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Hungarian Weapons - Mannlicher Infantry Rifles |
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Made by Fémáru Fegyver és Gépgyár Rt. (FÉG), Budapest, 1937-1941 Possibly also made by Danuvia Gépgyár Rt, Budapest, 1941 Caliber: 31.M 8x56mm rimmed 1110mm [43.7"] overall, 3.98kg [8.8 lbs] 600mm [23.6"] barrel, 4-groove rifling, RH, concentric, 1 turn in 250mm Muzzle velocity 730 m/sec [2400 fps] with 31.M cartridge Integral clip-loaded box magazine, 5 rounds Action: Turning-bolt Mannlicher action, locked by 2 rotating lugs on the bolt body into the receiver plus by the bolt handle. The rifle has a two-piece bolt with the bolt handle positioned ahead of the receiver bridge when the bolt is forward. The bolt is an improved Mannlicher-Schoenauer type, while it retains the well liked M.95 type knurled cocking piece. The cocking piece allows the rifle to be cocked or uncocked quietly without moving the bolt. A Mauser-type wing safety is also featured. |
Acceptance markings were similar to the Hungarian markings used in the Monarchy: Bp. [St.Stephen's Crown] and Year of acceptance.
Two sets of sling swivels are located on the left side and on the bottom, so the same rifle can be used by the infantry and the cavalry.
The rifle is loaded with the M.95 pattern clips.
 | The new 35.M rifle has a split-bridge receiver and a British Lee Enfield-style two-piece stock, the butt is being held in the receiver by a sturdy bolt. A turning-bolt action is utilized,
though the spur-type cocking piece of the M1895 rifle is retained. This is a cock on opening rifle. It has a two-piece bolt with the bolt handle positioned ahead of the receiver bridge when the bolt is forward. The rifle is clip-loaded with a Mannlicher M95 type clip and has a Mannlicher-type projecting magazine case. Except for the rear sight spring, all springs used on this rifle are reliable coil springs. Unlike the M.98 Mauser, this rifle can be cocked or uncocked while the bolt is closed. The safety can be engaged in both cocked or uncocked position. The 2-piece stock is a result of shortage of hardwood, because most of Hungary's wood producing mountainous regions were given to Romania and Czechoslovakia after WW1. |
 | The front face of the nose cap carried a small projecting stud to enter the bayonet pommel. |
 | For special units, such as the Bicycle Troops, the removable threaded bayonet lugs were replaced with stacking rods. |
 | 35M front sight protector (photo courtesy of Russ Pastena, www.militaryboltactions.com) |
35M Cavalry issued Sword bayonet, scabbard and frog. This sturdy blade first appeared used for the Mannlicher 23M Trials Rifle bayonets. This 35M Bayonet is made
with front sights. Infantry issued bayonets were made without the front sight. Bayonet is 480mm overall, 340mm long double edged blade. 15mm dia socket sleeve. Weight .50kg. Blade width 25mm, thickness 11mm. Serial number prefixes
are A through E. Some blades were blued, others not. Blades made after 1942 were all blued. Usually costs US$100 and up. Original scabbards were painted black.
 | 35M NCO bayonet with hooked quillion |
 | Mauser-type tangent-leaf sight graduated 100 to 2000 meters |
 | Usually only the left side of the barrel shank and the buttplate were serialized |
Data by Hungarian military historian, Lorand Dombrady in the left column - Est manufacturing based on reported data in the right column: 1938: 73 1938: 25600 1939: 53500 1939: 51000 1940: 29084 1940: 85000 1941: 3258 1941: 25000 1942: 27000 1942: 0 1943: 50000 1943: 0 Total: 162915 manufactured Total: 186600 manufactured
1938: A1000 - A26599 1939: A26600 - A33300 1939: B9435 - B44769 1940: C6000 - C34941 1940: D8069 - D49786 1941: E889 - E25000 A separate numbering system with RE-prefix was used, for Police (Rendorseg) Rifles: 1939: RE-686 1941: RE-2157The results of my research have more "logical" numbers considering that the factory started full scale manufacturing the German Gew.98/40 contract rifles in the spring of 1941.
 | Two types of buttstocks can be found on these rifles. The lower style was used from 1938-40 and the upper style was used from 1940-41 |
35.M Bolt Disassembly (by Chris on Gunboards)
1. Remove the bolt from the gun.
2. Remove the ejector screw.
3. Turn the bolt head 90 degrees counter clockwise (as viewed from the front), and slide the ejector off the bolt head. You may have to go clockwise 270 degrees. With the bolt handle sticking up (as viewed from the front), the extractor should be down.
4. The bolt head is retained in the body by a projection on the bolt shaft, which should be aligned with a slot if you did 3 above. you should be able to pull it out by hand, with a bit of effort. It may have a bit of a spring clip action on the tail of the extractor holding it.
If you push the extractor out and back from the centerline of the bolt this should help. The extractor should come of the bolt head easily.
5. To remove the cocking piece, hold the bolt body in your right hand with the bolt handle against the butt of your hand. Hold the safety forward with your thumb. Carefully press the firing pin tip into a piece of wood. You will also need to push forward on the safety
- the safety locks the firing.
7. Remove the cocking piece
8. Gently release the tension on the spring and remove the firing pin.
Assembly is the reverse. Note that the firing pin has a flat side that will only enter the cocking piece one way. Also, be very careful to make sure that the firing pin protrusion is correct. If the nut is not on far enough, the firing pin may poke out from the bolt head
when you turn the bolt down to close the action (bad, very bad). Too far, and it will not set off the primer. One turn too little or too much is typically self evident. I used Kuhnhausen's recommendations for firing pin protrusion on a Mauser (.055-.065") for setting
mine, although both my 35.M's have .075". Make sure to check it with the bolt in the 'cocked' orientation - when the cocking piece rib not aligned with the bolt body rib. Remember, this is a Mannlicher bolt, not a Mauser bolt.
The bolt handle turns down in front of the split receiver bridge, providing additional safety. This rifle has a very sturdy and reliable action, and it is one of the smoothest bolt actions you may ever find and it is quite accurate. Many believe this rifle to be a superior design compared to the German K98k, which was one of the main reasons for the German Gew.98/40 contract.
Unknown buttstock marking
67% of the 35M's were serial numbered on the buttplate
50% of the 35M's were serial numbered on the buttstock, with only 33% of those matching
0% of the bolts have serial numbers
0% of the receivers carry serials
60% of the barrels carry serials, which all match
0% of the trigger guards carry serials
0% of the front bands and the rear bands are serialized
100% of the receivers show BUDAPEST 35M only
100% are Bp-shield-date Military acceptance marked
83% of barrels marked E (unknown marking, possibly inspection/acceptance)
33% of the safeties marked 'Ny' and 'Z' (mostly on A-series rifles)
83% has bottom and side mounted front sling swivels, while 17% has bottom only
83% has bottom and side mounted rear sling swivels, while 17% has a 98k-type sling hole through buttstock
100% of the rear sight graduated 100-2000 meters
100% of the bolt handles are straight
83% of the bolts appears to be originally blued
50% of the guns are marked with Circled K under the rear sight - meaning unknown
100% of the stocks are made of hardwood, 17% of it is Walnut