Trying to identify. Not much to go on.

[vintage hunter]

The oval gas escape port suggests it's a Spanish Model 1916 short rifle or carbine action. Many 1916's were later re-barreled for the 7.62 Cetme round and used by the Spanish Civil Guard, another variant was the FR-7 trainer. Both were very common in the U.S. 20 or so years ago and the dealers advertised them as being chambered for the commercial .308 Winchester round which is incorrect, actually it's chambered for the 7.62 Cetme round used in the Cetme Modelo B(M58) assult rifle. The 7.62 Cetme and 308/7.62 Nato have identical case dimensions but differ greatly in working pressures. IIRC, the Cetme round operates at about 45,000 psi where the 308/7.62 Nato is around 58,00-60,000 psi. It's not wise to fire full power 308 or 7.62 NATO ammunition in converted 1916 rifles. Down load to 7x57mm pressure levels and you'll be ok.

Information

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[UNPROFOR1994]

The oval gas escape port suggests it's a Spanish Model 1916 short rifle or carbine action.

Yes, that was my first guess. But it doesn't have a cutout on the left side rail like the Model 1916 so I think it's probably a Model 1893 receiver.

[vintage hunter]

doesn't have a cutout on the left side rail

Ha, I completely missed that. Need to clean my glasses I reckon. I can find no reference to a Model 93/95 Mauser with a gas escape port so unless it's a very early 1916 action made before the thumb cut became standard I'm stumped.

[UNPROFOR1994]

I can find no reference to a Model 93/95 Mauser with a gas escape port

Neither can I, but I did find this video on YouTube.



Watch 03:45 and you will see a gas port on a M1893. Maybe they improved some M1893's to the M1916 specifications?

[vintage hunter]

Maybe they improved some M1893's to the M1916 specifications?

Could be, the Spanish adopted a more powerful version of the 7x57 in 1913 so perhaps some older '93's had the gas port added to reduce the chances of an action failure in the event of a case head separation?

[vintage hunter]

May have solved the mystery as to what this action is. Was looking back through old threads for clues and came across a 1927 Oviedo Model 93 with gas port. Thread:
Oviedo Model '93 Mauser, Caliber 7mm, Mfg. 1927