Crown Jewels – The Mauser In Sweden

There is an apocryphal story, set at the outbreak of World War I, of a German general confronting his Swiss counterpart across their common border. “I could attack you at any moment,” the German officer threatened, “I have twice as many men as you do!” “In that case”, replied the Swiss general calmly, “I should have to ask each of my soldiers to fire two times.” No attack was forthcoming, proving once again the efficacy of the old Latin adage Si vis pacem, para bellum (“If you want peace, [prepare] for war”). Both Switzerland and Sweden managed to remain aloof from the two World Wars of the 20th century, and it cannot be entirely coincidental that both nations took the training of their military riflemen very seriously indeed. Certainly the long tradition of accuracy and precision embodied in Swedish Mauser carbines and rifles is legendary, and this is the first in-depth study of these fine arms. Our story begins in the final years of the uneasily united kingdom of Sweden and Norway, where the search for a repeating rifle was just beginning. Extensive trials with various arms and cartridges of the day resulted in three finalists: the Krag-Jorgensen; the Mannlicher; and the Mauser. The Norwegians favored the Krag, but the Swedes preferred the Mauser ars karbin, which they adopted on August 7, 1894. Oscar II , the last monarch to reign as king over both Norway and Sweden, wisely decreed that whichever rifles were chosen, they should both fire the same ammunition. He established a special joint Commission whose members designed the excellent 6.5x55mm rimless cartridge, which stands to this day as one of the most accurate military rounds ever introduced…