Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Custom Mauser Model 98 with engraving Part 2

james_green42
On further inspection I found a crack in the receiver. The crack runs from stripper guide to bottom of receiver just forward of the safety lug. I know that it's not safe to shoot like it is

1. how much is it worth now?
2. what can be done to fix it?

here is a link to the first post
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=448668


mausercrack001.jpg

mauser004.jpg

DSCN0672.jpg
0

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • MIKE WISKEY
    damn, that smarts[V]. this is a noncritical part of the receiver. It could be welded and reground and the receiver refinished.
    0
  • james_green42
    quote:Originally posted by MIKE WISKEY
    damn, that smarts[V]. this is a noncritical part of the receiver. It could be welded and reground and the receiver refinished.

    is there a gunsmith that can do this? how much would that cost? what do you think it's worth as a parts gun?

    thanks james
    0
  • perry shooter
    I would never try to FIX a receiver IT cracked for a reason Bad heat treatment [?][?]. Maybe the engraver annealed the receiver to make easier to engrave then did not properly reharden. I would get another
    Bare action and use all other parts. I believe this rifle was First built between WWI and WW II and then installed into this great looking stock years later . Looks like a 1960's style stock to me . Yes the receiver is now engraved but quality is Not a Plus IMHO because it is FAR from High Grade engraving. looks more like an apprentice project.
    0
  • nononsense
    james_green42,

    Welcome to the Gunbroker Forums! I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake these days.

    Here are some thoughts to mull over:

    First of all, I copied one of your photographs and enlarged it with some of my software to see what was written on the left side of the action just behind the front ring. The writing is Farsi, the language of Persia/Iran, using the Arabic alphabet. This does not identify the action precisely but gets us in the ball park.

    All of the discussion regarding the engraving is correct, it's low grade and detracts from what would be a very nice rifle without that stuff on it.

    The crack can be TIGed but then you will need to send it off for proper heat treat and polish it all over again. This is a waste in my opinion.

    Given the lack of quality of engraving, I suggest replacing the action with one that hasn't been 'enhanced' by an amateur and start off with a fine example of a typical stalking rifle that you can use for the rest of your life. The barrel will have to be timed and headspaced but that's simple for a gunsmith. Mauser actions are still available if you keep a watch out on the Auction side or do a little nosing around with the Mauser folks.

    It would behoove you to have a good engraver fix that rear sight with a better form of engraving to save to look of the rifle.

    I certainly wouldn't part this rifle out nor would I sell it outright. Just replace the action and trigger guard and have a great hunting rifle.

    Best.
    0
  • Ambrose
    I can't imagine that you could find a gunsmith that would tackle the weld process due to liability issues. I would agree with perry shooter that the repair would involve another receiver.

    You could probably use the rifle "as is" for a shooter and get away with it (provided the brittleness does not extend into the lug seats!). I'm suprised at the location of the crack--usually, if they crack, it's at the thumb notch. I'm not particularly nervious, but I don't believe I'd shoot it.

    As far as what it's worth as a parts gun: Put it up on the auction side, be sure to show the picture of the crack, and that will tell you.

    Sorry about your rifle.
    0
  • nononsense
    Ambrose,

    We have cut Mausers in half before and welded them back together in order to create a short action and a long action from two separate Mausers. This is a requirement for getting into the Gunmakers Guild.

    We have welded square bridges onto the front and rear rings in order to mimic a double square bridge Mauser.

    We have even made Mausers from 8620 and had them heat treated properly then used them for some of the biggest and highest pressure cartridges available today.

    So, yes you can find a gunsmith who will weld the Mauser back up and then have it heat treated properly. If you don't want to understand this that's fine but don't tell folks what simply isn't true.

    My contention is that even since this can be done with this action, it would better to just use another action if only to eliminate that engraving, thus saving what is a very nice rifle.

    Best.

    Corrected a spelling error...
    0
  • Ambrose
    nononsense:

    Sorry you misunderstood my post. I was trying to point out the difficulty in finding some one to tackle the repair project, not saying something untrue. I am aware of the kind of projects you describe so I know it is possible. But real Gunsmiths (with a capital G) are getting very hard to find. There was one in my area and he was a real artist, but he has retired some time ago and it is now tough to find anyone who is capable of handling the simplest task. I've had a couple of guns all but ruined by the local trade.

    I meant no disrespect to your profession and sorry I somehow struck a sore spot.

    Best to you, too
    0
  • nononsense
    Ambrose,

    There is no sore spot, I'm simply correcting a misunderstanding.

    "I can't imagine that you could find a gunsmith that would tackle the weld process due to liability issues."

    I didn't misunderstand anything, thank you.

    All you have to do is contact any one of the Guild members who specialize in this to get in line for a repair:

    American Custom Gunmakers Guild

    This area of the website is titled "Finding a Gunmaker":

    http://www.acgg.org/find/

    Home Page:

    http://www.acgg.org/find/

    I reiterate that my contention is to have the action replaced anyway due to the engraving not the repair.

    Best.
    0
  • Ambrose
    So I guess my apology is declined.
    0
  • nononsense
    Ambrose,

    Not at all. Simply adjusting the semantics of the wording.

    No hard feelings, apology accepted and hopefully the concepts are clear. I'm trying to make some deadlines by working on Easter Sunday while attempting to pay attention to the forum all too infrequently.

    No matter how long anyone writes on the internet, it's still difficult to be clear every time something is written. Speed and time constraints often conspire to throw the proverbial wrench into the works.

    Best.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity