Yugo model1924 type II "carbine"

[Jim]

"Carbine." No, not one of those short ones like the M1924CK (I should be so lucky!) In Yugoslavian military parlance, the extra set of sling swivels on some of their model1924s is what made it a "carbine." Otherwise it did not differ in any other way from the "rifle." There were two patterns- "type 1" & "type II." Type one featured the secondary set of sling swivels and a bent bolt for which the stock was relieved to clear the bolt arm. That bolt differed from the later M48 bolt in having a serpentine profile and a coarsely checkered flat on the bottom of the bolt arm ball. The type II carbine had the extra sling swivels but retained the rifle's straight arm bolt.

The serial number of this weapon is 14948. Such a low number could only have been used in either 1929 or '35. But a '29 would have been marked on the receiver ring with CXC (Cyrillic abbreviation for the "Kingdom of Serbs, Croats & Slovenes") which this one is not. Then too, the BOHOTEX side rail mark did not come into use until later so this carbine must have been manufactured in 1935. But that poses some questions- The stock is stamped with the royal cartouche of King Alexander I. I know he was assassinated in 1934, but,I have observed a number of stocks on later manufactured rifles to still have this cartouche. Likely they had a number of stocks already made and stamped.

Harder to explain is that the only serial number on the stock is underneath the Receiver ring. This is most commonly seen on FN rifles but there is no other evidence Yet- I have not removed the wood yet) of FN manufacture. I'm aware that the Serbs and early Yugos did mark their stocks in this fashion. But it's not generally seen on the models 1924 and especially not into the mid 1930s.

The stock is definitely finished in shellac. I tested it with denatured alcohol. Yet the stamps on the stock are deep and sharp, not filled with finish material so that would seem to indicate that this finish is original to this weapon. A number of Yugo Mausers have appeared bearing shellac. Branko Bogdanovic(1) maintains oil is the only finish there exists any record of use of but, it's clear that a significant number of Yugo rifles finished in this material and innocent of any evidence of other than Yugo use, make it clear that they did use it at least on some rifles. Exactly who, where, how many or why, is unknown. There's a crack in the butt stock needs a little repairing but I can do that without disturbing the surface. Too, being shellac, that part of the stock's finish could be very easily repaired. The bolt is a mismatch but I can live with that.
1- Branko- Author of "Serbian & Yugoslav Mauser Rifles," also researcher for military museum in Belgrade and Zastava Kragujevac's historian.

Any how, I had never hoped to actually own one of these. Now I do. Perfect it ain't. But I'm thrilled with it!

Information

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[madcratebuilder]

Got my eyes peeled!

[madcratebuilder]

Just found a Type II, should have it the end of next week.

[madcratebuilder]

Got my hands on my M1924. Apparently someone added a varnish like finish at some point. Denatured alcohol would not touch the finish. I ended up stripping then cleaning the wood with BLO/turpentine mix, then some straight BLO. I see many of these have a shellac finish, that is at odds with Branko's book.

Does your rifle have as many numbered parts as mine? Receiver, stock, bolt, safety, striker, butt plate, stock cross bolt, floor plate and trigger guard all numbered on mine.


metal is cleaning up very nice, only real wear is the bands and butt plate.



This is as delivered.