Mystery Mauser Stock

[jmoore]

Mmmm, lots of features to combine!

No finger grooves , but takedown tool hole- Hard to be a regular Gew98. (are there exceptions? I'm guessing... "yes".)
That's about as knowed up as I get in this area.

I reckon the inletting's different for the handguard retention features, too, but can't point a finger to what's what.


One of my two "long" 98's- No photos of the one with the finger grooves yet. A meager "collection"!


- ....But wait.... there's another that I forgot...Not sure,... Nooo-don't think so...hmmmm.




---------- Post added at 04:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:10 PM ----------

Oooh, butt swivel placement! Much further forward on the early stock! (It's about hidden by the wooden stand.)

[m4a3sherman]

There are later pattern WWI Gewehr 98 stocks with the bolt take-down washer, these also had finger grooves if I'm not mistaken. This happened late 1916 I think...
And very cool jmoore; I've got a G98 as well though it's been to Turkey but not modified ( still has Lange vizir) and a Kar98az, one of my prized possessions...

[jmoore]

There are later pattern WWI Gewehr 98 stocks with the bolt take-down washer, these also had finger grooves if I'm not mistaken. This happened late 1916 I think...
And very cool jmoore; I've got a G98 as well though it's been to Turkey but not modified ( still has Lange vizir) and a Kar98az, one of my prized possessions...

Quite right about the 1916 change (I think!)- That's my other, less pretty, Gew98. Poor thing's never been photo'd...

I think you ought to do a photo thread on your WWI Mausers! Much more interesting to me than the later models- except possibly a mid- '30s Standard Modell...

[m4a3sherman]

You know, I had seen a Standard Modell Mauser in a pawnshop recently; it had been thoroughly bubba'd and was drilled and tapped in all sorts of places along with a missing rear and front sight and chopped wood... Broke my heart.... I have been looking for one for a long time that isn't obscenely priced or in ratty condition from extended Chinese service. Did you know that the Standard Modell export rifles were assembled in the lower levels of a Swiss lingerie and underwear factory to keep them secret from the enforcers of the Versailles Treaty of 1918 which prohibited such activities. And maybe I will start a thread...

[jmoore]

I have been looking for one for a long time

"Long time" at 22... OK, then! Longer than you've been "on planet", looking have I for such an artifact. --Where's my cane?
First one I ever saw was beautiful, except it was missing everything behind the wrist! Planted the seed of coveting an example, though...

[m4a3sherman]

OK, so maybe not quite as long as others... Actually, If I am honest, the one rifle I have been coveting (well... the one now that I was able to nab at K43 at an insane price!) is a Norwegian Krag M1912 Engineer Carbine.... So beautiful and hard to find... everyone I locate is chopped or goes for insane high prices.... That rifle has been my longest hunt.

So now I must decide what to do with my stock... I will probably leave it alone since it is rare to find Turk rifle that has outlived its furniture and is worthy of all new wood...

[Patrick Chadwick]

... but not the '38, which was a short rifle (OAL 44") AND had a butt slot for the sling.

The stock length of 45" means that it can only be for a full-length rifle. Looking through Ball for G98-types with pistol grip, bolt take-down hole, and nosecap spring below (not on the right side), I can only see the following candidate:

Turkish 1903

of which Ball provides a good color photo.

Patrick

[m4a3sherman]

What a twist! Haha, which would have been my first guess only I've never seen one with the rear band spring. Most I've seen have a through pin or under spring.

[jmoore]

The stock length of 45" means that it can only be for a full-length rifle. Looking through Ball for G98-types with pistol grip, bolt take-down hole, and nosecap spring below (not on the right side), I can only see the following candidate: Turkish 1903

The wretched condition long rifles seem to commonly denoted as Model 1938s in stores. I wonder if the importer mis-identifies them?

[m4a3sherman]

Well, As I understand it, there is no such thing as a Turkish 1903 or M38 or any of that; those are terms made up by importers, Century I think. There was, as far as I have understood it, no separate nomenclature for the various Turk rifles as the armorers all strove to make them look the same even though it was a rag-tag arsenal of converted hand-me-downs. I have even seen Lee Enfields converted to look like and act like Mausers! However, this model designation is a matter of convenience for the collector and importer alike so it sticks. Generally speaking, the M38 is the shorter carbine and the 1903 is the long rifle, and is most commonly encountered. There is also the Commission 88/05 to contend with but that's another story....