Pardon my introducing a tangent here but it relates to the type of questions originally being asked... Is the receiver ring markng showing "OE WG Steyr" a manufacture mark unique to the M1890 model carbines? Most of the M95's I have seen sport the "M.95" and "Budapest" or "Steyr" marking. I have a sporterized weapon that could be made from one carbine or assembled from many parts - with very few original markings or detail to identify its origins. I am seeking clues that might ID whether it is a M1890 or a later M.95. The receiver ring has a faint "OE WG Steyr" mark (probably thin looking due to metal being machined away to scrub the rifle of proofs and serial numbers)... so I am supposing the barreled action is a M1890 type. The bolt has the early round cocking piece of the M1890 but these are threaded on (could be intermixed) and at least one source says the 1890's were often updated to the later thumb type so it would seem that by itself this is not perfect proof that the bolt started as a complete M1890 unit. The gun smith might have had a preference or just an older parts pool to work with for a cocking piece. The bolt handle has been bent/turned down and the ball machined into a very nice representation of an Acorn. Any other bolt detail that is purely M1890 that I can check? The stock is a wonderfully figured walnut with the wrist swivel mounting holes expertly filled but overall shape having been heavily reworked (shortened and now sporting a Schnabel forend and no finger grooves, and a forend barrel attachment key slot and escutcheon - wedge/key missing) and it gives no other visible clues as to original model configuration. Oddly it looks like a 3/8" round hole was plugged at the very front end of the stock as reworked... the front end is shaped wood and not bone or other material... but none of these carbines had a cleaning rod so I am baffled by the need to fill a centerline hole in what appears to be a reworked military carbine pattern stock that had a wrist mounted sling swivel. The trigger guard/magazine well is stamped with a "K" by the front screw denoting Steyr manufacture... but no other visible parts show maker marks. There could be some left on hidden parts. The barrel profile has been heavily modified such that the original front and rear sights are gone and have been replaced with simplified sporting style replacements - ramp front and two leaf flip up rear. Any more original identifying detail of the barrel has been removed/machined away. All metal is a very deep and highly polished rust blue with very minor edge wear. It was sold to me as having been chambered for the 8x56r ammo but I still need to confirm this. Again... no markings survive as to original manufacture date, acceptance, serial number or date/s of modification, or current or past chambering. Also... no importation markings and this gun has been in the US for some time... presumably pre 1968. I suspect it is a post war GI occupation force bring back. Any comments or suggestions about determining its original model/form are welcomed. Thanks for reading this lengthy description but in this case the devil is in what is left of the original details.
