Early Mauser rifles

Pre 1945 action rifles. Muzzle loading.

Moderator: dromia

Message
Author
Laurie
Posts: 650
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:20 pm

Re: Early Mauser rifles

#11 Post by Laurie »

There are a lot of these earlier Mausers in use in this country. I've seen many 71s and 71/84s on ranges over the years, but as Saddler says, the most commonly found model by far is the Swedish M1896.

There are a surprising number of Boer M1895s to be found though. It seems many came back as souvenirs from the 1898-1902 South African War and ended up in public school cadet armouries and small museum collections. Back in the early '80s, the police put a lot of pressure on museums to spend very large sums on enhanced security for their weapons collections which they couldn't afford, and with deactivation not an option then, the curators closed them and sold everything 'registrable' into the gun trade and hence into private ownership. Likewise, school cadet forces had clear outs in this period for non British Army issue weapons and sold these odd pieces on. I had a DWM Boer M1896 many years ago that was one of a pair that ended up in the Westminster School cadet armoury, nobody knowing when or how they'd originally appeared.

Vast numbers of surplus South American Mausers of all marks were sold cheaply in the USA over a 30 year period after WW2, and are often still very affordable today, bought and sold in small town gun fairs in many states. Hardly any made their way here originally, but in recent years a few have appeared and are seen on specialist historic arms dealers' lists. I picked up two Chilean 7X57s a couple of years back from Henry Krank in West Yorkshire, both long rifles with straight-out bolts as per early long models - a DWM M1895 which is identical to my old Boer rifle apart from the markings, and an M1912 by Steyr which uses the G98 action. The latter shoots very well, still to test and sort out the former. Sights are terrible to my elderly eyes which is a big downside on nearly all earlier Mausers, (Swedish M1896s aside), their using shallow V rears and inverted cone 'Partridge' foresight blades. I had a look down the sights of a contemporary (to the M1895) Long Lee-Metford last Sunday, and its sights are very much easier to use.
User avatar
dromia
Site Admin
Posts: 19964
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 4:57 am
Home club or Range: The Highlands of Scotland. Cycling Proficiency 1964. Felton & District rifle club. Teesdale Pistol and Rifle club.
Location: Sutherland and Co Durham
Contact:

Re: Early Mauser rifles

#12 Post by dromia »

My OVD stamped Boer mauser.

Image


Image


Image


Image


100 yrd group with PPU ammunition.


Image


100 yrd group with my handloads, SMK bullets and IMR 4350 powder..


Image

Not a bad performance for the rifle with iron sights, and an average shooter with ageing eyes.
Image

Come on Bambi get some

Imperial Good Metric Bad
Analogue Good Digital Bad

Fecking stones

Real farmers don't need subsidies

Cow's farts matter!

For fine firearms and requisites visit

http://www.pukkabundhooks.com/
User avatar
bradaz11
Sporadic Site Supporter
Posts: 4714
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:23 am
Home club or Range: The tunnel at Charmouth, BWSS
Location: Bristol
Contact:

Re: Early Mauser rifles

#13 Post by bradaz11 »

Dromia. Lovely rifle but what is the big Green box Beside you? Looks like a gas fire?
When guns are outlawed, only Outlaws will have guns
User avatar
dromia
Site Admin
Posts: 19964
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 4:57 am
Home club or Range: The Highlands of Scotland. Cycling Proficiency 1964. Felton & District rifle club. Teesdale Pistol and Rifle club.
Location: Sutherland and Co Durham
Contact:

Re: Early Mauser rifles

#14 Post by dromia »

The old Suis Ascor electronic targetry.
Image

Come on Bambi get some

Imperial Good Metric Bad
Analogue Good Digital Bad

Fecking stones

Real farmers don't need subsidies

Cow's farts matter!

For fine firearms and requisites visit

http://www.pukkabundhooks.com/
User avatar
froggy
Past Supporter
Posts: 4968
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:38 pm
Home club or Range: HPRP (UK) + Corsaires Malouins (France) + Czech Rep
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Early Mauser rifles

#15 Post by froggy »

Very nice Dromia ...
Want to shoot pistol ? Don't retreat... reload & run forward !!
http://dynamicshootingcz.co.uk/
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests