Swedish Mauser

Gevär m/96 (Model 1896 Rifle)
6,5 mm Gevär m/1896. Pattern, approved 20 March 1896.
Type	Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	German Empire Sweden
Service history
In service	1895–1995
Used by	See Users
Wars	Winter War, Continuation War
Production history
Designer	Paul Mauser
Designed	1893–1896
Manufacturer	Waffenfabrik Mauser AG Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB
Produced	1895 to 1948
No. built	750,000 of which 127,000 were m/94 carbines, 535,000 m/96 long rifles and 88,000 m/38 short rifles (converted m/38's not included)
Variants	m/38 short rifle, m/41 sniper rifle, m/94 carbine.
Specifications
Weight	Rifle: 4 kg (8.8 lb) carbine: 3.4 kg (7.5 lb)
Length	m/1896: 1,260 mm (50 in) m/1938: 1,120 mm (44 in) m/1894: 950 mm (37 in)
Barrel length	m/1896: 739 mm (29.1 in) m/1938: 610 mm (24 in) m/1894: 450 mm (18 in)
Cartridge	6.5×55mm
Action	Bolt action
Muzzle velocity	original round nose bullet rifle: 725 m/s (2,380 ft/s) carbine: 655 m/s (2,150 ft/s)
Effective firing range	600 m (656 yd) (m/1938) with iron sights 800 m (875 yd) with telescopic sight
Feed system	5-round stripper clip, internal magazine
Sights	Square post front, U notch rear iron sights or telescopic sight

"Swedish Mausers" are a family of bolt-action rifles based on an improved variant of Mauser's earlier Model 1893, but using the 6.5×55mm cartridge, and incorporating unique design elements as requested by Sweden. These are the m/94 (Model 1894) carbine, m/96 (Model 1896) long rifle, m/38 (Model 1938) short rifle and m/41 (Model 1941) sniper rifle. In 1898 production began at Carl Gustafs stads Gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna, Sweden.

All Swedish Mausers were chambered for the 6.5×55mm cartridge, and all Swedish-made actions were proof-tested with a single 6.5×55mm proof round developing approximately 455 MPa (65,992 psi) piezo pressure (55,000 CUP). Swedish Mausers were manufactured by Waffenfabrik Mauser AG in Oberndorf a/N in Germany and in Sweden by Carl Gustafs stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag. All Swedish Mausers, whether built in Germany or Sweden, were fabricated using a Swedish-supplied high grade tool steel alloyed with nickel, copper, and vanadium, a product than noted for its strength and corrosion resistance.

These rifles, like other pre-M 98 system Mauser rifles, lack the third safety locking lug at the rear of the bolt and feature "cock-on-closing" (similar to the contemporary Lee–Enfield rifle) instead of the "cock-on-opening" style found on the German Gewehr 98 and most subsequent bolt-action rifles. The rear sight was graduated for 6.5×55mm service cartridges from 300 to 2,000 m (328 to 2,187 yd) in 100 m (109 yd) increments.

Submitted for Swedish trials were the M/1892 rifle and carbine based on elements of the m/1889 Belgian, m/1890 Turkish, and m/1891 Argentine Mauser rifles. One rifle is chambered in 8×58mmR Danish Krag caliber. One example exists in the Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland, US.