Sweden remained neutral in both the First and Second World Wars ('Neutrality through strength' was one Swedish motto).

The m/96 is probably the finest of all the early Mausers. Valued by shooters because it simply shot better, on average, than anything else and by collectors because of its exquisite quality and workmanship. The m/96 became one of the most desirable surplus rifles.

during the 1950's and 1960's, introducing large numbers of American hunters to both the 6.5x55 cartridge and the Swedish Mauser service rifle. Thousands of surplus Model 1896 Swedish Mausers were imported into the U.S. RCBS reports that 6.5x55 reloading dies have consistently been on their top 30 best seller list for many years. It is a medium capacity cartridge that has been proven all over the world. Suffice to say that it combines the virtues of moderate recoil, reasonable trajectory, and good killing power. The 6.5x55 cartridge has been well covered in the pages of Guns and Shooting Online, including a dedicated article and comparison articles on the Rifle Cartridge Page, so I will not go into it in depth here. The basic 1896 action soldiered into the 1950's, when it was finally replaced by a self-loader. The Model 1896 rifle remained the primary Swedish service rifle until 1938, when the Model 38 was adopted, and the Model 38 was basically an 1896 with a 24' barrel and an aperture rear sight. The 6.5x55 cartridge went on to become one of the world's finest sporting cartridges, widely used by both target shooters and hunters to this day. Both rifle and cartridge were tremendously successful. This particular rifle is unique in that it was originally mfg in Germany uncer license as an M96 rifle by Waffenfabrik Mauser.The Swedish m/96 rifle, which civilians generally call the Swedish Mauser Model 1896 or just the 'Swedish Mauser,' was introduced two years after the famous 6.5x55 cartridge and became its most enduring home. Here is another 'all correct' example of an 1899 M96/38 Swedish Short Rifle Serial # 23669, also converted by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori between 1938-1940.

During the 1950's and 1960's, introducing large numbers of American hunters to both the 6.5x55 cartridge and the Swedish Mauser service rifle. This particular rifle is unique in that it was originally mfg in Germany uncer license as an M96 rifle by Waffenfabrik Mauser, Oberndorf a/N in 1899. The serial number starts with an 'S' What is the age of carl Gustav 6.5x55 rifle serial number 133984? Here is another 'all correct' example of an 1899 M96/38 Swedish Short Rifle Serial # 23669, also converted by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori between 1938-1940. E The serial number you listed is not a Model 58 serial number.

Swedish mauser serial numbers