Steyr M95M Rifle in a peculiar stock

[Dorffster]

I picked up this Steyr M95M from Shooters Outpost in Hooksett, NH after spending quite a bit of time trying to figure out more of its history. Certainly looks to be a Steyr M95M, modified to 8mm as they did, but then placed into a stock that I cannot find an image of on the interwebs. It appears to be "correct" in the sense that it is force-matched to the rifle itself, but I just cannot find a similar example in any books or corners of the internet I've explored.

Any ideas, Milsurp Hive Mind? I've attached a series of photos, many of which include a standard cut down Steyr M95 (not a stutzen) for comparison. And thank you.

Andy
Newton, NH

Attachment 119027

Attachment 119028

Attachment 119029

Attachment 119030

Attachment 119031

Attachment 119032

Attachment 119033

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Daan Kemp]

There are similar ones on the forum. Seems Italian or Yugoslav reparation or rework WWI.

Search "M95 Repetier-KarabinerStutzen with questions" "Yugoslavian M.95 rework"

I'm not up to the link to the thread yet.

Uses clips from the slot below the magazine, not stripper clips like the other example. Action not slotted for stripper clips.

[Aragorn243]

I don't know what to tell you. Looks like the barrel has been shortened a few inches and I haven't heard of them doing that. Front sight resembles those used on Spanish rifles but it isn't an exact match and the M95M modification occurred after these Spanish rifles were made. Same with Argentine rifles which is also resembles. It looks like your internal magazine is present which is good. They are almost impossible to find if missing.

[Eaglelord17]

That is not a original military rifle. Someone at some point converted a M95m to be like that, my best guess being they took a original military one, shortened the barrel and handguards to match and found a nose cap somewhere likely off one of the various Mauser Carbines out there. Likely attempting to get the 'Mannlicher Stocked' hunting rifle look. Should be stripper clip fed and 8mm Mauser, but double check before firing anything out of it. I would also make sure the 'retention clip' that they added for 8mm Mauser is in there (often missing for whatever reason, likely due to people taking it out well 'cleaning' and not knowing what it is for) otherwise you won't be able to feed from the magazine and the rifle won't be worth much at all.

[Dorffster]

Thanks for your comments, but I don't think you folks are correct in a couple of your statements. In terms of there being other similar examples on the forum, please point me to them as I made this posting because to the best of my searching ability, there are NOT other similar M95M models in the forums.

To state that this is not an original military rifle is a bold assertion, and I do not think it is correct. Who would "sporterize" a military rifle to get the Mannlicher stock appearance but also force match the stock? That seems highly unlikely to me. Additionally, all the metal looks "correct" and similar in terms of age and patina.

While I am pretty confident this rifle shoots the 8mm Mauser round, there's no way I'm going to try it out--I'm just interested in its history, which I suspect is more along the lines of this:

This firearm was converted from a 8x56R cut-down M1895 rifle to a Yugo M95M 8mm Mauser, but then somewhere during that process or perhaps later (at an arsenal) was thrown into a very different stock arrangement, perhaps because of what was available at the time.

It's this latter stock arrangement that has me puzzled, but it does not seem to me at all to be something done by a private individual. Thanks for your input just the same!

Attachment 119073

Attachment 119074

Attachment 119075

Attachment 119076

[Eaglelord17]

Thanks for your comments, but I don't think you folks are correct in a couple of your statements. In terms of there being other similar examples on the forum, please point me to them as I made this posting because to the best of my searching ability, there are NOT other similar M95M models in the forums.

To state that this is not an original military rifle is a bold assertion, and I do not think it is correct. Who would "sporterize" a military rifle to get the Mannlicher stock appearance but also force match the stock? That seems highly unlikely to me. Additionally, all the metal looks "correct" and similar in terms of age and patina.

While I am pretty confident this rifle shoots the 8mm Mauser round, there's no way I'm going to try it out--I'm just interested in its history, which I suspect is more along the lines of this:

This firearm was converted from a 8x56R cut-down M1895 rifle to a Yugo M95M 8mm Mauser, but then somewhere during that process or perhaps later (at an arsenal) was thrown into a very different stock arrangement, perhaps because of what was available at the time.

It's this latter stock arrangement that has me puzzled, but it does not seem to me at all to be something done by a private individual. Thanks for your input just the same!

Attachment 119073

Attachment 119074

Attachment 119075

Attachment 119076

You aren't understanding me. The barrel was cut shorter than it was surplused as. You can tell just by looking at the stepped part in the barrel, that should be longer from the step to the front sight. A M95m should have a 23.4" barrel length and a 43.2" overall length.

What I suspect happened was someone took one of these rifle as it was surplussed, cut the barrel shorter, remounted the front sight on the barrel, cut the stock to fit the new front site cap/band (possibly modifying the band as well), and cut the handguard or found a new one. I suspect the stock is the original one, just cut shorter to accommodate the shortened barrel.

This was not done by any military, you have a sporterized rifle, just one that wasn't done as terribly as many were. Considering the Yugoslavs didn't do that and they were the ones using them it means it was done by private hands. There was many talented gunsmiths out there in the 40s-80s who could easily have whipped something like this up. I hope you didn't pay too much for it.

[bob q]

As stated , it is not military . Step wrong , front sight wrong , not adjustable , can't mount bayonet . Anyone with any skill could machine and make those parts fit .

[Dorffster]

I'm convinced. I took a closer look at the muzzle and yeah, that's not an arsenal crown; that's somebody who lopped off a few inches. I got it for short money, so no harm, no foul.

I was sort of hoping it might be the like the peculiarly-stocked Mosin Nagant 91/30 I once picked up that turned out to be a Simonov "trials" rifle from before WWII as the Soviets were trying to determine how best to attach a bayonet. No such luck this time 'round! Thanks again for the input--this rifle was worth the investigative entertainment value alone!

[Aragorn243]

When I first saw it I had a feeling about it that I couldn't shake but didn't investigate until this morning. i still haven't fully investigated it but it looks like a promising avenue. This rifle reminded me of the Turkish forestry rifles. Now they are normally Berthiers but from the few photos I found this morning, that muzzle cover is a Turkish forestry rifle cover, closer photos may confirm or deny this. Whether the Turks did this or not, I can't say but as they modified just about anything they could get their hands on, I wouldn't say it isn't an impossibility. The stamping of the numbers on the stock also have a vague Turk look to them.

In any case, I like it and wouldn't have hesitated to buy it if the price was right.

[Ovidio]

My first impression was that it looks pretty similar to the Argentinian Cavalry Mauser. Or the Swedish...
Maybe someone was looking for a similar look on a different rifle.
I would kick all bubba's, anyway...