Mauser 1895 Chilean Restoration Project

[clintdaniel]

I own a 1895 Chilean Mauser which is in great shape and a good shooting rifle. I decided today to break it down and clean the metal and gently sand down the stock with 325 grit and then hand rub it with about 15 coats of boiled linseed oil. I just finished a Yugo M24/47 Mauser with a black walnut stock which came out to look like it was just released from the factory. It's beautiful. I was wondering if any of you know what kind of wood the 1895 Chilean Mauser was made from before I start my sanding so that I can tell everyone what I'm working with when the project starts tomorrow? Looks like walnut but lighter and softer?

Thanks for any info!

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[Aragorn243]

If the rifle is in great shape as you describe, I wouldn't sand it at all. Light cleaning and linseed oil are Ok but sanding is generally frowned upon. If it has dents which you are trying to remove, you could try steaming them out rather than sanding. I'm not saying I'm completely against sanding, you have to use your own judgement but I typically sand a stock only to correct something someone else did like sanding against the grain. Something like that you can't get rid of without sanding, but even then, I try to keep it to a minimum.

As for wood, depends on the individual rifle. I have two, one is a dark color, possibly walnut but it has a reddish cast not typical of walnut, the other is a light color which could also be walnut or another type wood. They were produced in Germany so the wood would most likely be an European type.

Photos would help.

[Badger]

I don't know if this helps or not, by here is mine....

It was the first milsurp I ever collected....

1895 Mauser - Lowe

Regards,
Doug

[Aragorn243]

Doug,

Is that all the same rifle?

The upper photos showing the entire rifle is what I believe my older 95 aspires to be. It was black with oil and dirt when I got it and repeated cleanings got it to a darker shade of the reddish color yours shows.

However, the photo of the butt stock color is closer to the newer of my two 95's although I believe mine is a bit lighter still.

I didn't even know my older one had a cartouche on it until I cleaned it. I've debated trying to clean it some more but it doesn't look bad as is.

The one thing about it is it had a deep dent that actually forced the wood up around the edges. And this is where the sanding part comes in. I sanded that down to the same level as the rest of the wood. Only place on the entire rifle I used sandpaper and of course that one area is a light red compared to the dark red everywhere else. Lesson learned.

[Badger]

Doug,

Is that all the same rifle?

Yup, all the same rifle....

The pics aren't that great as they're the ones the seller sent me. I never got around to taking better quality or more detailed pics...

Regards,
Doug

[Patrick Chadwick]

sand down the stock with 325 grit

no no NO NO NO

I presume it's really a joke, and you are just trying to wind me up.

OK, you succeeded.

Now go and do it properly. Search the restorers forum with the keyword "boning". Read, practise, and enjoy the result.

And of course it's walnut. They didn't use anything else in those days. But walnut can vary from a light, almost beige color, to something that looks like old creosote-soaked railroad ties. My jay-noo-whine Boer carbine (1895 model, see Ball, appendix on ZAR rifles) also has a very light walnut stock.
Attachment 41888

[Patrick Chadwick]

Just to make the point:


All European guns!

[clintdaniel]

Thank you all for your help. The gun really didn't need sanding and I guess I just was curious about what it would look like inside after I broke it down. It was clean and no cosmoline and the metal was really a nice blue steel so I just light sanded with 325 and did not go for taking out the dent (history in those dents) and will finish it with a light walnut stain and hand rubbed boiled linseed oil and it should look great. Hope all who own this gun enjoy shooting it as much as I do!

[clintdaniel]

When I broke down my Chilean 1895 Mauser, I discovered the "Krupp" steel company three ring trademark on the top and under the wood handguard. I know that the rifles were made by Loewe, owner of the original Mauser Werke, in Germany (home to Krupp steel). The 1895 Chilean Mauser was considered stronger with better metal than the 1893 Spanish Mauser and I think the metallurgy on German mausers is far from suspect. Does anybody know, given that the Krupp train wheel logo (three circles) was on my rifle, was it made with Krupp steel or was the logo designating the bayonet connection to Krupp who's steel went into the 1895 Chilean Mauser bayonet?