Help ID'ing a Mauser

[Mentis]

I also have owned several and handled many more of these Spanish 1916 small ring mausers and agree the one pictured is an exact example. These were originally 7x57 mauser then at some time thereafter many were converted in Spain to fire the 7.62 CETME Spanish cartridge. This is where it can get complicated...The CETME was a lesser pressure lighter bullet cartridge developed by Spain long before it entered NATO (in 1982), but the outer dimensions are the same as the much hotter 7.62x51 NATO. These 1916 Mausers made in Spain were built to looser tolerances, not the most premium Mauser steel, plus they were virtually all re-arsenalled at least once and polished off again all over the action making them even looser. The original 7mm mauser round is rather mild to shoot compared to 8mm, 7.62 NATO or .30-06 (these are thumpers) especially out of a short light rifle like the 1916. Once you determine without a doubt what cartridge this rifle is properly chambered for, if it is 7.62 and you and your gunsmith agree its safe to shoot a 7.62x51 .308 win. round, after you fire the round PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO RAISE THE BOLT HANDLE TO EXTRACT THE FIRED ROUND. If you need to force or hammer it with your hand, or worse kick it with your boot to open it, you have a problem. These rifles were often fired with the hotter NATO ammo to the point of "locking lug setback". Constant pounding of the hotter load creates dents in the receiver where the bolt lugs lock. These little rifles dont usually blow up, the softer metal just gets beat to the point that the action is so distorted that it wont function or has excessive head space that can even cause the case to rupture in extreme cases. Now the good side...these rifles handle great. The ones in 7.62 I enjoyed most with a lower velocity handload with a 110 to 125 grain bullet. Useful, fun and comfortable to shoot. Getting Back to the intended range of function for this long lived little mauser. Keep us informed on your progress...

[Mentis]

Azsixshooter, here are a few oics of my 1916 Spanish in 7x57 for comparison. The rear sight is rather unique to these rifles. I removed the barley corn front sight protector for a wider sight picture. you can also see remnants of the crest on the receiver that's been buffed off.