So i stumled across a 7x57 mauser down at cabellas the other day, in good condition. My only question is that there is almost no makrings (no crest on th reciever) on it other than the serial number (bolt and magazine floor plate match). They wany $250 for it and i am wondering if this might be a good deal. It has a tuned down bolt simular to a K98, and i estimate them barrel at about 25 inches. I didn't jump on it because i didn't know enough about th rifle. My dad has talked for years about the 7mm mauser, and i would love to add one to my collection, so any information would be appreceated.
7mm mauser
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You can tear your hair out tryin to identify unmarked Mausers, if you are the asverage gun person. It tool me several weeks to identify a Spanish 93 Mauser. Beautiful rifle, except the bore isn't in great shape. $250 seems kind of high for an unmarked and unidentified Mauser. It SOUNDS like maybe its a VZ-24 in 7mm, but those are usualy marked somewhere. VZ-24's have two sets of sling mounts. They also have a "winged type of front sight protector.
Sounds like one of the millions of 7mm Mausers made for the South American market.
Lots and lots came up to the US prior to the GCA 68 and many, if not most, had the crests ground off.
Bore condition and a matching bolt are critical on a ground rifle because the value is as a shooter not a collector rifle.
"No import stamp" is a marketing ploy to get more money for a rifle than it is actually worth.
Most import stamps are placed on the barrels and anybody with a modicum of gunsmithing can yank and replace a barrel.
I would much rather have an import stamped rifle that has the crest, a good bore, and matching bolt than a non-import with a crusty barrel, mismatched bolt, and no crest.
Rough bore and/or mismatched bolt= Not worth $250.00 unless you really, really want it.
Lots and lots came up to the US prior to the GCA 68 and many, if not most, had the crests ground off.
Bore condition and a matching bolt are critical on a ground rifle because the value is as a shooter not a collector rifle.
"No import stamp" is a marketing ploy to get more money for a rifle than it is actually worth.
Most import stamps are placed on the barrels and anybody with a modicum of gunsmithing can yank and replace a barrel.
I would much rather have an import stamped rifle that has the crest, a good bore, and matching bolt than a non-import with a crusty barrel, mismatched bolt, and no crest.
Rough bore and/or mismatched bolt= Not worth $250.00 unless you really, really want it.
Bwana John
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Faster if loaded to the same pressures.
BUT while talking about pressures, Id only buy the above Mauser if it was on a 98 action.
May be a dumb question is there an easy for me to tell if it is a 98 action? The safety on this 7mm Mauser is identical to the one on my K98 if memory serves me. I really appreceate all the responses, I am going back down there today to have anoter look at it.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Good question - even if the crest on the receiver ring was ground off, they'd usually leave the manufacturer markings on the left side of the receiver.
dstorm1911
Member
does it cock on closing the bolt or opening the bolt?
If it cocks on opening its a 98 pattern if it cocks on closing its a 93 pattern as most were, look at the left reciever rail right at wood line for original manufacturer, the Chilian contract rifles were some of the best made... and $250 would not be outa line for one, tons of em were converted to custom sporters as far as the turned down bolt it could have been swapped
If it cocks on opening its a 98 pattern if it cocks on closing its a 93 pattern as most were, look at the left reciever rail right at wood line for original manufacturer, the Chilian contract rifles were some of the best made... and $250 would not be outa line for one, tons of em were converted to custom sporters as far as the turned down bolt it could have been swapped
it is orignal as best i can tell, the only marking on the left side is the serial number. the top of the reciever appears to have been cast without any creast, or it was ground off so well i cannot feel/see it, and is totally smooth. that is what i found so interesting about this rifle, is the lack of markings, also why i haven't bought it yet.
dstorm1911
Member
The recievers are forged, the crest is added at the request of the country purchasing the rifles, the most common being South American countries, The vast majority of which were all made in Germany or Belgium and a few Spanish the spanish ones are easy enough to rule out as their proof marks are easy to spot.
To accurately Identify it will require pictures as it can be identified by the proof marks on the components as well as by the stock the rear sight etc... otherwise its anyones guess, Many of the contract rifles supplied to some of the less favorable countries were sold without any manufacturer markings as well...... the action may need to be removed from the wood to find its markings... this is also the only way to verify a non-import marked gun as many importers plased their required markings in less obvious locations and usually only 1/32" tall stampings or even electro penciled markings the dot matrix style seen now is only since 2005 as the ATF changed the rules requiring more prominant markings before that it was usually the 1/32" stamp and in some cases located under the wood so as to not detract from collector value etc...
To accurately Identify it will require pictures as it can be identified by the proof marks on the components as well as by the stock the rear sight etc... otherwise its anyones guess, Many of the contract rifles supplied to some of the less favorable countries were sold without any manufacturer markings as well...... the action may need to be removed from the wood to find its markings... this is also the only way to verify a non-import marked gun as many importers plased their required markings in less obvious locations and usually only 1/32" tall stampings or even electro penciled markings the dot matrix style seen now is only since 2005 as the ATF changed the rules requiring more prominant markings before that it was usually the 1/32" stamp and in some cases located under the wood so as to not detract from collector value etc...
Well i decided to go ahead and take the chance with this rifle, after all it is in good condition, and had a very nice bore. Here are pictures of all the markings, or lack there of. It is the older M93 action, and does have an inport mark. The finish is a bit worn, but is to be expected for a rifle that is god only know how old. The sales guy in cabellas seemed to think it was Persian. It was labeled as a m95 on the sales ticket, but i suspect this was a mistake and should have been m93. I may never know the origin of the rifle, but if nothing else i suspect it will be a good shooter.
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Bwana John
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Id guess Spanish.
Have you headspaced it?
dstorm1911
Member
the proof marks on the wood in your 3rd pic are spanish can ya get close ups of any proof marks on the bolt, look at the underside of the bolt handle in particular
MachIVshooter
Member
Nothing wrong with the '93 action if you're not planning on rechambering to a powerhouse cartridge. The small ring is plenty strong for any 7x57 load.
Spanish 1916 short rifle from what I see. Buttplate may be slightly different. Not sure.
Looks like a Spaniard, seems to have a Spanish cross on the frame rail. Also has a strange serial number.
Wonder if it's got a Republican receiver, or a Republican 1916 rifle?
Looks like a Spaniard, seems to have a Spanish cross on the frame rail. Also has a strange serial number.
Wonder if it's got a Republican receiver, or a Republican 1916 rifle?
dstorm1911
Member
there is a spanish cross on the stock proofs its the far right, click magnify and its pretty clear can't really tell the one on the reciever, maybe some chalk or talc in the stampings and it would show up better....
I will take some more pictures once i get a chance to get batteries for my camera. I am planning on leaving it as it is now, haven't gotten a chance to have the headspace checked yet. I am planning on doing that next week and taking it to the range next weekend. Also the barrel is about 20 inches i length not 25 like i thought earlier.
The pictures you took are pretty good and the rifle is a stumper.
It has all the characteristics of a Chilean 1895 short rifle except for that full size rear sight.
Chilean short rifles have a rear sight calibrated to 1400 meters.
Somebody at some time attempted to reblue the bolt using contaminated blueing solution at too high a temperature.
Not a big deal Mauser bolts can be a pain to reblue even today.
The Crest was almost certainly ground off using a surface grinder wihich removes enough material to make the crest disappear without going so deep it breaks the surface hardening and it leaves a very smooth uniform finished surface.
Based on the nose cap with a bottom slung bayonet mount and that 2000 meter rear sight, the other option could be a Costa Rican Modelo 1910
These rifles have a bolt head that completely encloses the cartridge head and you may look at that.
I would certainly check the headspace before firing the weapon, the bolt may be a drop in replacement.
Third option is somebody assembled this rifle using surplus parts and went to pretty great lengths to keep it as military as possible.
If this is the case and it was made up by somebody who knew what they were doing, you may have a very good shooter rifle in your possession.
How is that barrel bore?????
The rifle is almost certainly not Persian used/issued.
It has all the characteristics of a Chilean 1895 short rifle except for that full size rear sight.
Chilean short rifles have a rear sight calibrated to 1400 meters.
Somebody at some time attempted to reblue the bolt using contaminated blueing solution at too high a temperature.
Not a big deal Mauser bolts can be a pain to reblue even today.
The Crest was almost certainly ground off using a surface grinder wihich removes enough material to make the crest disappear without going so deep it breaks the surface hardening and it leaves a very smooth uniform finished surface.
Based on the nose cap with a bottom slung bayonet mount and that 2000 meter rear sight, the other option could be a Costa Rican Modelo 1910
These rifles have a bolt head that completely encloses the cartridge head and you may look at that.
I would certainly check the headspace before firing the weapon, the bolt may be a drop in replacement.
Third option is somebody assembled this rifle using surplus parts and went to pretty great lengths to keep it as military as possible.
If this is the case and it was made up by somebody who knew what they were doing, you may have a very good shooter rifle in your possession.
How is that barrel bore?????
The rifle is almost certainly not Persian used/issued.
The bore is very good, no pitting, strong lands and grooves. I totally intend to have a gun smith look at it before it shoot it. It is numbers matching, including magazine plate, and has a import mark hiden like some of my other rifles under the cleaning rod. I am going to post some more pics tomorrow, and will try and get the bore, but with my old camera is a crap shoot. I bought it for $250 might have paid a bit too much, but it appears to be in good condition. I am planning on cleaning it up some tomorrow. I have never taken a rifle off the stock, but if it might help the ID of this one i would be willing to, assuming someone could tell me how to.
Spanish Mausers often have poor or non existant receiver stamping, and i had to identify mine with partial letters and numbers. I still don't know for sure whether it was made in 1905, 1915, or 1925. I'm guessing yours is a model 1916 Spanish from the bayonet lug.
Bwana John
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Probley. But I wouldnt advise putting any 7mm Mauser ammo thru it that I reloaded for my Rem 700 7mm Mauser.
Get it headspaced, but dont be surprised if it swallows a No-Go.
As long as it dosent close on a Field guage you should be OK
See if this websight helps you identify it:
http://www.geocities.com/fritz125541/Spanmauhome
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