1958 FR8 Rifle

Greetings from Michigan!:cheers:
I thought I would post my FR8 rifle for inspection!
This is a La Corunna 1958 conversion. This was purchased quite a few years ago now, after my brother and I read in a magazine that this was the ultimate "trunk gun" for law enforcement on a budget... cheap... common NATO caliber and small. Somehow my Brother scared one up, along with a bayonet and sling.
Please enjoy the pictures:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5760-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5756-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5758-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5761-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5764-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5757-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5763-1.jpg

And here is a nice picture of that lovely rear sight!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_5759-1.jpg

As you can see, it is not a matching rifle. However, I suspect that most aren't!

I have only seen 2 cartouches above the wood line on this rifle. The bolt root and the floor plate. I haven't taken it apart to see what is under the wood yet.

Very nice.

I have two of them and they are surprisingly accurate.

I have a 1954 and didn't really think about it with that date but a 1958? Is the date the year the mauser 1943 was made or the year it was converted to the FR-8? 1958 seems awful late to still be producing an 8mm K98 style rifle.

My sources say the conversions were done in the 1950's as well which seems to support that being the date of conversion.

I can't see any indications the receiver was scrubbed and restamped but an arsenal rework would be hard to detect.

Pretty sure that was the date of the original '43 Mauser production

A guy on Surplus Rifles is doing a survey of serial numbers and says that the year stamped on the receiver is the 43 Mauser date not the conversion date and that the serial numbers are not year specific. So they were making Mausers in 1958. That may be the last year as I don't think they had any rifles newer than that.

FR-7's had the old markings stripped.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

So they were making Mausers in 1958. That may be the last year as I don't think they had any rifles newer than that.

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Could be right about that. I've got two...a 1955 that is in pretty good shape and a 1948 that some ijit urethaned.

(Shown straddling an Enfield 2A)

Attachment 36041

Guys,
Thanks for the responses!
I debated about how to post my 2nd FR8. I decided to include it on this thread, vs. making its own....
Here I have a 195? FR8 in "different" condition as the one that I posted... and yes, the "?" is by intent...
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6167-1.jpg
No matter what I try, the last digit can't be read. I suppose I could remove some of the parking to see what highlights, but this would ruin the rifle. As you will notice, the crest, La Coruna and date are VERY shallow.
The rifle was purchased via Dunhams Sports, on the last round of importing. Shocking enough... this one does have matching numbers:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6166-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6165-1.jpg
As is typical of these rifles, they are sharp looking!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6164-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6171-1.jpg
This one has some sort of lacquer or paint on the muzzle end, that I have yet to strip off... it comes out as a muddy brown with the flash.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6169-1.jpg
This one doesn't have a bayonet, but I suppose I could march out and get a CETME bayo for it...
The handguard doesn't match the rest of the rifle when it comes to finish:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6174-1.jpg
The usual cartridge markings:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_6172-1.jpg