Unidentified Mauser
I am looking for assistance/information to identify and determine the value of a Mauser rifle I recently acquired. It is a hunting rifle with a Mauser action chambered for 30 06. It has what I understand to be called a Mannlicher type stock (wood stock all the way to the barrel end). The receiver has the "Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf A/N" identification. BU Crown proofs and "Mauser" on the metal butt plate. It was for the US market as it has a US 1906 stamp and "Germany" on the magazine floor plate. It is matching S/N 86892 all around and also has a stamp of "86892 7 ,6S". Double set trigger. Condition is VG to excellent. I assume it is a hunting rifle for the commercial US market. Is it a Custom rifle, or was this a standard production from Mauser in which case what model or production name did it have? Is it a shooter or collector and what would be a reasonable market value? Thanks in advance for any information you can provide. Regards Joe
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Found a Waffenfabrik Mauser, Model 1898 Sporting RIFLE in my references.
It's not listed as being manufactured in 30-06 Cal. though?
23.5" Barrel length, the full length Mannlicher stock and double set triggers were optional.
They supposedly made thousands of them chambered for metric cartridges. Maybe they made a short run for the U S market?
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Joe,
You have a very nice rifle. My speciality is not commercial Mausers, but this is what I can tell you.
Your weapon was made prior to 1940 as it has what's known as BUG proofs. It was made as a commercial rifle for export to the US (deduced from the caliber) As such, it is quite desirable as a prewar Mauser Original sporter. With the original stock and condition you mention, I would at the very least value it at $600. Only the open market can tell you the high.
What men call a hero...is merely a man who is seen doing what a brave man does as a matter of course.
A man who is in love with learning is a man who is never without a bride, for there is always more. L'Amour0 -
I wonder if caliber might not be 7.65X54 argentine? That is the 7.6S stamp is really 7.65? And if so a lot of guns with such a chambering were later reamed to 30-06.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
julles,
Your rifle was assembled between 1922-1923 which is referred to as the interwar years by Jon Speed, a noted author and expert on Mausers and their history. You are correct, that it was for export, probably by Stoeger but not positively.
This period of time is noted for the transition from Waffenfabrik Mauser (WFM) to Mauser-Werke (MW). The fullstock was an option as was the double set trigger. The 7,6S is the metric reference to the .30 cal. designation.
It can be thought of as a custom rifle since it has options not offered as standard. Mauser offered a multitude of options as a matter of course, for the export market, especially those for the American market. But the Mauser system was geared to provide these options regularly and not as truly 'custom' in the way that we have become used to thinking.
The most unusual of the 1922-23 rifles is the "Special Range Rifle" which was a fullstock with a handguard from the receiver front ring to a point 9-1/2" from the muzzle. The barrel was 24" and chambered for the 30-06 Springfield. The stock had a cheekpiece with a trapdoor buttplate which contained a cleaning kit and was marked with the Mauser Banner, also. The front of the stock terminated in a horned schnabel, had a pistol grip with a metal grip cap and the pistol grip was checkered. The barrel had a tangent sight marked to 1,000 yards and was windage adjustable. Only a few of these rifles have been confirmed so they are considered to be VERY valuable.
I would not try to value your rifle without a careful examination and a good investigation into the rest of the markings on the underside of the receiver and barrel. This is not something to be handled electronically. There are a multitude of variations in this time period and yours need to be checked thoroughly, if only for information's sake.
I hope this helps some.
Best.0 -
Your best bet other then getting a hands-on appraisal from a dealer or collector who are " VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE" about Mauser commercial rifles, ( Few and Far Between ).
Is to get your hands on a copy of this book, ( Inter-library Loan? ).
"Mauser: Original Oberndorf Sporting Rifles" by J. Speed, W. Schmid & R. Herrmann.
It's over 500 pages, with many photos and serials numbers of the commercial Mausers. It appears to be quite comprehensive in it's coverage.0 -
I bought mine from Jon Speed at a "pre-publisher" price and I'm amazed at what the cost has gone to now! Several of us went together and bought two cases and got a nice discount for volume also. I like rufe-snow's idea of the inter-library loan. The prices below are supposedly "used" but it appears suspiciously just like the "new" prices. I guess they don't have any used...
Used Books: 1 - 4 of 4
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# Bookseller Notes Price
1 Alibris
[United States] 1997, new hard bound w/dj, 11 1/2 x 9, glossy paper, xxxv, 471 pages, 983 illustrations, 114 in colour Collector Grade Publication. This long-awaited book is a compilation by three modern scholars who bring authority, individuality, and vitality to the enclosed 30 Chapters and two Appendices. Our story begins with Herr Schmid's unprecedented seven-chapter history of the Mauser company, from the inception of the Royal Wurttemberg Rifle Factory in a converted Augustine monastery beside the ... $89.90
2 Articles of War Ltd
via Abebooks
[United States] 1997, new hard bound w/dj, 11 1/2 x 9, glossy paper, xxxv, 471 pages, 983 illustrations, 114 in colour Collector Grade Publication. This long-awaited book is a compilation by three modern scholars who bring authority, individuality, and vitality to the enclosed 30 Chapters and two Appendices. Our story begins with Herr Schmid's unprecedented seven-chapter history of the Mauser company, from the inception of the Royal Wurttemberg Rifle Factory in a converted Augustine monastery beside the ... $89.95
3 Articles of War Ltd
via Used Book Central $89.95
4 IDSA BOOKS
via Abebooks
[United States] Publisher: 1997; 508pp, 983 illus. with 111pp of color, photos & data about Mauser-Werke, study of design origins & manufac-turing history from before WW1 through post WW2 with comprehensive Serial Number/Date chart, 11x8.5 HC. As NEW $89.95
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All, Thanks for your replies and information. I will continue to investigate. Jonk - Just FYI I went back and looked and I think nononsense was right on as the mark is definitely 7,6S and not a 5. rufe-snow and nononsense - thanks very much for the info and good idea on the reference books. I will look into that. Hey rufe - nice luger! I have a 1906 American Eagle, one of my prize posessions. Thanks to all of you for your inputs. Regards, Joe 0
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