New to me M48BO

[estook]

All,
Just shot my new to me M48BO. Very accurate with iron sights, I like the two stage trigger as well. Definately put a Limb Saver on from Wallyworld. It will be my favorite gun at the range, even though it's a buck a shot.
I have many milsurp guns-
-Mosin Nagant, 1929 Tula 91/30 not very accurate, but goes big boom cheaply.
-Chinese SKS appears to be surplus mil., accurate
-MAK 90 milled great gun. Made a walnut stock to get rid of horrible thumbhole.
-AR 15 kit from PSA, 20" barrel. Anderson receiver. Very accurate and fun to shoot.
-M48BO as described. Appears to be Walnut stock- not Elm, know my woods.
-Bulgarian Makarov, beautiful bluing, very clean with just a hint of holster wear on front of
slide, fun and accurate to shoot. My favorite pistol.
-Romanian Tokarev, clean and nice dark bluing, makes a big bang, not giantly accurate.
-Ruger 10/22, not milsurp obviously, aftermarket stock with cheap scope, really accurate.
Cheap and real fun to shoot.
-Maverick 88 12 gauge, again not milsurp, 18 1/2" barrel I cut, with pistol grip. Have not shot
after shortening as of yet, can't wait to though.
My introduction to this great forum.
Erik from beautiful NC.

Information

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[CINDERS]

Welcome to milsurps you'll have to post some pics of your milsurps lot.

[Jim]

Just shot my new to me M48BO.

Walnut stocks are pretty scarce on Yugoslav M48s but, not unknown. According to Yugoslav expert Branko Bogdanovic, only the first 10,000 M48s were stocked in walnut. Thereafter beech and elm were used. But, By far and long, elm is the most often seen, in the USA anyway. However, I myself have seen a number of M48s in walnut stocks, usually well worn ones too. As it happens, I have what I believe to be one myself. Also, just about all were on M48B rifles (as is mine), those made from 1956 on.
You can identify a model B by the ribbed stamped trigger guard. See images below.

As for the particulars on the "bo" model- "bo" stands for "bez oznake" meaning unmarked or, w/out markings. These were left without national or manufacturers markings for the sake of foreign militaries who did not want Yugoslav markings on their country's rifles. It was not for clandestine purposes as is sometimes suggested. that doesn't even make any sense because a- the Yugoslavs were the only nation in the world manufacturing the M48 rifle. B- the rifles still had Yugoslav proof marks. When the Yugoslavs wanted to send clandestine weapons, and they did, they generally used surplus German Mausers.

As for the manufacture of M48bo rifles, prior to 1956 they were made as a special run left unmarked or 'off the shelf' rifles stripped and scrubbed of their markings and then refinished. From 1956 on, they were manufactured as M48B rifles concurrent with the standard stamped rifles because from 1956 on, the M48 was manufactured sole for export.
That about sums it up!
The first image left is my walnut stocked M48B, second image is of an M48B trigger guard third image is of trigger guard/magwells, milled on top, stamped & welded assembly on the bottom.
Last image, right, is a comparison between the two types installed in rifles.
Attachment 90878 Attachment 90879 Attachment 90880 Attachment 90881

These images are of my M48bo. It is in 1st model (all milled) configuration.
Attachment 90884 Attachment 90885 Attachment 90882 Attachment 90883

[usabaker]

These images are of my M48bo. It is in 1st model (all milled) configuration.

Beautiful Rifle Jim, I think I want one of those as well, I like how clean it looks without all the stamps.

[Jim]

I never thought of it that way but you have a point there. It IS a bit of a looker if I do say so myself. It was my 13th wedding anniversary present. Since we just celebrated #29 I'd have to say that 13 was a lucky number for us!

[estook]

Really good info Jim, thanks. I must say I do only know woods from the States. I had a Yugo SKS that had some sort of wood like our oak, large pores and could be splintery. This stock on the M48 bo seems more like walnut in weight and color, Beech? no dots, Elm? maybe. I need to look at european wood samples.

[freedomintheskies]

This gentleman is quite informative...