Schultz & Larsen M52 Target Rifle
Encyclopedia
The M52 was the first in a family of target rifles based on refurbished Mauser M98
military actions by the Danish company Schultz & Larsen
in the years following World War II. They were produced to fill a need for target rifles by the Danish shooting association - "De Danske Skytteforeninger". The M52 was superseded by later variants (M58, M58E and M69) the last of which remained in production until the 1970s. It had a similar development path to other Scandinavian target rifles derived from German M98
and other Mauser
actions, such as the Kongsberg M59
and Carl Gustaf M63
.
in 6.5x55mm, was complex to produce, obsolescent and it was not deemed practicable to place it back in production. In any case, the .30-06 M1917 Enfield was the Danish Army’s interim standard rifle, which would be soon replaced by the US M1 Garand
, also in .30-06, and the Krag-Jørgensen
action was not strong enough for the powerful US round. In a development path also followed concurrently by other Scandinavian countries, notably Norway with the Kongsberg M59
, the Danes turned to the substantial quantity of Mauser 98 rifles left behind by the recently surrendered German forces. These were ideal in many respects. The action was much stronger than that of the Krag-Jørgensen
, was suitable for the 6.5x55mm still favoured by Danish marksmen, and could handle the slightly longer .30-06 cartridge with some minor modifications. It was a strong action eminently suited for use in a target rifle and a target rear sight could be mounted on the receiver bridge. Most importantly, it was available in the numbers required.
A variety of different Mauser M98
actions were represented. Although there was a large number of Kar98ks, many of the ex-German rifles were the Czechoslovakian vz. 24
, known in German service as the G24(t). Of superb quality, the Czech-made actions were almost identical to German-manufactured Kar98k actions, with the exception of markings and the use of a straight bolt handle projecting at right angles from the action. The German Kar98k bolt handle was turned down to bring it closer to the stock and the firer's hand.
stripped an ex-German rifle, checked the action and replaced the military 7.92x57mm barrel with its own heavy target barrel in either .30-06 or 6.5x55mm. In the case of the .30-06, the magazine was lengthened and the feed ramp re-profiled to suit. The trigger mechanism was honed for a better trigger pull. The metal parts were refinished, and the forend of the military stock was shortened and reamed out to accept the larger-diameter target barrel. The stock was then finely polished and target sling swivels installed. The steel Mauser buttplate remained. Both the foresight and aperture rearsight, and the sight picture they provided, were designed to be similar to the M1 Garand. The rearsight could be adjusted from 200 to 500 metres and was affixed to the receiver bridge with 2 screws. As it projected far enough forward to prevent loading with the standard 5-round Mauser clips
, there was no need to cut a notch out of the rear of the receiver ring as done on the Kongsberg M59
to facilitate clip loading
with the longer .30-06 round. However the 5-round magazine remained usable, and could still be loaded with single rounds.
, and a tunnel-type target front sight with replaceable elements . It retained the use of the ex-military stock with the shortened forend. Various bolt handle configurations have been observed; the Kar98k turned down type was usually left as-is, but the straight vz. 24
handle was often partially turned down.
and the Kongsberg M59
, although without the top wood covering the barrel of the latter two rifles.
Mauser M98
The Mauser M 98 are a series of currently produced hunting bolt action rifles.Though the production of the controlled-feed Mauser M 98 bolt action system for the German military ceased at the end of World War II in 1945, the production of new Mauser M 98 and M 98 Magnum rifles for civil users has...
military actions by the Danish company Schultz & Larsen
Schultz & Larsen
Schultz & Larsen is a Danish rifle and silencer manufacturer that originally was located in the city of Otterup, but as of 1994 have been located in the city of Rask Mølle on the island of Fyn....
in the years following World War II. They were produced to fill a need for target rifles by the Danish shooting association - "De Danske Skytteforeninger". The M52 was superseded by later variants (M58, M58E and M69) the last of which remained in production until the 1970s. It had a similar development path to other Scandinavian target rifles derived from German M98
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
and other Mauser
Mauser
Mauser was a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to 1995. Mauser designs were built for the German armed forces...
actions, such as the Kongsberg M59
Mauser M59
The Mauser M59 and Mauser M67 were rifles produced by Kongsberg Arms of Norway and were not licensed products of Mauser. Although they were produced by Kongsberg it was always called a "Mauser" in Norway, hence its listing under Mauser....
and Carl Gustaf M63
Swedish Mauser
"Swedish Mausers" are a family of bolt-action rifles based on an improved variant of Mauser's earlier Model 1893, but using the 6.5x55mm cartridge, and incorporating unique design elements as requested by Sweden. These are the m/94 carbine, m/96 long rifle, m/38 short rifle and m/41 sniper...
.
The Search for a New Target Rifle
At the end of World War II the Danish shooting association faced a shortage of target rifles. The pre-war standard rifle, a variant of the Krag-JørgensenKrag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
in 6.5x55mm, was complex to produce, obsolescent and it was not deemed practicable to place it back in production. In any case, the .30-06 M1917 Enfield was the Danish Army’s interim standard rifle, which would be soon replaced by the US M1 Garand
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand , was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S...
, also in .30-06, and the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
action was not strong enough for the powerful US round. In a development path also followed concurrently by other Scandinavian countries, notably Norway with the Kongsberg M59
Mauser M59
The Mauser M59 and Mauser M67 were rifles produced by Kongsberg Arms of Norway and were not licensed products of Mauser. Although they were produced by Kongsberg it was always called a "Mauser" in Norway, hence its listing under Mauser....
, the Danes turned to the substantial quantity of Mauser 98 rifles left behind by the recently surrendered German forces. These were ideal in many respects. The action was much stronger than that of the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
, was suitable for the 6.5x55mm still favoured by Danish marksmen, and could handle the slightly longer .30-06 cartridge with some minor modifications. It was a strong action eminently suited for use in a target rifle and a target rear sight could be mounted on the receiver bridge. Most importantly, it was available in the numbers required.
A variety of different Mauser M98
Mauser M98
The Mauser M 98 are a series of currently produced hunting bolt action rifles.Though the production of the controlled-feed Mauser M 98 bolt action system for the German military ceased at the end of World War II in 1945, the production of new Mauser M 98 and M 98 Magnum rifles for civil users has...
actions were represented. Although there was a large number of Kar98ks, many of the ex-German rifles were the Czechoslovakian vz. 24
Vz. 24
The vz. 24 rifle is a rifle designed and produced in Czechoslovakia from 1924 to 1942. It was developed from the Mauser Gewehr 98 line, though is not a clone of any specific Mauser model. The fit and finish are of the highest quality....
, known in German service as the G24(t). Of superb quality, the Czech-made actions were almost identical to German-manufactured Kar98k actions, with the exception of markings and the use of a straight bolt handle projecting at right angles from the action. The German Kar98k bolt handle was turned down to bring it closer to the stock and the firer's hand.
Design Details and Conversion
To produce a M52, Schultz & LarsenSchultz & Larsen
Schultz & Larsen is a Danish rifle and silencer manufacturer that originally was located in the city of Otterup, but as of 1994 have been located in the city of Rask Mølle on the island of Fyn....
stripped an ex-German rifle, checked the action and replaced the military 7.92x57mm barrel with its own heavy target barrel in either .30-06 or 6.5x55mm. In the case of the .30-06, the magazine was lengthened and the feed ramp re-profiled to suit. The trigger mechanism was honed for a better trigger pull. The metal parts were refinished, and the forend of the military stock was shortened and reamed out to accept the larger-diameter target barrel. The stock was then finely polished and target sling swivels installed. The steel Mauser buttplate remained. Both the foresight and aperture rearsight, and the sight picture they provided, were designed to be similar to the M1 Garand. The rearsight could be adjusted from 200 to 500 metres and was affixed to the receiver bridge with 2 screws. As it projected far enough forward to prevent loading with the standard 5-round Mauser clips
Stripper clip
A stripper clip or charger is a speedloader that holds several cartridges together in a single unit for easier loading of a firearm's magazine. A stripper clip is used only for loading the magazine and is not necessary for the firearm to function...
, there was no need to cut a notch out of the rear of the receiver ring as done on the Kongsberg M59
Mauser M59
The Mauser M59 and Mauser M67 were rifles produced by Kongsberg Arms of Norway and were not licensed products of Mauser. Although they were produced by Kongsberg it was always called a "Mauser" in Norway, hence its listing under Mauser....
to facilitate clip loading
Stripper clip
A stripper clip or charger is a speedloader that holds several cartridges together in a single unit for easier loading of a firearm's magazine. A stripper clip is used only for loading the magazine and is not necessary for the firearm to function...
with the longer .30-06 round. However the 5-round magazine remained usable, and could still be loaded with single rounds.
M58
The M52 sights were of military design to maintain commonality with the M1 service rifle, but target shooting was growing more specialised, and some shooters were demanding a greater degree of adjustability. Accordingly, Schultz and Larsen introduced the M58, which was identical to the M52 except for the use of micrometer-adjustable Schultz and Larsen M24 target rearsightIron sight
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
, and a tunnel-type target front sight with replaceable elements . It retained the use of the ex-military stock with the shortened forend. Various bolt handle configurations have been observed; the Kar98k turned down type was usually left as-is, but the straight vz. 24
Vz. 24
The vz. 24 rifle is a rifle designed and produced in Czechoslovakia from 1924 to 1942. It was developed from the Mauser Gewehr 98 line, though is not a clone of any specific Mauser model. The fit and finish are of the highest quality....
handle was often partially turned down.
M58E
The M58E was produced for the British market, and so was available in 7.62mm NATO. It too was based on the refurbished Mauser military action, but was fitted with a new heavier target-style stock which was fitted with a broad forend and full curve pistol grip. The butt had a high comb, a cheekpiece and a rubber buttplate. The Schultz & Larsen target barrel was of heavier profile than preceding versions, and Parker or similar target sights were fitted, which put the eyepiece further to the rear than Danish versions. The new stock gave the rifle a family resemblance that was similar to other Scandinavian military target rifles such as the Carl Gustaf M63Swedish Mauser
"Swedish Mausers" are a family of bolt-action rifles based on an improved variant of Mauser's earlier Model 1893, but using the 6.5x55mm cartridge, and incorporating unique design elements as requested by Sweden. These are the m/94 carbine, m/96 long rifle, m/38 short rifle and m/41 sniper...
and the Kongsberg M59
Mauser M59
The Mauser M59 and Mauser M67 were rifles produced by Kongsberg Arms of Norway and were not licensed products of Mauser. Although they were produced by Kongsberg it was always called a "Mauser" in Norway, hence its listing under Mauser....
, although without the top wood covering the barrel of the latter two rifles.