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Help with who made this Mauser and when
buddysattic
Member Posts: 8 ✭✭
Hello all, I recently purchased a custom Mauser sporter and have had no luck figuring out who made it and when. Gun Broker item 527685754. Sorry my HTML skills suck, so you will have to open item directly to see pics.
It is a beautiful rifle and my best guess is that it is a custom European build. Two stage trigger, nice round step tapered barrel,likely a hand polished bore,(patch slides like silk). There are no import marks or armory serial numbers. What markings there are on bottom of receiver. Engraving on mag floor plate and buttstock might help. Quality is too good for it to likely be a garage conversion of a surplus military item or bring-back.
Any info or guesses as to where it came from would be appreciated.
It is a beautiful rifle and my best guess is that it is a custom European build. Two stage trigger, nice round step tapered barrel,likely a hand polished bore,(patch slides like silk). There are no import marks or armory serial numbers. What markings there are on bottom of receiver. Engraving on mag floor plate and buttstock might help. Quality is too good for it to likely be a garage conversion of a surplus military item or bring-back.
Any info or guesses as to where it came from would be appreciated.
Comments
I think it was sporterized in Germany, an Occupation GI bring-back, and the peep sight fitted in the US.
Other than that, not much can be ascertained? Without any serial numbers, likely it was just shipped back by one of our G.I.'s. As personal property when he left Germany.
I remember when I shipped out, I had a Ruger .22 in my baggage. The German employee, who was checking it. Just looked at it, and threw it back in the box. Didn't check S.N..
What goofy references might have have given anybody that ridiculous conclusion?
No way in hell those Weimar (pre WW2-era) proofs are Imperial (WW1 & prior), nor post-war.
Appears to be a "cigarette rifle" made from an early Oberndorf, Sauer, Suhler or Erma-built K98k. The claw mount on receiver ring obscures the factory code, however I could advise where/when it was first produced if you might post closeup images of the s/n, WaAs, firing proofs & left siderail where "Mod 98" is roll stamped.
From those awful GB pix: 1) the barrel sports a normal K98k step profile configuration, 2) that is indeed a claw mount noted upon the ring, & 3) the thumb slot on L siderail pegs it as military, not commercial production.
The 2-stage trigger in normal/native to these.
If the thing on the receiver ring is a scope base, where is the other one? There is a hole or holes in the receiver bridge, but did the Germans use screw-on scope bases.
If the front attachment is dovetailed through the receiver ring, I think I would stick to mild American 8mm. A friend had one with a big claw base in a huge dovetail there and it did not leave a whole lot of steel around the top locking lug recess..
I jumped to conclusions about the proof marks, sorry.
If the thing on the receiver ring is a scope base, where is the other one? There is a hole or holes in the receiver bridge, but did the Germans use screw-on scope bases.
If the front attachment is dovetailed through the receiver ring, I think I would stick to mild American 8mm. A friend had one with a big claw base in a huge dovetail there and it did not leave a whole lot of steel around the top locking lug recess..
In photo #9, the rear scope base is barely visible. Hard to see from the photos. But I think the bases were actually soldered to the receiver rather than dovetailed. The bubba who put together the rifle, didn't bother to remove the bases. He just filed them flat to blend them into the receiver. And crosshatched them with a file.
I jumped to conclusions about the proof marks, sorry.
If the thing on the receiver ring is a scope base, where is the other one? There is a hole or holes in the receiver bridge, but did the Germans use screw-on scope bases.
If the front attachment is dovetailed through the receiver ring, I think I would stick to mild American 8mm. A friend had one with a big claw base in a huge dovetail there and it did not leave a whole lot of steel around the top locking lug recess..
The rear base is visible/installed in place on the receiver bridge per pic 8 (from the L side). However, by pics 12, 13, 14, 18 & 32 it has been removed & the screw holes are showing in it's "footprint". These claw mounts were attached with screws &/or solder, sometimes both.