Have you ever looked a firearm and said to yourself, “That is such a cool gun!” Chances are that others may think the same thing about that same gun. This is one reason why some older firearms cost more than others. There are several factors that make guns desirable to collectors: historical, rarity of the gun, and even the “coolness” factor.
There are certain firearms that just beg to be collected! Some of these firearms include M1 Garands, M1 30-Caliber Carbines, and 1873 Trapdoors, to name a few. These firearms have such a big following that there are clubs and associations dedicated solely to these specific makes and models. These associations are a place where specialized gun aficionados can share information and increase their knowledge of their firearm of choice.
The unique Mannlicher is one of those guns that has a large following. One look at a Mannlicher, even if it is across the room, you immediately know what you are looking at. Love them or hate them, there is one thing that is undeniable: a Mannlicher is just classy. A Mannlicher adds a touch of class to anyone holding it.
What makes the Mannlicher easy to identify is its distinct shape. This rifle usually has a stock that extends all the way under the barrel to its muzzle. The other feature typically found on a Mannlicher is double-set triggers.
There is one model of this gun that is even more unique than the “average” Mannlicher: the Mannlicher M72 model. Many Mannlicher collectors believe that no Mannlicher collection is complete without one of these models. What makes this firearm unique is that it has an identity crisis!
According to the Mannlicher Collectors Association, the M72 is very “confused” on what it is supposed to be. There is even a page on its website dedicated specifically to the M72. The page is headed, “When a Mannlicher-Schoenauer Is Not a Mannlicher-Schoenauer.” Even being an oddity, the Mannlicher Collectors Association declares that “a M72 should be in your collection.”
I was lucky enough to pick up a Mannlicher M72 several years ago. At the time, I was not aware of its unique identity. I was immediately drawn to its “Mannlicher” features. It was a beautiful gun with double-set triggers. The only thing different from most Mannlichers I have seen is that it did not have a stock that ran the length of the barrel. The price was right for me; it was relatively inexpensive because the trigger assembly was loose.
The M72 that I purchased was the Model L/M, chambered in .270 Win. The rifle was sitting in an oil-finished half stock. It had the iconic “butterknife” bolt handle and finely tuned set-triggers. That is where the Mannlicher “look” stopped. Everything else, including the action, had me scratching my head. If the firearm was not marked “Mannlicher-Schoenauer M72, made in Austria” I would have thought that I was holding a hybrid “Frankenstein” rifle!
When I brought the firearm home, I put it on my gun bench to see what was going on with the trigger assembly. It turned out to be an easy fix. The last owner took the trigger assembly out of the gun and reversed the screws when reassembled. By switching the screws, I ended up with great gun at a great price.
I then began my research, and I was surprised at what I found. I had a Mannlicher that was not a Mannlicher—whatever that means! To understand what the M72 is, you need to know what a Mannlicher is.
Mannlicher
Mannlichers have a very interesting history. Like any gun manufacturer that has been around for over 100 years, the Mannlicher’s history has military roots. For example, there were German Mausers, English Enfields, Italian Carcanos, and Austrian Mannlicher M1895s. The M95 was originally chambered in 8X50mm R used in World War I. These rifles were then re-chambered for 8X56mm R for World War II.
The Austrian M1895s were collectively known as M95s. The Mannlicher factory was located in Steyr, Austria. Steyr has always been synonymous with Mannlicher. These firearms were often referred to as Steyr Mannlichers.
The original M95 was designed with a straight-pull bolt with an internal magazine loaded with an en bloc clip. In 1900 the Mannlicher-Schoenauer was introduced. This rifle had a turn-bolt action with a rotary magazine. This was a better design, but too expensive for a military gun at the time. As a result, the original M95 design was kept for military use and the Mannlicher-Schoenauer design became popular with sportsmen.
In 1989, Steyr was included in the name. These firearms were referred to as Steyr-Mannlichers. In 2019, the company name changed again. The firearms company is now called Steyr Arms.
Mannlicher M72
The M72 was produced between 1972-1976. That is what makes the M72 so desirable. Since this firearm was only made for four years, there is not a lot available to collectors or individuals who wanted a vintage Mannlicher for hunting.
The M72 was produced as a “safety net” if their 1968 Steyr-Mannlicher Sporter model failed in the sportsman’s market. The 1968 Sporter did well on the market so there was really no need to produce the M72. Since the firearm was already designed, it was produced for four years in two action lengths: the Model L/M in long action, and the Model S and Model S/T in magnum lengths.
Another oddity is the bolt. The bolt is a Mauser-type action, not the standard Mannlicher action. The shroud on the back of the bolt is also different. The shroud is what engages or disengages the safety. It is a wing-style safety that is operated by pushing down on the right wing to engage the safety and pushing down on the left side of the wing to disengage. When on “fire” there is a red dot on the receiver that matches the wing pushed down to the left. There is a redundant red dot on the back of the shroud that extends outward when the bolt is cocked. Like a Mauser action, when the safety is engaged, it locks both the trigger and the action.
There is another safety device on the firearm that I have never seen on any other rifle. On the receiver, at the breech, there is an odd little lever. This lever allows the shooter to unload the internal box magazine without working the live rounds through the action. By depressing the lever, the rounds are ejected from the magazine—one round each time the lever is pressed.
The M72 is a very safe firearm because of the redundant safety features. Many historians believe that the German and Austrian engineers, over-engineered everything. The M72 is no different.
All gun owners, especially firearms instructors, should be knowledgeable shooters. The only way to do that is to educate yourself. Take advantage of any resources available to you. Some of the best resources are this website, NRA Official Journals, and NRA Training. If it were not for the knowledge that I gained through reading NRA publications and articles, I may have passed up this unique firearm—the M72!
