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I'm looking for some info and advice about Colombian FN Mausers in 30-06. From what I've read some were converted and others were made in this calibre. Any info appreciated, quality, accuracy etc. I'd like to find a Model 1950 Short Rifle or a 24/30 Carbine. If you have pics of your Colombian Mausers please share. :thup:
My Colombian Mauser came fro S&D Bookstore in 1965(?). They hand selected a nice looking Mauser. The rifle was a ton of trouble. The rifle had a re-bored barrel and the chamber was off-center. I had to replace the barrel. I had a gunsmith off-post at Fort Lewis,WA do the work. He drilled and tapped the receiver (off-center) and turned down the bolt(too short). I was a young Army officer and could hardly afford beans, much less a poor gunsmith. I am not too sure the Colombians did good woirk. Do be careful.
That's not too encouraging. Anyone else have any experience with these? I figured they would be really good quality (if found in decent condition) because they were made by FN. The Model 1950 especially, which was built at the factory in 30-06, should be really nice. I've also read that some of the conversions have Springfield 1903A3 barrels. Not sure if that is true or not.
At any rate, info on the web is limited at best.
I have a Chilean 7.62mm that certainly has a 2 groove 03-A3 barrel on it. I have seen many Colombian Mausers and all appeared to be conversions. I am sure there are nice FN made Mauser floating around, but they can not be common. Also, most have bad bores and the exteriors look bad (rust) as well. For the money, it is hard to beat a mint Yugo 8mm Mauser. They run well. By the way-There is a huge pile of 7mm Mausers in Uruguay that the Uruguaian's are trying to sell off. They will have keepers in that deal, for sure.
I have an FN Columbian model 1950. It was made by FN and of course chambered in 30-06. It works and shoots very well. The bore is not mint but it's not pitted either and the rifling is good. I shoot it in vintage matches and the action is very smooth. I can't post any photos right now because I don't have access to a camera but overall condition of the rifle is very good. It's one of my favorite Mausers.
Gib
Digger, I have one and will post some pics as soon as my photo bucket comes up. I bought mine in '67 for $25.00 at a department store in the Chicago subs. It was somewhat sporterized to make it look like a hunting rifle. Last winter I restored it to military. It never shot well as a hunting rifle but is a great shooter now. The full length sock and barrel bands hold the barrel tight to the stock the way it was designd.
Digger, here are some pics.....Frank
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ebefore1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...kcleaned-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...backdone-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...erbefore-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...foreblue-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...iverdone-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...iewdone1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...viewdone-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...rontdone-1.jpg
Thanks Frank. Interesting cartouche on the buttstock, is that a Colombian marking? I just purchased a Model 1950 and will share some pics when I receive it.
Digger, sorry about getting back to you late on the "cartouche". I don't think it is Columbian, It seems to be branded in. The thought was it might be a unit marking. If anybody knows please let us know. The stock was so dirty and oiled that I didn't see the mark untill I cleaned it. The rifle was my first, back in '67, it had what was called a "Japaned" finish, witch was black laquered on all but the bolt. I had to start the strip down with paint remover. Under the wood it was still blued but the rest of the finish was gone. Good luck on your now rifle, post some pics.....Frank
Sorry it took so long to get these posted. I tried to take some pics of features that are unique to the FN M1950 Short Rifle AFAIK. The butt plate for example is very distinct and the cleaning rod is in the white. The sling is a 1950's export to South American type and is correct for this rifle. It needed a major cleaning when I got it but overall it's in VG+ condition.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3565-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3566-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3567-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3568-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3571-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3575-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_3577-1.jpg
I have a Columbian. It shoots like a shotgun. I slugged the bore. It miked out at .311. I have no idea why. It could be just sloppy tolerances. It was arsenal rechambered to '06 just like the one in the picture. Someday I'll load up a batch of '06 with .303 Brit bullets or 7.62 x 39 bullets and see how it does with the barrel filled out a little better.
Hey Digger nice rifle. I haven't been over hear for a while. Have you loaded up and shot it yet? Yours has a straight bolt and mine is turned down. Now I have to check and see if mine was done that way when it was sporterized.
bb1 I believe they were original in 30/06.....Frank
Haven't shot it yet. I think the Model 1950 should have a straight bolt, do your serial numbers match?
Digger, I'll check and get back to you.....Frank
Okay, well I shot 5 sounds through it quickly just to try it out and it's pleasant to shoot and hits where I'm aiming so I'm happy.
I recently purchased a FN Columbian Carbine in Good to Very Good condition at a gun show in Montreal. The seller gave me two different "Transfer Reference numbers" of previous transfer attempts, unsettled at the CFC. When I called the CFC, and mentioned the barrel was 443 mm (17.25 inches), they said this "carbine" did not exist in any of their reference data, only short rifles (longer) did. I was transferred to a CFC "technician" who said the same thing and demanded additional information, pictures and full description before she would accept to process the transfer. I think the CFC was suspecting this example to have been tampered with (shortened) and as such, I was worried of having this fine original FN Mauser confiscated.
So I took out the camera and three of my reference manuals to try to demonstrate to CFC that such a carbine had been made by FN, at least as a "police rifle" in Belgium, for the Duch an a few other nations. In looking very carefully through "Mauser Military Rifles of the World" Forth Edition, by Roberts W.D. Ball, I discovered some carbines were made in 1930 by FN for Columbia's in 7x57mm, with straight bolt handle. Some of their 1940 short rifles were converted to .30-06 after WWII and stamped "R. FRAMAGE 1952". One is tempted to think that perhaps carbines in 7mm were also converted to .30-06.
But mine has a bent bolt (with matching s/n) and is stamped ".30" on the rear receiver ring and has no "R. FRAMAGE" stamping. It corresponds exactly to entry 6e on page 50 of the referenced book: "An example without "F. FRAMAGE... " marking (an acronym for Spanish phrase "Reformado, Fabrica de Material de Guerra", which means "Modified, Factory of Military Equipment"), possibly new post WW II production with a notched receiver to accommodate the .30-06 round was recently observed bearing the star-over-Z mark of the Liege Proof House most likely belonging to contrôleur Martin Lyuten (1952-1968), and the "Peron" nitro proof mark." The observer being BJdtB = Bruno Joos de ter Beerts, in "Trade and Hallmarks on Firearms in Belbium" Pandora, Antwerp, Belgium 1998.
This "round notch" is quite evident on the receiver on my example.
Two day ago, I received from the CFC the Transfer Notification (Buyer), signalling that the transfer has gone thru. However, this document shows the model as being "1950 Colombian (sic) Short Rifle" which it is not. The Columbian 1950 Short rifle is clearly described in the reference book as having a 22.75" barrel (and a straight bolt handle). Also, on the transfer document, the Make is shown as "Mauser" instead of "FN". I wonder what the registration certificate is going to show as barrel length when I receive that document from the province in a few days.
So it seems I got my self a very rare 1950 FN Columbian Carbine, the only registered one in Canada judging by the CFC laboring in the transfer. The shape is awesomely slick and the action is silky smooth. The previous owner mentioned the neat muzzle flash that is visible when shooting at dusk. Can't wait to see that. I also expect to get quite a kick out of it...
(If someone can explain to me how to post pictures, you'll be able to view this rare bird.) Or just drop me a line.
Cheers.
Those mausers were rechambered from 7.65 diameter bores. Their original bullets were .311 diameter. Their original chambers were for the 7.65x53. It had a couple of different names, 7.65x54, 7.65 Argentine, 7.65 Belgian and 7.65 Turkish. Take your pck, they're all the same.
You need a photobucket account to host the pictures. They are rare but I know a few people up here who own them. Idiots at the CFC probably created a new FRT number! :rolleyes: There is real lack of info about these rifles and a lot of it is conflicting. I don't know what the correct model designation is. However, the Colombian carbines could have been produced in the same time frame as the FN Model 30 since they were supposed to be built originally in 7mm Mauser. FN also made some of these carbines for Morocco, Venezuela and the Netherlands in various calibres. Since the Moroccan ones was supposedly built in 7.62x51 NATO they must be from a later production date from the Model 1950 era. Other people speculate that the whole production run with the 17.5 inch barrels were done in 1952 and the Colombian version was built in 30-06. Conversely, the production run for the 17.5" barrel carbines could have happened in '52, Colombia order some in 7mm, later in the 50's ordered some M1950's in 30-06 and then converted the short barrelled carbines and other rifles they used to match. Who knows, but I think the last theory is the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean Forest
The best info I can find suggests this:Quote:
Originally Posted by bearhunter
The original chambering on the carbines was 7x57mm Mauser. (later converted to 30-06)
The original chambering on the short rifles was 30-06 Springfield.
I think you got it Digger.....Frank
I recently bought a Colombiam Mauser carbine made by FN in 30-06 cal. The barrel is 17 1/2" long.Bent bolt and number matching. My problem is that it has been registered at the CFC as a FN sporter. I was thinking calling and ask to register the gun properly.Should I do that or leave it like it is and avoid problems.
Digger, your Columbian is well traveled!
On the last photograph, on the left side of the receiver ring you can see the "Perron" mark of Liege, Belgium, lying on its side. It is the object that looks like a pillar on a stepped pedestal. That is to be expected on an original FN rifle proofed in Belgium.
What is unusual is, that below the "Perron" you can see a Federal German proof eagle stamp, followed by 784 and an antler symbol This tells you that the rifle was imported into Germany and proofed by the Ulm proof house in July 1984. That, in its turn, means that, by law, there must also be an ID mark from the importer + caliber on the system somewhere - and there it is! Athough not clearly visible in the photo, you can make out (just above the perron) the caliber designation .30-06 on the barrel, followed by a stamp that looks like a fir tree standing on its head - this is actually a logo of FWW, used by Frankonia Waffen in Würzburg.
So your rifle has come a long, long way - Belgium, Columbia, Germany, Canada - and still looks good. Congratulations!
Patrick
I have a nice Columbian 4 groove 30-06 and will be shooting it this weekend for the first time. Action is like butter. Does yours prefer a certain grain bullet or does that not matter?
My rifle is similar, but it does not say 30-06 to the left of the breech, it only has the -star X and arrow- marking. The top of the action states .30 and the top of the bolt arm has what looks like a Lowenbrau lion over the letters "P.V" S/N is 03256. It does have the columbian circle mark at the top of the breech and the wording "3006 spr spt pn rn pa" under the barrel between the sight ring and the bayo lug. Can anyone shed some light as to the history of my rifle?
Is that .30-'06, Springfield Sporters, Penn Run, Pennsylvania? Just my guess. I think they may have been the US importer in the 1960's.