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Thread: 'Barn find' Bulgarian contract Steyr M95

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  1. #1
    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
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    'Barn find' Bulgarian contract Steyr M95

    Had a very good find on this 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War. A Bulgarian contract Steyr M95 made in 1903 complete with bayonet.
    It literally came out of a barn in North Carolina. More than likely a Second World War bring back, as it is rechambered to 8x56r. Receiver bears the Bulgarian lion in shield, siderail is 'STEYR 1903'. The number on the bolt knob matches up with barrel and receiver, and bolt body does not have the characteristic gas escape hole.
    This rifle was/is absolutely filthy, and I'm showing pictures of it as found...right down to the dirt daubers that set up housekeeping in the muzzle.
    It is apart now and being cleaned. The inside still had a considerable amount of cosmolineicon.
    So, possible Balkan War/Great War/Second World War vet? If they could only talk!
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member army1882's Avatar
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    Nice find, congrats. I'll be interesting to see after a complete cleanup. Is that rust on the exposed surfaces or just dirt and dust?

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    Contributing Member rcathey's Avatar
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    Neat! Did you find it with thebayonet attached? That’s pretty cool too.

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    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
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    Yep, bayo was with it, had to shoot a little oil on it to get it off!
    Lots and lots of dirt all over it, metal is going brown. Plus have to deal with the cosmolineicon. It'll look great when its done, gonna be a project though!

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    Legacy Member Paul S.'s Avatar
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    Nice find.

    That it was left to get in that condition is enough to make grown men weep.

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    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
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    Yes it is.

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    Legacy Member Eaglelord17's Avatar
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    It wouldn't be a Second World War bring back as it is loaded with cosmolineicon. The rifle is almost certainly a First Balkan War, Second Balkan War, WWI, and WWII vet as especially for the earlier conflicts they didn't have that much of a option. Likely the history of this particular piece is that it was used in the conflicts mentioned above, in the 30s updated to 8x56r (like the vast majority of them) at which time the bolt could have been replaced, or it was replaced in a rebuild post-WWII (which based off the cosmoline this rifle almost certainly went though). This rifle was likely bought as surplus in the 60s-90s, and just placed in the barn and forgotten about.

    Personally Bulgarian M95s are one of my favourite firearms, at this point I own 3 of them, all in the original 8x50r. I am sure that rifle will clean up just fine, can't wait to see the after photos.

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    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
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    I was wondering if it had just been found over there somewhere, packed away. It has definitely seen some use with corrosive ammo, as the bore is a sewer pipe. I've run a rod through it a bunch of times, it is improving somewhat.
    Been working on it today, looks like there was a rifle under all that crud after all!

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    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
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    Gone about as far as I want to with the M95. I'll do a bit here and there, and the bayonet still needs some attention, but its a vast improvement.

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    You've done well bringing it back to life.

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