Sniper Supreme: Model 41B Swedish Mauser

By Garry James

If you’re going to be neutral, it’s wise to have a damned good military capability. There’s probably nothing harder to do than keep others from forcing you to take their side, and only through the threat of force of arms can you keep the warring factions at bay. Enter the Model 41B Swedish Mauser sniper rifle.

Among neutral states, Sweden is certainly an interesting case. For a time it was one of the most powerful entities in Europe. But by the early part of the 19th century, much of the territory it won in the 30 Years War (and later) had been lost. Of course, it was still a force to be reckoned with in Scandinavia and continued to adopt and develop new weaponry to maintain what was left of its erstwhile empire.

Sweden was officially neutral in World Wars I and II. Unfortunately, in the latter conflict, as a means of self-preservation, there was some support of and assistance to the Nazis. To show that Sweden’s heart was actually in the right place, though, there was also surreptitious assistance to Jews and the …Read the Rest

Source:: Guns and Ammo