I'm buying a Mannlicher Schoenauer Model 1952 in 257 Roberts. The rifle is out of state, I'd like to use my C & R license. Without having the serial number, does anyone know dates of manufacture for these rifles, how to date or a book source for documenting? Steyr-Mannlicher Schoenauer Repeating Sporting Rifles 1935 (in German-Catalog) $15.95 - 55 Pages; Steyr-Mannlicher Schoenauer Repeating Sporting Rifles 1935 (with English Translation) $18.95 - 107 Pages; Steyr-Mannlicher Schoenauer Repeating Sporting Rifles 1939 Stoeger Gun & Parts Catalog $4.95 - 4 Pages.
I pulled the stock of my 'new-to-me' Mannlicher with the hope of dating the gun. (I was surprised to find that a comprehensive code of serial numbers and dates did not exist for the commercial sporters, but hoped I'd find an internal date on the gun.)
I knew the gun was post-1912 based on the proofs. The name on the scope (Emil Kerner & Sohn) provided another clue as the '& Sohne' nomenclature first shows up in the mid-1920s. The serial number on the gun is 9857 and the serial number on the scope is 6581. (This is an original M-S in 6.5x54 with the original Zeiss Zeilvier 4x scope in claw mounts. )
Once I got the gun apart I did not find the date code (or at least the date code in the form I expected to find it.) Stamped in two spots on the underside of the action were the numbers '14037* .19.' I am not sure how to interpret that code. Anyone have any insight?
Below are a few photos of the gun:
I knew the gun was post-1912 based on the proofs. The name on the scope (Emil Kerner & Sohn) provided another clue as the '& Sohne' nomenclature first shows up in the mid-1920s. The serial number on the gun is 9857 and the serial number on the scope is 6581. (This is an original M-S in 6.5x54 with the original Zeiss Zeilvier 4x scope in claw mounts. )
Once I got the gun apart I did not find the date code (or at least the date code in the form I expected to find it.) Stamped in two spots on the underside of the action were the numbers '14037* .19.' I am not sure how to interpret that code. Anyone have any insight?
Below are a few photos of the gun:
Mannlicher Schoenauer Scope Mount