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Hi there,
Help please!! I have to identify this Mauser.
This what I know:
1. It has no date and it has got a 98 action in 7x57mm.
2. It resembles a Brazilian M1908 in every way except, no Brazilian crest but have DWM-Berlin, no circled B proof mark on bolt stem and in front of the serial number it has another one( see picture), it does not have the tear drop bolt stem knob but round, serial number 26XX and not 6000+ as the Brazilian.
What is this and what is the date???
I think some more pictures would be helpful to members trying to identify this rifle, please. Are you able to provide side views of the full length of the rifle on both sides and also some better pictures of the writing on the top of the receiver as it's difficult to read. Thanks
Here are some more pics. What I have researched in the mean time is that it could be a Brazilian Commercial Long Mauser M1904 in 7x57mm, this would explain the missing Brazilian crest. But what still confuses me is that there should be a circled B in front of the serial number and on the bolt stem knob, instead there is another strange proof mark.
The bolt may not be original to the rifle which would explain not having a "B" in front of the serial number on the bolt. I'm surprised that there hasn't been more response to this tread, so far, as I'm sure that there are members more knowledgable on Mausers than myself who could help. If you could take a clearer picture of the marking on the bolt, please, it may be helpful to other members in identifying the mark.
So I opened up my book 'Mauser Military Rifles of the World' by Robert Ball 5th edition.
In the Brazil section it does have a rifle that looks exactly like yours with the same features except yours is lacking the proof marking that is on the example (the example has the proof just right and up of the serial number).
The caption reads 'Recently a small number of Model 1898 Long Rifles with the DWM commercial address have been reported. The above rifle features the DWM test crest and German commercial proof marks in use between 1891 and 1913; and a circle-B type serial number associated with the Brazilian M1908s. The rifles observed with the DWM test crest address have there caliber stamped on the left side of their rear sight ramp. The illustrated rifle is chambered for the 7x57mm Mauser cartridge.'
Unfortunately that is all the information that is provided, and as much as I can help you as I don't really know much about Mausers. Hope this helps.
Echo, have you ever had the woodwork off to see if there are any other markings normally hidden by the wood especially on the barrel?
It looks like an early M1908 to me.