a restock. Brass is at Graf's (Prvi) and Huntingtons- RWS and Norma. Dies are available too. Easily the smoothest feeding rifle I've ever had using the RN 160 grain bullets- the rotary magazine is a work of art. I'm sure the Woodleigh 160 grain RN would feed as well as the Hornadys as would the Lapua 155s.

Any idea what all of the markings mean under the rifle? Cool aside, in the trapdoor was a small roll of old matches in waxpaper, a German small brass compass, and a pen knife with mother of pearl? skins. Oh and a brass key for removing the scope.

What year is the manufacture? I have one made in 1908 with an original stock (It has been refinished, checkering crisped up). The stock on this rifle is different, but they changed over the years.

I have a problem with my extractor cracking off a piece as well as the bolt face. I got a surplus Greek Mannlicher bolt and switched out the parts. Good to go.

I load the Hornady 160 gr .264 as well. I use an original velocity load, so very low pressure. I'd recommended playing with seating depth for best loading - mine was below spec'd OAL, but longer than the cannelure. Shots 1.5" at 150 yards with iron sights (I have a replica of the Lyman sight).

You should also see the serial number "21535" stamped on the underside of the bolt handle. If the stock were original, the serial number would also be stamped in the barrel channel ahead of the receiver ring recess.

The stampings "2137.29" on the action and barrel reveal the year of manufacture. The number 29 indicates the year of manufacture of your rifle was 1929, and the number 2137 indicates that yours was the 2137th such rifle made during that year.

I have never been able to find out what the "+05" stamp and its correlates mean. I have seen the numbers expressed as negatives and positives (even double positives) and run all over the place in values. Must be some kind of tool room mark, I would guess.

The "NpV" stamp is an Austrian nitro proof mark. The "C6.7" stamp could be bore diameter in millimeters, but I have seen them vary as low as 6.5. I understand that there was some variation in bore and groove diameters over the years. That's why it is recommended to slug the bore as an aid in choosing bullets of the right diameter for any particular rifle.

The stampings can vary from rifle to rifle. I have one that was made during the Nazi German annexation of Austria, or Anschluss, that says "Made in Germany" on it. It has German proofs and a barrel date, too - "12.44" - which is, of course, December of 1944. Pretty late in the war. Yet it was manufactured at Steyr in what had been and would again become Austria.

If only guns could speak, right?

Thanks MR for all that information. I also have one and I believe it has a single trigger. My 1905 has double set triggers and is 9X56mm. Norman Conquest set me up with some 160 grRN from Hornady so I am in line to reload. My chamber on the 6.5 doesn't say " NORMAL" . I have trouble chambering factory loads and handloads the just the same. I have a chamber reamer loaned to me and will soon be able to use CIP/SAAMI loads. I have blue box PP in 156 RN. I am anxious to get started. Be Well, Packy.

Working off my phone, I can’t see where “21535” and “2137.29” are stamped.

I follow the thinking on the “2137.29” stamp. What about the “21535”?

The C6.7 is the designation for the Groove dia.

The -# on the recv'r is an assembly number.
A matching but +# is found on the underside of the bbl
(if the action and bbl are the ones assembled at the factory of course)

They simply used (-) designation for the recv'r and a (+) for the bbl.
The number itself is just an arbitrary number used that was not duplicated on any of the other bbl'd action assemblys that were on the 'line' in the factory at the same time.
A way of matching rcv'r to bbl before the ser# had been applied.

21535 (the ser#) is stamped above the wood line on both the recv'r and bbl on the right hand side.
The proof date code (2137.29) is stamped right below that but it is placed under the wood line

2152hq - thanks for the explanation of the tool/assembly room markings. Makes sense. I have never seen that explained before.

As for the groove diameter stamping, that also makes sense, as 6.7mm equals 0.264 inch (rounded up).

I once owned a Model 1903 stamped "C6.5", which equates to 0.256 inch (also rounded up), which must have been the bore diameter, rather than groove diameter. Bullets of 0.264 inch diameter worked fine in that rifle. One would think M-S would have standardized the stamping, but apparently not.

I know that in their old catalogs, Steyr indicated that their 6.5x54mm M-S chambered rifles were "6.7mm Calibre".

The British, who generally go by bore size when designating caliber, have called the 6.5x54mm M-S the ".256 Mannlicher".

Also, I forgot to mention that the serial number stamped on the trigger plate of Prewar70's rifle (20289) does not match the serial number on the action and barrel, further cementing the case that this rifle is a re-build/remodel.

I have a 1903 that was retailed by Charles Bowell and has a single trigger which I believe was geared toward the english market.

Fred

https://postimages.org/

I use this website for posting pictures, super easy, even off of your phone.

The best source I have found for MS manufactured rifles and carbines is:
nitroexpress.com
They have a Mannlicher Schoenauer forum.
With several experts. They have been a great help to me on my 1903 and 1961MCA