Brazilian 1894 FN Mauser carbine.

[Anzac15]

Just bought the above mentioned carbine, picking it up Thursday. Really good shape. Anyone have a line on how long these were made? I'm mainly interested in the antique status of it. Pics soon!

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Anyone have a line on how long these were made? I'm mainly interested in the antique status of it. Pics soon!

According to Ball, there were about 15000 made, for a contract signed in June 1894. With the FN production capability, and assuming they weren't just hanging around waiting for Christmas, that many carbines would have been produced in a couple of months. All done and dusted in 1894, and you are well within the 1898 "antiques" limit. Anyway, there should be an 1894 stamped on the left side of the receiver, just after "Herstal" at the end of the 2nd line. Tell anyone who asks that that is the production year and don't get involved in unprovable speculation to your own disadvantage.

[Anzac15]

It is indeed marked 1894. I was just interested in whether or not that model kind of spilled over into 1899, thus making it 'modern'.
Either way I'm getting it Thursday. They're rare enough, especially in the great condition this one is.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I was just interested in whether or not that model kind of spilled over into 1899, thus making it 'modern'.

No chance. Get it and let us know how it performs!

P.S. Just had another look in Ball. It seems that Loewe also made these carbines (all with letter a prefix) as well as FN (all with A prefix). Normal practice was letter blocks with 4-figure numbers (1 to 9999). So max. 10,000 produced by FN in Herstal. From June '94 (rather July) to Jan '99 would be 54 months. For max. 10,000 units. That would be an average of 184 a month. About 10 each working day? Not plausible for the FN factory. I reckon they banged them out in a couple of months. Like I said - the carbine has a date. 1894. Period.