Spanish M43 La Coruna 1951, 8x57 ?

[dttuner]

Caliber 8x57?

Numbers matching, which is nice.
Stock has zero finish left. May have master carpenter friend refinish it (opinions?)

The steel bayonet "extension" is bashed-up from previous owner.
What was this extension for?
(removed it because couldn't fully strip the rifle)

Cleaning rod missing. Otherwise, a strong looking shooter.
I'm also dropping some pics of the ammo I got with the deal. Hoping it's the right ammo, so I can take 'er for a spin.

How do I remove rear sling mount from stock, for refinishing?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aragorn243]

I would not do anything to the stock other than wipe it down. That's the way it's supposed to look. Stock sling mount is removed by removing the buttplate and then a pin or screw that is under it. The bayonet lug extension is so the bolo 1943 bayonet can be attached. It has the long muzzle ring relief. If you can find a Spanish K98 bayonet which isn't easy, you could mount that on it as is. They look like German K98 bayonets but are a bit rougher and no manufacturers marks.

Ammo "should" be 8mm but it's always wise to double check Spanish Mausers.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

DITTO POST #2
Looks very nice as is.

[Aragorn243]

It is a very nice looking Spanish Mauser. If the bore is in similar condition to the exterior, it should be a great shooter. It probably is in 8mm, they would have had to rebarrel it for something else but still advisable to take care.

The thing with the finish is most military rifles aren't supposed to have a shiny finish for obvious reasons. That many do is simply because of decades orin some instances a century of hand rubbing of oil into it for waterproofing. Nearly every Spanish rifle I've seen has had a dry look to it. These particular rifles didn't have a very long service life, many were converted to FR-8's. Mine however has been refinished, has a shiny look to it. One of these day's I'll probably get around to stripping it.
'

[dttuner]

Great great feedback folks.
Thanks so much for putting my stock finish worries at ease.
The bore looks clean, with no damage. I'm lacking the proper brushes to clean the bore area properly, so haven't taken pics yet.

So, 8mm huh? That's great! I got some 8mm with the package, that looks to be in excellent shape.

Do the markings indicate anything particular?
Got any links to Spanish Mauser identification/markings?
Was this made in 1951?

Very interested in the history of this rifle, because my family is from that exact part of Spain. My grand parents live few miles away from La Coruna, and I've visited the old military barracks, etc.

[dttuner]

I would not do anything to the stock other than wipe it down. That's the way it's supposed to look. Stock sling mount is removed by removing the buttplate and then a pin or screw that is under it. The bayonet lug extension is so the bolo 1943 bayonet can be attached. It has the long muzzle ring relief. If you can find a Spanish K98 bayonet which isn't easy, you could mount that on it as is. They look like German K98 bayonets but are a bit rougher and no manufacturers marks.

Ammo "should" be 8mm but it's always wise to double check Spanish Mausers.

I saw the stock sling pin under the buttplate, but it was a pin (no head). Not touching stock anyway

Bolo 1943 bayonet, eh? Is leaving it off heresy?

Whats really neat, is I got this ammo carrier, which holds alot of 8mm

[vintage hunter]

It probably is in 8mm, they would have had to rebarrel it for something else but still advisable to take care.

Not necessarily. All that's required to convert an 8x57 to 8mm-06 is re-chamber the original barrel. Doubt it's been converted though but it never hurts to be sure.
Very nice example, BTW. Probably one of the best I've seen.

[dttuner]

Very nice example, BTW. Probably one of the best I've seen.

That's great to hear. Hope it's as accurate as it is pretty.
I've got a good 'smith in town to check it out.

[vintage hunter]

I've got a good 'smith in town to check it out.

Why? The rifle appears to be in unissued condition and has matching #'s so beyond verifying it's still in the original 7.92x57/8mm mauser chambering( that's a dirt simple task you could do yourself) there's not much else your good 'smith is going be able to tell you that you don't already know. Personally I wouldn't waste the $$ having the headspace checked, the gages your 'smith is going to use will be, in all probabilities, made to SAAMI specifications and the rifle certainly was not so chances are he's going tell you the rifle is unsafe to shoot because the bolt closes on the no-go when there's nothing actually wrong with it.

[Aragorn243]

It is fine to leave the bayonet extension off. Looks better without it. I took mine off and found a Spanish K98 bayonet.

Your ammo pouch unfortunately is Swedish. Three crowns are a dead giveaway. Swedes also used a 6.5 round although the cases are about the same size so you could use it.