Help with info on a Mannlicher Schoenauer rifle

[Brian Rothhammer]

What year was it proofed? Marking should be on underside of barrel just forward of chamber. Should be a 3 or 4 digit number a slash followed by 2 digit number denoting the year it was proofed.

Be sure to use proper fitting fine (thin) drivers.

Rifle shown was the 711th arm to be 'Nitro Proofed' at Vienna (NPv) during calendar year 1907. It is an M1905 as identified by 'C 9.0' (9X56MS). The Steyr serial number is _1274_ which would be repeated on bolt, original stock.

I've never tried it, but have read (and viewed videos) that rubbing a bronze coin (pre 1982 U.S. Cent, old British Penny...) on those crusty spots may remove surface rust while leaving blueing intact.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

John Taylor in his famous book African Rifles and Cartridges had firm opinions of most calibers as to their suitability for African Elephant


View attachment 617018View attachment 617019View attachment 617021View attachment 617022

Thank you for that reference, by the way. I had not seen that one previously.

I have 'swiped' the images and hope you don't mind if they appear in future posts of mine.

 

[D.M.V]

What a neat rifle and thread. I drool over butter knife bolt handles. Thanks for starting the thread

 

[Dyls85]

Wow, thank you all for the replies and wealth of knowledge. I will get back to you on the proof date after work today. I managed to pick up some rounds for the rifle today so will be going onto the farm this afternoon to fire a few off for the first time in over 50 years.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

What a neat rifle and thread. I drool over butter knife bolt handles...

Mauser:

 

[Sarg]

Lovely old rifle, I’m after one of them myself, I have several 1903’s in 6.5x54.

Also a few Lee Speeds & Styer 93’s in 375Ex 2.5in, seem fairly powerful when you shoot them off as so light, I’m going to have a crack at a Scrub Bull with my Westley Richards when I finish this season, I hope ?

I don’t believe a lot of Taylor’s writing, if you read his stuff lots of errors in there, I think he made stuff up & learnt (or not) from others story’s ?

 

[grand veneur]

Mannlicher-Schoenauer are nice rifles, I also own two, but as far as the use of older rifles of various calibers is concerned, one always have to evaluate the opinions of all authors very critically, especially those from previous times. In the past, people could write whatever they wanted because it was difficult for readers to check that. Nowadays things look a little bit different and that's why I often don't understand why some people are still full of admiration for authors like Bell for example.

This applies also to the cartridge 9,5x57MS and its users. None of us were there when buffaloes and elephants were supposedly killed with it without any problems. How many rounds were necessary to kill this big game and how many game were wounded and not found is never mentioned. We use in our countries the cartridge 9,5x57MS primarily for wild boar hunting. You cannot make with this cartridge one suitable for big game hunting nowadays, despite what bullet or powder you use.

 

[yamoon]

My 1910 9.5x57
Mike

 

[Dyls85]

What year was it proofed? Marking should be on underside of barrel just forward of chamber. Should be a 3 or 4 digit number a slash followed by 2 digit number denoting the year it was proofed.

Be sure to use proper fitting fine (thin) drivers.

View attachment 617353
Rifle shown was the 711th arm to be 'Nitro Proofed' at Vienna (NPv) during calendar year 1907. It is an M1905 as identified by 'C 9.0' (9X56MS). The Steyr serial number is _1274_ which would be repeated on bolt, original stock.

I've never tried it, but have read (and viewed videos) that rubbing a bronze coin (pre 1982 U.S. Cent, old British Penny...) on those crusty spots may remove surface rust while leaving blueing intact.

I cannot seem to find any markings showing the proofing date. I see the Steyr serial number which is repeated throughout the rifle, there is a “V” logo, the only other number I see is the number 71 on the chamber. On the barrel is marked 375ex, NVp, and cordite 43 - 270 Max.

I’m battling to upload pictures at the moment but will post as soon as I can.

Fired off 10 rounds through her yesterday evening, what an amazing rifle to shoot, feels great and cycles brilliantly. All and all a very happy man.

 

[grand veneur]

These are British proof marks from proof house of London. I am not sure there is a date code for older rifles.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

My 1910 9.5x57
MikeView attachment 617464

She's quite lovely.

With rare sight hood, no less.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

These are British proof marks from proof house of London. I am not sure there is a date code for older rifles.

It is rather unusual (though not unheard of) for an M1910 to not have Austrian proofs as that is where they were manufactured. For Y1903 Military arms it would make sense, but not for a commercial arm.

Many (most) of the M1910 Take Down Model were marketed through British trade for which they were reproofed in England.

The 'Cordite 43 - 270 MAX .375 EX' is standard for a British proofed (reproofed) 9.5X57 and indicates a maximum load of 43 grains Cordite (roughly equivalent to IMR4895) pushing a 270 grain projectile of .375 inch diameter and is stamped on every 'Take Down Model' M1910 of which I have ever viewed images.

 

[D.M.V]

So Dyls85 are you planning on loading for her

 

[Dyls85]

I definitely am, I’ve managed to get my hands on a set of die’s which I’ll be getting towards the end of July. Fired off another 12 shots yesterday sighting her in, what a lovely rifle to shoot. Definitely going to be using her for some bush pigs.

 

[grand veneur]

It's just strange that you cannot see any Austrian proof marks. I have a MS Stutzen model 1905 that was switched to caliber 8x57IS in Belgium in the thirties. The Austrian and Belgian proof marks cannot be overlooked.

 

[D.M.V]

Ya it's nice to see brass still available. Midway has 5 rounds for 42.99 $ and I thought I shot rare expensive calibers.... Whewww !

 

[MS 9x56]

I get my 9x56 brass from Quality cartridge.

 

[Dyls85]

Ya it's nice to see brass still available. Midway has 5 rounds for 42.99 $ and I thought I shot rare expensive calibers.... Whewww !

You can fire form 30 06 brass and trim it down to 57mm.

 

[D.M.V]

Well that's good to know. I started to read about this cartridge in some of the literature that I have but I ended up getting pulled away and have yet to do more reading. I love stuff like this. That's why I've been a member of this forum for so long. Honestly African hunting probably is the best site on the Internet for information about this sort of thing. No other forum even comes close to all the information collected here especially with old calibers and rifles/firearms. Even though this is mainly supposed to be a hunting site. Plus the other members I've done business with and chatted with on here are gentlemen and all around a great group of guys.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

I get my 9x56 brass from Quality cartridge.