Honestly that doesn't surprise me, the amount of steel in that ring area is the whole reason Mauser went to the "Large Ring" M98. And you still see blown up M98's here and there.
Looks like the M96 was harder than the 94, the grain structure in the steel where the side rail seperated isn't a good sign for ductility.
Jimro
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Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.
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