1871/84 Mauser

[mercman]

Gentlemen, thank you for the responses! I would love to meet the seller FTF but I am in WA state and he is in Illinois, about 2400 miles apart. Initially I was told the the rifle was in mint condition with battalion markings. The seller then downgraded the condition of the rifle and stated there were no battalion markings. The seller's initial price was $750 + shipping. His downgraded price was $675 + shipping.

Given the changes in condition, the unknown bore condition and the refusal of a three day inspection I was planning on making a substantially lower offer. Initially I was thinking $500 shipped but given the information I've receive here that sounds like too generous of an offer. I may just have to let this on pass on by...............................

[villiers]

That sounds like the sensible thing to do.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Mercman, a seller back-pedalling on the description is a real red-flag warning sign. Leave it. One thing I have learnt is: buying a rifle without inspection is a lottery. Too many are shiny on the outside and scrap on the inside. And if you wait long enough, it all turns up. Like this, for the Mauser fan who has just about everything else:

http://egun.de/market/item.php?id=3604752

As I have the smallest Mauser, and the oldest Mauser, the biggest would seem an obvious add-on. However, quite apart from the price, there are a few problems:

1) You need titanium shoulders. This banger would, for me, present a serious mechanical hazard.
2) Case are not exactly available over the counter. But I suppose if you've got the money for the rifle, a 100 or so per case isn't going to stop you.
3) And if you load it as intended, then there is probably no public range in this country that permits you to shoot projectiles at the full-load energy level. A 52,2 gram bullet emerging from the muzzle at 790 meters/sec* means a muzzle energy of around 16300 joules. Max. range about 8 km.*

But, of course, it's the ideal conversation piece to out-macho BMG50 shooters who think they've got a big one...

Still, I hope some intrepid soul buys it and shoots it.


Patrick

*From a German test report on antitank devices

[villiers]

Patrick, I saw that ... and the price! (Bet it´s got the infamous "wandering zero"). Don´t think it´d be any worse to shoot than most of the WWII anti-tank rifles.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I wonder if one could make a "time-sharing" arrangement for the M18. Like each takes one shot, and then has a week or two in the hospital, after handing over the rifle to the next one eager for a one-time experience.
OK, maybe two shots (one for each shoulder). Or perhaps I should just calm down and return to my .22 short trainer! (That's what the doc would advise!)


Patrick

[villiers]

I´d trust old man Mauser to make one that wont cripple a normal infantryman. Dunno how many times I´ve been told that a No. 5 (and my 33/40) would cause permanent damage but have never heard of anyone in the armed forces invalided by a rifle. Patrick, you buy it and I´ll have first go (I´m an organ donor, so no great loss).

[gunner]

Both of you Patrick`s have a great humor! villiers if you won´t survive the shooting can i have your thyroid?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Patrick, you buy it and I´ll have first go

Funny, that is exactly what I was going to say!

[mercman]

You guys are a hoot! Yeah, unfortunately I'm leaving this one alone. Sigh. Recoil doesn't deter me, however, I've survived Remington 600's in .350 Rem Mag, Ruger No. 1's in .375 H&H and ultralight Mdl 700's in 8MM Rem Mag. I guess the Navy knocked all the brains out of me years ago. Thanks much all for the sage advice.

[boltaction]

That's actually not a bad price for a T Gewehr, given the current trend, although it would hurt to pay that. About 20 years ago, I bought one for 1500, (and like a fool sold it) and have since picked another one up. Last year (late 2010 I think) Rock Island had one which went for around 8800 USD or thereabouts, and this summer RIA had another one which went around the 30k mark if memory serves me.

I've seen a video of one of these being fired back in early WWII on the Russian front. The soldier is dug in and is moved backwards by the recoil about 3 or 4 feet. In WWI, these were manned by a crew of two, who would alternate shooting. Apparently, after about three rounds, bleeding noses and eardrums were not uncommon, and if you didn't hold the rifle correctly, it would break your collarbone.

Here's a photo of my T-Gewehr's bolt next to a standard Mauser bolt.






Really, not much different in round size than one of our modern long range sniper rifles, but what a difference a recoil system makes!

Ed