My Mysterious Mauser

[tripnok]

Hello. I am new to this forum and wanted to post my Mauser it is a bit of and odd ball. I believe it to be a 93/95 or a 96 its serial number isn't recorded anywhere i have looked and is only 3 numbers long. So no luck identifying it there. I recently Refinished the stock and sanded down the butt plate to help with a little Damage and rust so good as new on that part. Otherwise its an all around good rifle and one of my favorites. Shoots strait as and arrow not to brag. The only down side to it is that 7X57 is a little hard to come by without ordering online. Also I have a gallery if anyone wants to take a look
m2 - Imgur

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Get the pics up on this forum and post the number, then we can all study it!
You seem to have a DWM Model 95 that may have been cut down from a full-length rifle.
Mausers were typically numbered 1 to 9999, then a1 to a9999 etc. so 3 figures is not unusual. I had a 3-figure Brazilian, and have seen a 2-figure one.


On the receiver ring it shows the unusual stamp in a circle in front of the number that was typical for the Model 1895 Mausers supplied to the ZAR (South African Republic) before the Boer War.
Please note: I have NOT stated that you have a Boer Mauser, just noted the unusual stamp!
It would be a very good idea if you could take some time a nd trouble tp make the best phots you can of the stamps on the various parts of the rifle. Plus a close-up of the bolt face and the bolt handle.
And please measure the barrel length from bolt face to muzzle (i.e. close the bolt, uncocked, insert a suitable rod as far as it goes, mark where it leaves the muzzle, remove rod and measure length to mark).
This is to determine whether or not it is a cut-down reworking of a originally full-length rifle.
The 7x57 is an excellent cartridge for both reloading and accuracy, and many were converted for use as hunting rifles. Reloads matched to your rifle may well produce results that will positively surprise you!

You should also 1) read about Boer Mausers and 7x57 on this forum. 2) Get a copy of Ball, Mauser Military Rifles of the World. Page 335 shows the unusual stamp I referred to, which you will also find in the forum contributions.

[muffett.2008]

Definately post pics here, that system is a nightmare to view.

[tripnok]

Thank you Patrick. This is the first time i have ever seen anyone acknowledge that the serial numbers started without a prefix. Then continued on to a.

I did not have a dowel or my cleaning rod with me so i measured from the outside but the barrel is roughly 55.5 centimeters long. I would prefer to reload, but i live in an apartment and the wife doesn't like the smell of gunpowder. I agree with you though. The 7X57 makes for lovely shooting. This gun has been sportrized but i believe its the original stock just worked a little. I had to scale them down but here are some pictures.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thanks for posting the photos on the forum. That is a very nice sporterized M95. The bolt face shows a well-centered firing pin in a clean hole (i.e. not enlarged by erosion). The pressure mark (from primers) is well-centered, and the rest of the face and other machined surfaces show as good as no wear. For an ex-service rifle, I would rate that as "low to very low mileage" and I would expect the bore to be good as well.
The barrel length (55.5 cm = 21.85") indicates a cut-down rifle, as the short rifle had a barrel about 1/2" shorter, and a turned-down bolt handle.
The stock is the original rifle stock, with the sling swivel in the usual position.

A pity it was sporterized, but it is too late to cry over that now. On the other hand, you have probably got an excellent sporting rifle and can make free use of it without any of the usual collector's hang-ups.

So now you need just to make the usual simple precautionary checks - if you have not yet done so - to exclude slam fire and safety-off fire. And for head clearance. Please search the forum for those three terms:
slam fire
safety-off fire
head clearance (NOT headspace)
- and you will find the basic methods described on more than one occasion.

Then you need ammo. BTW. To reassure your wife, unfired gunpowder does not smell, and I presume you are not in the habit of burning the stuff in the apartment!

[tripnok]

Awesome, I am a little unhappy to hear that it could have been cut down. Especially since a short rifle variant already existed. That does not take away how much i like it though. I really appreciate your knowledge on the subject. This is the first mauser i have ever owned and i have no complaints. Do you have a favorite Mauser? and if so why? I am thinking about buy another milsurp and could use the input.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Awesome, I am a little unhappy to hear that it could have been cut down. Especially since a short rifle variant already existed. That does not take away how much i like it though. I really appreciate your knowledge on the subject. This is the first mauser i have ever owned and i have no complaints. Do you have a favorite Mauser? and if so why? I am thinking about buy another milsurp and could use the input.

Glad to help. And yes, I do have a favourite Mauser, this one:
Attachment 51628Attachment 51627Attachment 51626Attachment 51625Attachment 51624

- which is indeed a Boer Mauser in 7x57. The carbine "Mod. Mauser 1896" from Loewe, Berlin. See Ball p.442. Very handy, very accurate, beautiful condition.

P.S: for Mauser-perfectionists. The ring on the backsight was a recent addition by a previous owner (fixed with superglue, I think) and has been removed.

[tripnok]

That is a beautiful rifle. It is hard to believe that it is over 100 years old. Did you pull it from the grease wrap or just get lucky?
Since i already have a carbine sized mauser. I might go for the full long rifle. One that has not been demilitarized. I will probably stick to DWM or loewe since i know they are great manufactures.
Although i might try a swed, I have heard good things about them.

[Patrick Chadwick]

That is a beautiful rifle. It is hard to believe that it is over 100 years old. Did you pull it from the grease wrap or just get lucky?
Since i already have a carbine sized mauser. I might go for the full long rifle. One that has not been demilitarized. I will probably stick to DWM or loewe since i know they are great manufactures.
Although i might try a swed, I have heard good things about them.

I was very, very lucky.*** And yes, go for a long rifle. A 7x57 or a Swede, both types are excellently made, with low recoil. The Swede has better sights for target shooting.

***In this field, "luck" involves looking at hundreds of second-rate examples until you find the one that really rings bells.

[tripnok]

I am going to try my ""luck"" this Sunday. Where i live we have what they say is the worlds largest gun show The Wanemachers Tulsa gun show. they always have a pretty good quantity of milsurps being sold there. So hopefully i can find a nice one for a reasonable price.