New Argy 91

[DaveN]

Pardon my ignorance, but what crest? And Why was it removed? And by whom?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Pardon my ignorance, but what crest? And Why was it removed? And by whom?

Well what you call it - crest, coat of arms, emblem, insignia, badge or whatever, is a matter of nit-picking definition for connoisseurs of heraldry. It is the decorative looking bit that is roll-stamped onto the barrel ring of many South American Mausers (and a lot of others). If you get a copy of "Mauer Military Rifle Markings" by Trence Lapin, you will find quite a gallery of these markings. The Argentinian one shows two hands clasped together around a staff on top of which is a Phrygian cap (think French revolutionary style) within a wreath surmounted by a rising sun. Don't ask me to explain the iconography of it all - I haven't a clue!

In the last photo of Calfed's post you can see that the barrel ring is almost as bright as the bolt - the ring has been scrubbed to remove the national symbols.
On the various parts you can see little marks that are puzzling - until you know that they are the clasped hands from the national crest (or whatever it is correctly termed...)

As to who/when/why - for that, there is a very fine book all about Argentine Mausers, which unfortunately would cost me as much as a rifle - so I haven*t got one (yet!). Maybe someone who has can answer that part of your question. But I believe that at one time, Argentine law required the national emblem to be removed if the rifle was sold out of service.

It is a pity that a fine rifle has been spoilt by removal of the crest. Some people with more money, space, and friendlier gun control laws collect Mausers from different countries, just for the crests, like others collect stamps (of the paper kind). They can be really attractive.

Patrick

[Calfed]

I have a number of M1909 Argentine Mausers that still have the crest on them. This crest is the same one that was originally on M91 Argentine Mausers. All of my '09 Mausers still nave the crest and I have never seen an '09 with the crest ground off.