Questions on the M1895 Chilean Mauser

[RogerD]

Hi everyone, I just signed up to ask some questions that I haven't been able to find any coherent or valuable answers, on the M1895 Chilean Mauser. Or I just need more reiterating on them.

Anyway, I've been looking into getting a Chilean Mauser recently, (along with possibly a M1917 American Enfield,) and I was first wondering what were the years that Mauser and Chile themselves, made them? Because if I'm not mistaken, Chile made them themselves, but I'm not sure on the years the 1895 Chilean design was made in either country. Or maybe I'm completely mistaken, and Mauser always made them for Chile?

Also, I was wondering if the saying that these rifles shoot flat out to 500 yards, is true? If so, that'a definite plus when comparing it to the M1917 I'm also looking into maybe purchasing, instead of the Chilean Mauser? (But I'll keep my M1917 questions saved for that part of the forum.) And not to forget, but this Chilean Mauser is indeed chambered in the famed/original 7mm "Spanish Hornet", so it's not re-chambered to 7.62 NATO.

And one last thing, if anyone has any pictures they could provide, or anything, on how to field strip the Chilean Mauser, that would be great too. I'd just like to know beforehand, if I do get this rifle, how to take the bolt apart and clean it? Or do I not have to clean/take the bolt apart to field strip it when cleaning?

Thanks for the replies

Roger

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Yes, it's me again, and yes, you have been fed more doubtful information and need more books! In this case, "Mauser Bolt Rifles" by Ludwig Olson.

M1895 Chilean Mausers were made by Ludwig Loewe/DWM. I will not repeat the entire company history, but basically the Ludwig Loewe company purchased the Mauser stocks in 1887, and Paul Mauser remained as technical director. Having also got more than 50% of FN (founded in 1889 to produce Mauser rifles) and acquiring the German Metallic Cartridge Company, the company was reorganized in a new firm - DWM - in 1896. As a result of the name change, M1895 rifles may appear with Loewe or DWM markings on the left side of the receiver.

And ... it's not re-chambered to 7.62 NATO.

I should certainly hope not! The M1895 is a so-called "small ring" design, and not a K98k! See Kuhnhausen "The Mauser Bolt Actions".
7.62 NATO has operating pressure way above the levels of the 7mm Mauser cartridge.

Also, I was wondering if the saying that these rifles shoot flat out to 500 yards, is true?

Ballistically, there is no such thing as a truly flat trajectory. Gravity affects bullets of all sizes. You may be thinking of the reputation the Spanish Mausers acquired when used against the US in the Philipines. Much flatter than the competition at that time, yes. Flatter than a 30-06, no.


Patrick

---------- Post added at 12:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 AM ----------

Or do I not have to clean/take the bolt apart to field strip it when cleaning?

Not unless it is filthy or corroded. If you really want to take it to bits, get "Military RIfle Disassembly and Reassembly" by Mowbray and Puleo.


Patrick

[RogerD]

Yes, it's me again, and yes, you have been fed more doubtful information and need more books! In this case, "Mauser Bolt Rifles" by Ludwig Olson.

Thanks Patrick, I'll look into it.

M1895 Chilean Mausers were made by Ludwig Loewe/DWM. I will not repeat the entire company history, but basically the Ludwig Loewe company purchased the Mauser stocks in 1887, and Paul Mauser remained as technical director. Having also got more than 50% of FN (founded in 1889 to produce Mauser rifles) and acquiring the German Metallic Cartridge Company, the company was reorganized in a new firm - DWM - in 1896. As a result of the name change, M1895 rifles may appear with Loewe or DWM markings on the left side of the receiver.

I believe this one does have Loewe marking on the side of the receiver, with the factory starting with an O-something? It's not the factory itself, just I think, the city in Germany it was produced in.

I should certainly hope not! The M1895 is a so-called "small ring" design, and not a K98k! See Kuhnhausen "The Mauser Bolt Actions".
7.62 NATO has operating pressure way above the levels of the 7mm Mauser cartridge.

Haha, the reason I mentioned the 7.62 NATO cartridge, was because while I was looking into these Mauser's, I read that some of them had been converted to the 7.62 NATO cartridge here in the US, and I wasn't sure really why, but was afraid this one had been. Luckily the last time I looked at it, I confirmed that it was the classic 7mm Mauser, not 7.62 NATO. Even the guy at my local gun shop, told me about the 7.62 NATO bit, and we were both confused to why it would be.

Ballistically, there is no such thing as a truly flat trajectory. Gravity affects bullets of all sizes. You may be thinking of the reputation the Spanish Mausers acquired when used against the US in the Philipines. Much flatter than the competition at that time, yes. Flatter than a 30-06, no.

Sure, I didn't mean they were truly flat, just that they shot relatively flat out to 500 yards compared to other cartridges like the 8mm Mauser.


Patrick

---------- Post added at 12:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 AM ----------



Not unless it is filthy or corroded. If you really want to take it to bits, get "Military RIfle Disassembly and Reassembly" by Mowbray and Puleo.


Patrick

Thanks again Patrick, for all the helpful information. I guess now all I have to do, is look into which one I truly want to get!

[Patrick Chadwick]

That's simple - get both!


Patrick

[RogerD]

Hahaha I would love to get both! But, with both of them at $670+ USD each, and my limit being $1,000 USD, I'm afraid I can't. If only I had another three zeros at the end of that thousand, I would be set.

[Aragorn243]

I paid $125 for my 1895 Chilean Mauser 2 years ago. I see them in the $200-$250 range all the time in very good shape. Unless the one you are looking at is near mint, that price is way out of line.

Depending on the condition, it's high for the 1917 too. Good condition with a good bore that price is ok but you can find them for less. I got mine for $300 right about the same time as the Chilean Mauser but it is only in fair condition with a dark bore but with good rifling.

[RogerD]

Thanks for the info Aragorn243, I'm not so sure that I could whittle the price down to $300 for either rifle, but if your rifles are as in good of a condition as the Chilean Mauser I'm looking at, then I might just see if I can. I would take a swing and say they're probably near mint, but both have of course aged W&T on them, so they're not like they just came from the factory.

Also, what was Chile's 7mm bullet weighed at? I've been shopping around for the ammo since I'm pretty set on actually buying the Chilean Mauser over the M1917, and for what they're pricing the ammo ($15-$19) the two grainsI've seen are either 139gr or 173gr. I'd just like to know, because with my other vintage military rifles, I always try and get what the country's military would have used when it comes to the grain of bullet, because obviously the rifle was sighted for that particular grain.

[Aragorn243]

Roger,

I got mine so cheap because the stock was black with grime. Metal was in great shape but the stock needed a severe cleaning which it got. All numbers on it match including the stock and the cleaning rod. The ones in the $200-$250 range were pretty clean though. Nice looking rifles. Again not mint but showing no signs of abuse or heavy wear.

I wish I could find 7mm for $15-$20 a box. Cheapest I've seen is mid to high $20's and I have seen it for a lot higher than that.

[RogerD]

That's interesting to know. The one I'm currently looking at, has no grime or anything like that whatsoever on the stock, and the metal on it is very nice. It even has the Chilean Crest on the receiver, which the guy I've been talking with down at the gun shop, told me is pretty good because a lot of the time places like Chile, Argentina, etc. actually took it off for one reason or another. The numbers match as well, which I'm not surprised for a place like Chile, but from what I've heard it's not too uncommon to see foreign spec. Mausers with different numbers.

And about the 7mm, the two I was talking about was the French Sellier & Bellot and Prvi Partizan. Maybe it's just because the gun shop I go to, sells a lot of both, but they always seem to have both of those at the $15-$19 range.

[Aragorn243]

I never saw a Chilean with the crest ground off. Not saying it didn't happen but those with the crest are not rare at all if that's what he's suggesting. Argentina did have a tendency to grind the crests off their items, especially their bayonets, so much so that even the ground off crest bayonets are collectible because those with the crest are so uncommon. I have seen Argentine rifles with ground crests.

You need to be careful in what is a mint rifle and what is a rifle in good condition. There are some photos of mint rifles on here that you can look at to see. If it has age wear like you suggested it is not mint. Price just seems very high to me and the price drop from a mint to a good rifle is considerable. The Chilean's are one of the lower priced South American rifles, probably due to their availability. Those of Brazil and especially Argentina command higher prices.

My Peterson price guide 5th edition (there is a 6th) lists the 1895 as follows:

Excellent $550
Very good $425
Good $275
Fair $150
Poor $100

Excellent is near mint 98% condition and 100% original factory condition
Very good is 92% and 100% factory condition
Good is 80% metal and wood finish, may be refinished (if old), may have small repairs, bore may have slight wear.
Fair is basically 30% and in working condition.

The rifles I generally encounter are those which would be classified as "Good" and they are selling in the $200-$250 range so Peterson's is more of a guide than a rule.