Hembrug 1911 Rifle?

JonnyB · December 26, 2001, 11:09 AM

I've done a search for "Hembrug" and come up empty. Has anyone heard of this one? My father-in-law has a rifle that he brought back from Korea in 1952. It's been lightly 'sporterized' and re-chambered. When he got it, it was chambered for .257 Roberts, but shot poorly (bore too large; rifling too slow?), so he had it redone. It's currently chambered for, of all things, 6.5 x 53R (Russian?). He uses resized .30-40 Krag brass, and 6.5mm, 140 grain bullets.

Can anyone shed more light on this obscure (to me, anyway) model amd caliber? If it's not too weird of a wildcat, I may buy it from him. Is it worth owning, other than sentimental value?

JB

Steven Mace · December 26, 2001, 11:55 AM

JonnyB, if your rifle is similar to the one pictured above then it started its life as a Nederlands 1895 Dutch Navy carbine made at the Hembrug arsenal in 1911. You can visit http://www.geocities.com/swede94/dutch95.html for a little more information.

The 6.5x53Rmm Mannlicher caliber, an earlier rimmed version of the 6.5x54mm Greek cartridge, was designed to be used in the Dutch Models 1892 & 1895 rifles as well as the Romanian Models 1892 & 1893. This cartridge was dropped by both countries after WWII.

Hope this helps!

Steve Mace

JNA_Klappe · December 26, 2001, 03:44 PM

Steve,
you're right. Hembrug was an dutch militairy arsenal where they made some guns. It closed at about 1985.

Jos
(from Holland)

JonnyB · December 26, 2001, 04:28 PM

Thanks for the prompt response!

I can't get to the website, nor can I see the photo. The receiver is stamped "Hembrug 1911" on the left side. The action is exceptionally smooth. This one is (at least now) in carbine configuration; short barrel and buttstock. It's light enought to be quite a handful when fired.

I have a forming die and a resizer -RCBS. I presume brass may be available from the guys that handle the obscure, obsolete stuff (I can't think of the name, but it'll come...). Finding loaded ammo may be too much to expect.

Does this thing have any value as a shooter?

JB

Jim V · December 26, 2001, 04:41 PM

Do you mean Dave Courtlan, The Old Western Scrounger?

December 26, 2001, 11:09 AM	#1
JonnyB Member Join Date: September 21, 2000 Posts: 49	Hembrug 1911 Rifle? I've done a search for "Hembrug" and come up empty. Has anyone heard of this one? My father-in-law has a rifle that he brought back from Korea in 1952. It's been lightly 'sporterized' and re-chambered. When he got it, it was chambered for .257 Roberts, but shot poorly (bore too large; rifling too slow?), so he had it redone. It's currently chambered for, of all things, 6.5 x 53R (Russian?). He uses resized .30-40 Krag brass, and 6.5mm, 140 grain bullets. Can anyone shed more light on this obscure (to me, anyway) model amd caliber? If it's not too weird of a wildcat, I may buy it from him. Is it worth owning, other than sentimental value? JB

December 26, 2001, 11:55 AM	#2
Steven Mace Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 1999 Location: Clifton, Colorado USA Posts: 724	JonnyB, if your rifle is similar to the one pictured above then it started its life as a Nederlands 1895 Dutch Navy carbine made at the Hembrug arsenal in 1911. You can visit http://www.geocities.com/swede94/dutch95.html for a little more information. The 6.5x53Rmm Mannlicher caliber, an earlier rimmed version of the 6.5x54mm Greek cartridge, was designed to be used in the Dutch Models 1892 & 1895 rifles as well as the Romanian Models 1892 & 1893. This cartridge was dropped by both countries after WWII. Hope this helps! Steve Mace __________________ After today, its all historical

December 26, 2001, 04:41 PM	#5
Jim V Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 1999 Location: SE Michigan - USA Posts: 4,038	Do you mean Dave Courtlan, The Old Western Scrounger? __________________ *MOLON LABE* If it ain't metal, single stack & single action, it ain't a 1911 no matter what it looks like. 1911 Forum THE TUBBY CURMUDGEON

December 26, 2001, 03:44 PM	#3
JNA_Klappe Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2000 Posts: 4	Steve, you're right. Hembrug was an dutch militairy arsenal where they made some guns. It closed at about 1985. Jos (from Holland)

December 26, 2001, 04:28 PM	#4
JonnyB Member Join Date: September 21, 2000 Posts: 49	Thanks for the prompt response! I can't get to the website, nor can I see the photo. The receiver is stamped "Hembrug 1911" on the left side. The action is exceptionally smooth. This one is (at least now) in carbine configuration; short barrel and buttstock. It's light enought to be quite a handful when fired. I have a forming die and a resizer -RCBS. I presume brass may be available from the guys that handle the obscure, obsolete stuff (I can't think of the name, but it'll come...). Finding loaded ammo may be too much to expect. Does this thing have any value as a shooter? JB