Another M03 (Bulgarian M95) in 8x50r!

[Eaglelord17]

Hi all,

I thought I would share with you my most recent acquisition another Bulgarian M03 rifle which is in 8x50r.

This example isn't as close to original as the other example, and I suspect it might be a restored sporter (going to ask for others opinions on it). It does have a original Bulgarian bolt, however it isn't matching. The rear sight is correct as well. The stock however I suspect is from either a drill rifle, or a later reworked M95. The reasons being it is a Austrian stock, not a Bulgarian one (if it was a Bulgarian one it would have the Bulgarian lion cartouche on the left hand side of the buttstock), along with having two serial numbers in the stock one lined out, and one not (neither are matching to this rifle however).

The stock also feels like it might have been sanded as well (though I am not good at identifying wood work). Only identifying marks as to where the rifle (or stock) could have possibly been is a 'OP' marking on the stock, which if any of you recognize from somewhere please let me know, searching for that identifier is particularly hard with the internet as it gets used for so many different things.

Another interesting point, is it looks like the magazine was shot. Unfortunately it is also likely whoever was carrying this was hit as well as when I held it up as though I was right handed, it lined up pretty well with my center of mass.

Well enough talking here are some photos.


Bottom example is the pretty much original rifle, top is the new one


Showing the numbers stamped into the bolt handles


Showing both the Bulgarian Crests and the vent holes on a Bulgarian bolt


Showing a close up of that nice crest


Both of these rifles are from the 1903 Steyr Contract which was the first contract Bulgaria had.


One side of the new stock


The other side, both of these indicate to me the stock is either a drill rifles or from a stripped down M95, unless someone captured both Bulgarian and Austrian M95s and ended up switching the stocks without converting the rifle to some other standard (very unlikely)

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=3546
Only other marking on the stock


Look number 1 on the bullet strike. I suspect it would have come from the small side as it lifted the edge upwards, not inwards had it been struck from the other direction.


Another view of the same strike, showing better the peening on the side.

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