Spanish Mauser M1916-pics

I have had this 1916 for decades. It is a Guardia Civil with the crossed sword and fasces on the ring. It is of 1930's manufacture (not a cut down 1893) later converted to 7.62 NATO

(BTW, all well intended readers: please spare your lecture regarding ammo for this rifle. I have heard it all had probably have more true info than you do. Including a bunch of original documents in Spanish).

After only occasionally shooting this rifle over the decades, I did a major refurbishment this last year. Strip and reblue, scope installation, added a flash hider, put the it all in a new stock. Made the trigger real sweet. Added a sling with proper mounts.

The old stock was split up front. And the ergonomics of the straight military style stock just does not work for me. I much prefer a traditional turn-down grip.

I have put about 500 rounds through it in the last year or so.

Before Pic:
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After pic:

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Some results:

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These are thumbnails, so click on them for full size.

(Sorry about using attachments instead of inline pics. I am still figuring out this forum)

7mm does seem to shoot straight...

To Group Therapy - your post mentions original Spanish documents. Do you happen to have the "Folio Descriptive del Mosqueton Mauser Calibre 7,62 mm. NATO" Madrid 1967? I found a posting on Internet of the cover of the booklet; I've also read there was another version from 1965?? I would be very much interested in confirming that the above document(s) really existed and not some Internet hoax or such. Thank you.
BTW, of course this is really about which "7.62" the stamp on the receiver is referring to - the NATO or the CETME, since, on mine, it only reads "7.62". And, it appears there were indeed two 7.62 cartridges in the 1960's when the conversions for the Guardia were done. Much internet "ink" spilt on this topic, but I am finding very little documentary support for various opinions...

Wow! really nice looking conversion. Your original looks just like my 7MM and 7.62mm Spanish rifles. Who did the blue work on the rifle? it looks really well done.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

Wow! really nice looking conversion. Your original looks just like my 7MM and 7.62mm Spanish rifles. Who did the blue work on the rifle? it looks really well done.

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Did the blue myself. Stripped it down bare with a soft abrasive wheel, cleaned, and used 5 coats of Birchwood Casey Super Blue, followed by generous oil and letting it sit a few weeks.

I am actually surprised at how well it has held up! Thanks for looking.

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Originally Posted by Potashminer

To Group Therapy - your post mentions original Spanish documents. Do you happen to have the "Folio Descriptive del Mosqueton Mauser Calibre 7,62 mm. NATO" Madrid 1967? ...
BTW, of course this is really about which "7.62" the stamp on the receiver is referring to - the NATO or the CETME, since, on mine, it only reads "7.62"..... Much internet "ink" spilt on this topic, but I am finding very little documentary support for various opinions...

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It is NATO 7.62 from interviews from Spanish officers involved in the conversion and deployment of these firearms back in the day. Here is what can find from my current files. I have more extensive documentation somewhere but I cannot find it right now:

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...1&d=1509852242

Still shoots 2 to 3 MOA. That is just what Mausers typically do. Not bad for a milsurp with original barrel and ball ammo.

(Flamers-saver your breath. I have heard it all)

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...3&d=1509853226

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...4&d=1509853253

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...5&d=1509853277

These Spanish Mausers are the favorite whipping boy of the internet firearms world. But do a search. There are more blown up AR's and M1Garands out there.

Like any old firearm, some are worn out, broken, or abused. But there is little credible evidence that these Model 1916 SM's are as dangerous as some make them out to be. The critics never seem to come up with the mountains of evidence they speak of when pressed. (Now the original 19th century cut down and modified '93's are a different story).

I have put well over a thousand rounds through this one at this point. And it still gauges like when I got it and it has no lug set-back. I stick to Federal XM80 white box. I also know others who have shot theirs just as much.

There is a lot of mis-information and chest thumping, especially by certain self important gun smiths who favor "other" firearms.

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Originally Posted by Group Therapy

Birchwood Casey Super Blue,

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Don't know how you got that finish with Birchwood Casey, but great job!

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Originally Posted by Group Therapy

These Spanish Mausers are the favorite whipping boy of the internet firearms world.

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The people that knock these rifles don't own them and are just regurgitating the crap they read on the internet. I hope people keep spewing it and not buying them. I'll keep buying them for low prices and enjoying them. Just bought some more surplus 7mm and 7.62 not too long ago, need to get more before January else I'm screwed because I live in California.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

Don't know how you got that finish with Birchwood Casey, but great job!

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I have never blued a gun before. Just followed the directions. Clean-Dry-Heat-Blue-Rinse-Fine Steel Wool-Rinse again. Repeat five times. Then let it soak for a week with a generous coating of Outers Gun Oil.

So far so good. It has been in the field a lot and cleaned a lot. Blue is holding up well

There are two bluing chemicals available from Birchwood Casey. I bought the more expensive of the two (still didn't break the bank). And I suspect Birchwood Casey has done some chemical development over the past 40 years, so a long ago opinion of home blue is well....long ago. Don't be afraid to try it with modern chemicals.

BTW, I buffed the barreled receiver down to bare shiny steel with a small $39 bench grinder/buffer from Harbor Fright. Consumed most of the wheel doing the job. Interestingly HF does not carry replacement wheels for this small unit. Have to get them through Micro Mark Tool. The sell the same grinder/buffer, too. But for $80.

So if you have a candidate rifle for a refurb job, it's not too much money and comes out pretty good!

I bought the stock from Richards in southern California. Give them 4 or 5 months to get it to you. Lots of style options, but not the old military. They are the only ones I could find that had the pattern for a small ring Mauser.

Takes a bit of time to fit it. If you decide to go that route and sporter one of your rifles, contact me for some tips.

Two reasons I restocked. One the original was in need of repair. Two, I did not like the ergonomics of the military stock. And since these are not really museum or historical pieces, I was more interested in enjoying the shooting of it, rather than having a museum in my rifle safe. Heck, the Spaniards already did a bubba by changing it to 7.62. So I couldn't really "restore" it.

Also I just wanted to do a lot of tinkering. Hence the flash hider. That's just a cool looks item. I cut and threaded the barrel for it. And recrowned the barrel while at it.

---------- Post added at 11:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by usabaker

The people that knock these rifles don't own them and are just regurgitating the crap they read on the internet.... Just bought some more surplus 7mm and 7.62 not too long ago, need to get more before January else I'm screwed because I live in California.

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Great ammo find!
And yes, buy lots. Buy enough to make Gaven lose sleep at night.
I live behind enemy lines as well. Been stocking for two years now. Five year supply is my advice.

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Originally Posted by Group Therapy

There are two bluing chemicals available from Birchwood Casey. I bought the more expensive of the two (still didn't break the bank). And I suspect Birchwood Casey has done some chemical development over the past 40 years, so a long ago opinion of home blue is well....long ago. Don't be afraid to try it with modern chemicals. ...

Takes a bit of time to fit it. If you decide to go that route and sporter one of your rifles, contact me for some tips.

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Last time I used Birchwood Casey was back in the late 80's to do some touch-up to an old Stevens 15A I pick-up at a pawn shop and that stuff was not the greatest but back then I don't think there were a lot of options either, that old Stevens 15A is now brown where I used it. Nowadays, I use Van's Instant Gun Blue for most of my touch-up stuff; so far its the best at matching old blues. I've never used cold blues on complete rifles don't know if I ever will since I'm building a rusting (humidity) cabinet for some Remington Model 12 pump action .22 rifle restorations I'm doing.

I've been thinking about buying a couple more Spanish Mausers i've noticed a few here and there without stocks or broken stock for under $110.00, but I have so many projects right now don't know if I should. I've been looking for Czech VZ24 8mm parts for a barrel I have as well so i'm trying to stay focused. I got my Lee-Enfiled 3 weeks ago and is still in my gunsafe slathered in cosmolen between work, school, and home improvements seem like I never have time for the funstuff LOL

USABAKER--Sounds like you are busy with a lot of fun and interesting stuff. Enjoy!

GT