Here it goes. Post your Spiegels here so all can drool. I'll start it off with my M51.....lets see them boys! Please add and unusual characteristics and info on these rare guns. Regards, Rick.
My 46M has no port either.If you are referring to the loading port under the fore stock then you have one of a small number of 46M rifles that were made without that loading port. In discussions I've had with a number of Mossberg enthusiasts the consensus seems to be that there was a batch of 46M's assembled with fore ends that were missing the port and were shipped without being noticed or that they were noticed and shipped anyway. I have two of them and I think I remember hearing of two more here on the forum. Most of the Spiegel 46M rifles do have the port.
Thought I'd jump in here with some talk about the Model 46BS rifle I bought at a local gun shop a month or so ago. I paid $160 for it, at the time I didn't know anything about the Speigle rifles, it just seemed like a pretty nice old .22 for the price. It's in pretty good shape, blueing hasn't gone all brown. It was missing the front sight hood and the mounting screws for the No. 4 peep sight, but I ordered those and installed them today. Mine has the plaque on the pistol grip, the red stag with the name S G Goville, or possibly Coville, stamped on it. There is no cheekpiece, it has a steel buttplate with the storage compartment, though it doesn't appear that there was ever anything in it. It has holes drilled for scope mounting blocks, those have plug screws in them and it doesn't look as if a scope was ever mounted. The action needs a good cleaning. The stock is nice though there is a chip of wood missing at the bottom of the buttplate. Still, for about $190 all in with the replacement parts it's a good older rifle.Good Evening, Mr. ToyBoy,
Well, I have not heard of the 46 Series with a 'BS' suffix. I can only guess, that following Mossberg's somewhat
flexible procedures for marking their rifles, this is a Model 46 B with the Spiegel 'S' indicator applied after the
model designation. Perhaps it was a new person on the line, no straightforward Work Instructions, or something,
that caused them to stamp the Spiegel 'S' after the '46 B'.
Just my best guess, and I'm sure some of the RKI's will visit and supply further information.
That said, I did look up the 46 B models in some of my reference books.
The Havlin's book, "Mossberg: More Gun for the Money", we look at Section IV "Growth of the Company",
possibly 1936 time to the entry of the company into World War II manufacturing. In pages 88 through 94, there
is some Model 46 family information, but nothing for the "46 BS".
Also, it is mentioned that this period started the use of the Master Action short bolt, which you have in your rifle.
And, note that you do not have the receiver cut-out on the right side for clearance for the bolt dust cover. I
suspect your bolt does not have two D & T'd holes for the dust cover screws on its right side.
After World War II, it seems production started up by 1947-48 on the new 100 Series of rifles, which post-date
your rifle's markings and lineage.
Checking my Component Parts List booklets, I find no mention of that 'BS' suffix. But, there is no mention
whatsoever of any rifles that were bound for the Spiegel catalog and the Spiegel stores. I seem to remember
there is a member of our forum with an extensive collection of store catalogs. Perhaps he/she may provide
some insight if asked.
Now searching through my folder of Ephemera and Dealer mailings, I find a pamphlet with a section titled
"1938's Leaders". There is mentioned a Model 46 BT with information indicating it is a Model 46 B fitted with
a 26 inch heavy target barrel (the capital T indicating 'Target' perhaps ?), and a target stock in the manner of the
Model 35B and the 44B.
Next, I find a Price Guide and Rifle Listing from 1939, it is titled "20th Anniversary". And, there is no listing
for the Model 46 BS. I won't mention the prices listed, as it will cause grown men to whimper and possibly tear-up...
Next, I find a Price List and Rifles Catalog/Pamphlet dated 10 February 1940. Again, no listing for a Model
46 BS. And, again, I won't mention the prices.
I do hope this information is of some use to you. Hopefully, this will jump-start this thread again. There are
some forum members with extensive historical knowledge. Perhaps no one has seen this thread in the Mossberg
Spiegel Sticky. I shall post a note in the main forum threads.
Cheers and Merry Christmas to you and the family.