7mm Mausers, a question

[Victor Six Bravo]

Acquiring a rifle for hunting from a friend. Have some pics though not handy at the moment and none of any markings.

It's been sporterized (well) at some time in the past and the stock is a replacement. Irons are long gone.

He said it's a small ring 7X57. I know Spain used them, but also some Latin American countries.

Anyone have a master list of who used 7mm's, and any general markings to look for?

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Anyone have a master list of who used 7mm's, and any general markings to look for?

For "who used 7mm's" the answers are to be found in Ball, "Mauser Military Rifles of the World", now in its 4th Edition. Basically Spain and all South American countries apart from Argentina and Peru. Plus China (M1895) and the Boers (ZAR, Orange Free State).

For a large ring/small ring list, see Kuhnhausen "The Mauser Bolt Actions", P.214, Mauser Action Dimension Table.

Get those 2 books and you will not only have a fairly exact answer to your questions, but a much deeper insight into "Mauserology".

Patrick

[Patrick Chadwick]

It has not necessarily been sporterized. The 7mm Mauser action was very popular for commercial hunting rifles. Take a look at the photos in Ball - the South American Mausers usually had splendid crests on the receiver ring. If it is an ex-military action, there will be such a crest, or signs that a crest has been scrubbed and the finish touched up. Plus a military style number on the left side of the ring, usually with a small letter indicating the series. And usually a factory/arsenal name/location on the left side receiver wall.

Commercial hunting rifles may have very few markings, depending on the regulations of the country where the rifle was produced. Produce pics of all the markings you can find, and it should be possible to make a good identification...

... and get the books!

Patrick

[Victor Six Bravo]

Agreed.....i'm a Lee-Enfield guy primarily, though my dad and brother own Gew. 98 Kar B's from 1918, both sporterized in the 60s.

[Victor Six Bravo]

Talked to him again.

Major marking are a small star of David on the receiver and it's a stepped barrel. Don't know if Israel ever used 7mm, but they used everything at first.

[sr71brd]

That "Star of David" is most likely a Brazilian crest.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I agree with sr71brd. But how about posting some pics of the markings? I am short sighted, and although I just cleaned my spectacles I can't see the markings on an invisible rifle in the USA from here

Patrick

[Len]

Talked to him again.

Major marking are a small star of David on the receiver...

If the star is on the left rail of the receiver it's an 1893 Spanish Mauser made by Ludwig Loewe Co.

[Victor Six Bravo]

Rifle is still in transit, and the pics available are just general "it's a sporterized rifle" pics. No closeups.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thanks to Len for the tip! That does indeed seem to be the answer.

The small six-pointed star is very well illustrated in "Mauser Military Rifles of the World" by Ball, in the section on Spain. PP 298-300 in the 3rd Edtion.
Is that what you have Victor?
(And if you don't have the book, may I heartily recommend that you get it!)

Patrick