This is a Bulgarian Steyr M95 carbine that was used by Bulgaria in the Balkan Wars and World War One, and was at some point captured by Serbia.
Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro formed an alliance which defeated the decaying Ottoman Empire in the First Balkan War of 1912-1913, gaining each country territory. However, there was dissatisfaction on the Bulgarian end since they suffered the most losses against the Ottomans, yet the desired territories of Macedonia were totally occupied by Serbia, and the coveted port of Salonika was taken by Greece. Serbia would not cede any territory, since the Great Powers created Albania in 1913 and Serbia lost parts of northern Albania; likewise Greece was first into Salonika and would not budge.
Thus the Second Balkan War began with Bulgaria attacking its former allies. However, defeats and unexpected invasions by Romania and the Ottoman Empire led to a quick Bulgarian defeat. WWI soon arrived with Bulgaria invading Serbia alongside Austria-Hungary and Germany in 1915. The Serbian army was routed and decimated after their retreat into Albania. The Serbs were re-equipped by the French and participated in limited operations on the static Salonika Front. When the Allies finally attacked at Dobro Polje late in 1918, the disheartened Bulgarians retreated and capitulated the day after losing Skopje.
So, this rifle could have been captured in the Second Balkan War, but it seems somewhat unlikely for the rifle to have survived WWI. If captured in WWI, it was probably during the final retreat of the Bulgarians. Another possibility is the rifle was a war reparation to Serbia. Post-WWI the carbine escaped the M95M and M95/24 updates, and was likely used in some capacity. During WWII it could have been used by a number of groups.
The rifle has what appears to be the effects of "blood pitting" on the left receiver all the way to the magazine, again lending credence to a capture theory. The rifle is matching except the bolt does not have the usual Bulgarian contract hole. The bore is good and chambered in 8x50r caliber. The stock has some irregular dents, which appear like from shrapnel or exploding rocks. The stacking hook is absent. The crown-H mark shows Serbian provenance. This rifle has no import marks and was possibly imported in 1960-1965 from Yugoslavia, with the WWII weapons.
Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro formed an alliance which defeated the decaying Ottoman Empire in the First Balkan War of 1912-1913, gaining each country territory. However, there was dissatisfaction on the Bulgarian end since they suffered the most losses against the Ottomans, yet the desired territories of Macedonia were totally occupied by Serbia, and the coveted port of Salonika was taken by Greece. Serbia would not cede any territory, since the Great Powers created Albania in 1913 and Serbia lost parts of northern Albania; likewise Greece was first into Salonika and would not budge.
Thus the Second Balkan War began with Bulgaria attacking its former allies. However, defeats and unexpected invasions by Romania and the Ottoman Empire led to a quick Bulgarian defeat. WWI soon arrived with Bulgaria invading Serbia alongside Austria-Hungary and Germany in 1915. The Serbian army was routed and decimated after their retreat into Albania. The Serbs were re-equipped by the French and participated in limited operations on the static Salonika Front. When the Allies finally attacked at Dobro Polje late in 1918, the disheartened Bulgarians retreated and capitulated the day after losing Skopje.
So, this rifle could have been captured in the Second Balkan War, but it seems somewhat unlikely for the rifle to have survived WWI. If captured in WWI, it was probably during the final retreat of the Bulgarians. Another possibility is the rifle was a war reparation to Serbia. Post-WWI the carbine escaped the M95M and M95/24 updates, and was likely used in some capacity. During WWII it could have been used by a number of groups.
The rifle has what appears to be the effects of "blood pitting" on the left receiver all the way to the magazine, again lending credence to a capture theory. The rifle is matching except the bolt does not have the usual Bulgarian contract hole. The bore is good and chambered in 8x50r caliber. The stock has some irregular dents, which appear like from shrapnel or exploding rocks. The stacking hook is absent. The crown-H mark shows Serbian provenance. This rifle has no import marks and was possibly imported in 1960-1965 from Yugoslavia, with the WWII weapons.