Questions about the M38

[Dutchman]

Didn't we have this discussion over at gunboards?

1) The early M/38's, the ones made with earlier M/96 receivers are frequently described as being "cut down" from M/96's (Crown Jewels, p81). Did these early M/38's actually use "cut down" barrels from the existing M/96 barrels, or is that just short hand for actually re-barreling with a new, shorter length barrel?

Both. We have seen enough Gustaf m/38 with Husqvarna m/38 barrels and HVA m/38 rear sights to be able to say that there were a number of m/96 converted by Husqvarna using purpose-made shorter m/38 barrels with m/38 rear sight assemblies already installed on the barrels. Most of the time the m/96 barrel was reduced in length.

2) I have examples of both the early M/38's and the later Husqvarna made M/38's. One of my early M/38's has the Vasteras micro adjustable rear sight insert. The other does not. It seems that the sight insert is fairly common on the early M/38's and I think I read some where that it was added at the time of conversion.

The Vasteras insert was OEM for the converted Gustaf & Oberndorf m/38 as the original stepped rear sight base of the m/96 wasn't calibrated correctly for a 24" barrel. What Metzgeri calls a "stop-gap" was really a big improvement in sight adjustment on the converted m/38.

Neither of my Husqvarna made M/38's have a micro adjustable rear sight. Why did Husqvarna discontinue the use of micro-adjustable rear sights on the M/38's that they built?

Husqvarna never installed the Vasteras insert on purpose-built m/38 as the HVA m/38 rear sight base is a tangent sight. It has infinite adjustment capability whereas the stepped rear sight base of the m/96 required adaptive modification in the form of the Vasteras insert, which also has infinite adjustment.

Suggestion Calfed: Instead of referring to "early" and "late/r" m/38 it would be much clearer if you simply refer to the early conversions as Carl Gustaf & Oberndorf m/38 versus purpose-built Husqvarna or HVA m/38. That shows a distinction between the models. Within the Swedish military system there was no distinction, but we are not Swedish soldiers we are gun collectors. We make distinctions that are relevant to the many variations within the same model firearms.

Dutch