Age of 1903 Mannlicher?

[Harold]

As I mentioned in another post, I have a 1903 M-S carbine. The serial number is in the 5,000 range. Is there any way to figure an age from that? Even if it's an approximation that would be great!

[Axel E]

Dating Mannlicher-Schoenauers by serial numbers is hardly possible, but every M-Sch rifle is datable by itself. Take the carbine apart, carefully, please! Under the barrel, besides the NPv proofmarks, you will find a number that looks like xxx.xx. The last digits are the year the rifle was made and proofed. The digits in front of the dot are a proofhouse ledger number, followed by the . and the last two digits of the year. If the number f.i. reads 158.07 it is the 158th rifle proofed in 1907.

[Harold]

Thanks, Axel!