Milsurp After Hours

Just thought this was a nice item to post in here.

This is cleaning kit that was issued to soldiers that carried the Dutch Steyr Mannlicher M95 rifle or carbine.

I got it a couple of years ago from a former police officer.

That was not very strange, because after WW II these cleaning kits were issued to the Dutch police.

The kit consists of 3 items.

An oil bottle, a brush and a piece of cloth with lots of grease in it.

The first 2 items can be seen in the picture.

Various numbers are stamped on top of the kit.

There's only one number at the bottom....No. 87.

These are also the last 2 numbers of the serial number of my Dutch M95.

Could it be that..........Noooo...to much of a coincidence.

I like to have these accoutrements next to my rifles.

It makes my collection even more complete.

Here are some pictures.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_4491.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_4494.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_4495.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_4497.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_4499.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_4498.jpg[/pic]

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Good post Martin, thanks.

Never seen that cleaning kit before Martin, i like the corked oil bottle. Do you have a pic of your M95 to post up too please?

Thanks,

Joe

joseyclosey wrote:Never seen that cleaning kit before Martin, i like the corked oil bottle. Do you have a pic of your M95 to post up too please?

Thanks,

Joe

Sure Joe, no problem.

I made a post about this rifle a long time ago, so I just copied and pasted it.

Here are some pictures of my 1916 Dutch M95.

The rifle has all matching numbers.

Except for cleaning the barrel I haven't changed anything about this weapon.

The story on this rifle is that it was used as a so called"wacht wapen", ("guard weapon"), meaning that the rifle was used for guard duty only at the army barracks.

This would explain the difference in quality between the wood and the brandnew barrel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_2152.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... g_logo.jpg[/pic]400>

Hembrug logo and crowned W referring to Her Majesty Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... _close.jpg[/pic]400>

On the left side of the receiver you can find the place and date of production.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... d_bajo.jpg[/pic]400>

Barrel-end and part of the pre 1904 bayonet produced by the Oesterreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft (OWG).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... x_bajo.jpg[/pic]400>

Dutch M95 barrel-end with the pre and post 1904 bayonet.
The post 1904 bayonet is manufactured by Hembrug.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... rendel.jpg[/pic]400>

Dutch M95 bolt.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Interesting rifle. Couldn't help but notice the similarity of the bayonet handle and pommel to the british P1888, any british influence/connection there ?

Mmmm, very similar indeed Woftam.

The blade is of a different shape though.

The Dutch blade is T-shaped.

The rifles and carbines were issued with different types of bayonets.

Here's a link to the site of the Dutch Army Museum.

http://www.collectie.legermuseum.nl/str ... 04848.html

It's in Dutch, but IMHO pictures don't need translation.

You can see that the smaller, dagger shaped blades of some bayonet types are very similar to the British P1888.

I'm not very familiar with the origin of the bayonets, but you just gave me reason to "dive in".

Thanks Woftam, I'll keep you posted.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

BTW: Yes, the 2nd bayonet from the top used to be a Dutch Beaumont bayonet.

It was altered to fit the Carbine No. 1 O.M. (Old Model)

Thanks for the link.

I noted the blade differences but apart from the pommel being less rounded the handle and pommel are a dead ringer for the P1888.

I will have a look in Skennertons "British and Commonwealth bayonets to see if there is any mention of a Dutch connection. Would be interested if you find anything.

No problem Woftam.

I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve found something on this subject.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

I've started looking for all the kit that goes with my rifles it does add to them when showing them and the Hemburg is very nice thanks Martin.

Woftam wrote:Thanks for the link.
I noted the blade differences but apart from the pommel being less rounded the handle and pommel are a dead ringer for the P1888.
I will have a look in Skennertons "British and Commonwealth bayonets to see if there is any mention of a Dutch connection. Would be interested if you find anything.

Found a link to a very interesting bayonet site.

They mention the Lee-Metford rifle bayonet, but only that there is a strong resemblance to this bayonet.

Check it out.

http://home.kpn.nl/muets005/m1895_rifle.htm

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin