Mossberg Model 46M .22 S/L/LR Bolt-Action Rifle, Early Pre-Suffix Variant, 23 in Barrel, Mannlicher-Style Stock
This Mossberg Model 46M is an early pre-suffix variant from the 1939–1941 era, chambered in .22 S/L/LR with a 23 in barrel and a blued steel finish. It stands out with its Mannlicher-style full-length wood stock, single barrel band, and right-side cheekpiece, paired with a tubular magazine and iron sights. The bore is clean and shiny, supporting both its usability and appeal to collectors of early Mossberg rimfires.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: This firearm is in solid shape overall. It shows various cosmetic imperfections, including scratches, blemishes, and areas of finish loss from prior handling and use.
What’s Included
- Mossberg Model 46M .22 S/L/LR bolt-action rifle
The Model 46M’s early pre-suffix configuration is notable within the 46-series lineup. The barrel rollmark reads: "O.F. MOSSBERG & SONS INC., NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. 46M 22 S-L-LR." This configuration and time frame place it among the first iterations of the model made in the United States just before wartime production changes.
Its Mannlicher-style full-length stock is a defining feature, complemented by a single steel barrel band and a right-side cheekpiece. The stock is wood with a pistol-grip profile, no front sling swivel or stud present (two vacant screw holes at the forend nose; barrel band has no swivel), and a serrated buttplate that completes the period-correct handling profile.
The rifle uses an open-top receiver with a right-side bolt handle and a 23 in steel barrel, both finished in blued steel. Sighting equipment is classic and practical: a hooded front sight and an adjustable open rear sight with a stepped elevator, providing a clear, repeatable sight picture for rimfire distances.
Feeding is through an under-barrel tubular magazine with approximately 15+1 capacity with .22 Long Rifle; .22 Short and .22 Long typically allow a higher capacity. The length of pull measures 13.0, giving it a comfortable fit while retaining the trim proportions associated with pre-war Mossberg sporters.