Austrian sporterized M1903?

[2aimtrue]

Hey, Rick.
Been looking around other forums and saw some photos of examples of Waffenfrankonia sporterized 98s. My rifle bears a remarkable resemblance in the look of the stock and the way the sling attaches to the barrel. Mine does not have the high custome features of the Waffenfrankonias - sort of a low-rent version. Could be a knock-off by a cottage gunsmith or even by a moonlighting Waffenfankonia gunsmith doing a little work on the side. A quickie job with the rear sight left on, which is kind of odd.
Anyhow, opinions on this from all are appreciated.
And I am still interested in finding an original or copy of a sling with front mount. My day took the original off and had the hole in the barrel filled.
Thanks again, to all for comments.

[Jim Tarleton]

Thank you.

Jim

[2aimtrue]

When I first noticed my rifle's similarity to examples Waffenfrankonia-built Mauser sporters, I found a thread with a photo of several German sporters in a cabinet with three that looked like Waffenfrankonias. I was in a hurry and closed it thinking I could easily find it again with a search. But, search as I may, I cannot find the photo. I honestly can't even remember where they were - might have been on gunboards. I am now motivated to try to build a collection of these undervalued, IMO, rifles. If anyone has photos of their Waffenfrankonia sporters I would love to see them.
Dang, I am still working on reducing the file-size of my photos so I can upload them to this thread. No size restrictions on gunboards. Whazzupwidat?

[2aimtrue]

Can someone take a look at the markings on the bottom of the receiver and tell me what they mean. Do they indicate an approximate sn correlation?

[sandymac@mac.com]

Gents: Would the NS on bottom of reciever indicate a nickle steel receiver which would likle place it's production date in the 1920's-1930's when Springfiled started using up Rock Island receivers and material. I had a good friend now deceased that had two mousers made up by German gunsmiths while stationed in the army in Germany. These were to be used for hunting in Germany. However before getting a German license, he had to undertake rigorous schooling and pass a test in order to do so. He also bought a springfield and 45 auto as was described by anoother post. Sandymac

[2aimtrue]

Thanks Sandymac. Both the barrel (2-30) and receiver are Springfield Armory - you can read it underneath the forward scope mount. The "nickle steel" assessment makes sense. I was thinking the J 100 mark might be a batch number which could indicate a serial number range.

[2aimtrue]

Hello, been away for a while but checking in from time to time.
I read somewhere recently that the military rifle guild guns, that this rifle typifies, have that very slender fore end bedause they reshaped the military stocks to save cost and there just isn't much material out there. That explains why my rifle still has the military rear sight. I'm thinking of adding a custom hand guard, shaped from a military piece to finish the look on top.
Any insight into the practice of incorporating military stocks on sporter conversions in Germany and Austria.

[Michael Petrov]

First of all the stock on your rifle was not made from a military stock. I would not add or take away anything from this rifle, it is what it is.
As for it typifying a German so called guild gun, it does not.

[Alfred]

Recently a site displayed a set of drawings for a Mauser manufactured Springfield 1903 actioned Sporting rifle.
Apparently some US shooters had tried to interest Mauser in producing these rifles for the US market.

The drawings show a very nicely done rifle mixing European and American styling.

I'll have to check on the details but I think Townsend Whelen was mentioned as being one of those who'd tried to get the ball rolling on this.

[Michael Petrov]

Recently a site displayed a set of drawings for a Mauser manufactured Springfield 1903 actioned Sporting rifle.
Apparently some US shooters had tried to interest Mauser in producing these rifles for the US market.

The drawings show a very nicely done rifle mixing European and American styling.

I'll have to check on the details but I think Townsend Whelen was mentioned as being one of those who'd tried to get the ball rolling on this.

Kind of like fighting a forest fire, put out out one and another jumps up.

In 1929 A. F. Stoeger got Townsend Whelen to design a custom sporting rifle for them as they were entering the custom rifle market. Because Stoeger had a working relationship with Mauser it seems they sent a copy of the blueprints to Mauser, Mauser converted the measurements to metric, end of story.

Back before WWI Mauser made at least one rifle using the 1903 Action, this had NOTHING to do with the later Stoeger drawings.