Colombian Madsen M47 Danish .30-06 Bolt Action Rifle C&R 1958
SOLD FOR: $1,100
WOA#: WY240117CB060
Make: Dansk Industri Syndikat
Model: Madsen Lightweight Military Rifle Model 1947
Serial Number: 6258-58
Year of Manufacture: 1958
Caliber: .30-06
Action Type: Bolt action, internal 5 round magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “MADSEN M.G/A. 6258-58” and “Cal. .30”. The top of the receiver is marked “FUERZAS ARMADAS DE COLOMBIA”. The top of the cocking piece is marked “S”. There is a medallion inlaid into the left side of the stock with the Colombian crest and “COLOMBIA FUERZAS ARMADAS”.
Barrel Length: 23.5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded post set atop a raised base. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture sight set atop a sliding escalator.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood stock has a semi-pistol grip, finger grooves, nose cap with bayonet lug, barrel band with sling loop, through bolt, underside sling loop, and a ribbed hard rubber recoil pad. The buttpad has some pitting and wear, as well as a dent on the underside near the toe. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. There are two thin cracks on the left side of the buttstock, coming off of the buttpad. There is a long, curved drag mark on the right side of the buttstock. There is a small shallow chunk missing from the front of the buttstock comb. The LOP measures 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The stock rates in about Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Black gun paint, parkerized bolt
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion in the bore with stubborn fouling on the lands.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 7.5 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. There are light scuffs and scratches on the metal surfaces. There is a small amount of wear to the finish near the end of the muzzle break. There are a few small spots of finish loss on the bottom of the magazine floor plate. The bolt, action, and magazine follower show light usage wear. The screw heads show light use. The markings are crisp. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a green polyester sling.
Our Assessment: The Madsen M47 is an oddity in the world of military surplus firearms. Designed in Denmark after the conclusion of the Second World War, the M47 was shopped around to various militaries for a number of years with no success. But, in 1958 it was officially adopted by the Colombian Navy in a limited capacity. 1958 was incredibly late for the adoption of a new bolt action service rifle, a conclusion that Colombia came to almost immediately after receiving the rifles. Instead of entering actual service, the M47s were placed into storage and subsequently surplused onto the United States commercial market. Which is why M47s are almost always in good shape when they appear despite being over 65 years old. The rifles came from the factory with the hard rubber buttpad and the muzzle break, which gives them the appearance of a sporterized rifle. This example has some light wear to the stock, though there are a couple thin cracks on the left side of the buttstock. It retains nearly all of its finish, with some very light wear near the end of the muzzle break, on the bottom of the magazine floor plate, and in action. The bore is in nice shape, though there is some stubborn fouling on some of the lands that should come off with a thorough cleaning. The markings are crisp and the rifle has an interesting Colombian crest medallion inlaid into the left side of the stock. These are fairly uncommon rifles that shoot the plentiful .30-06, making them a neat collectible. Please see our photos.
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