Argentine Mauser, what do I have?

[MrCleanOK]

I just came into possession of a Berlin-made M1909 Argentine Mauser. All serial numbers match on the receiver, bolt, stock, and cleaning rod. The rifle is in very good condition, bright metal on the action with some cosmoline still in it, a little bit of pitting on the forward barrel band. The stock looks great, just a few small dents from handling. The bore is in great shape, hardly any wear. The bolt face says that the rifle has been fired a few times, but probably not more than function testing and zeroing the sights. The family member I got it from has had it since the 70's and never fired it.

I found a few on Gunbroker.com with starting bids in the $500-600 range, but they weren't in as nice a condition as mine is, and everybody knows how realistic gunbroker prices can be. Does anybody know what kind of value this thing has? I ordered 100 rounds of 7.65 ammo for it because I don't like owning a gun I don't even have ammo for, but I haven't decided if I want to clean the cosmoline out and shoot it. Is this rifle a shooter, or better off left in the safe? I don't much believe in "collector's items" (especially for a military rifle like this that was made to be shot) so I'm most likely shoot it anyway, but I at least want to know if I might be detracting from the value.

Also, is there any way to find out how old this rifle is? My research points to WWI era, but I haven't been able to find anything that says "M1909 mausers were made from 19XX to 19YY". Any other cool information I can glean from the markings on the rifle? I'd post pictures, but I'm away from home and don't have my camera. Plus, my macro skills are not so good.

Any mauser experts out there that can weigh in on this? Thanks!

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

Some pics would help. Here is some data. My reference material is at the office. I will get back on this when I return. Going out of town for a week:

Argentine 1909 Rifle
Source Serial # Importer Crest
DWM A066x Ni Scrubbed
DWM A196x Ni
DWM A5559 Century Scrubbed
DWM B125x Scrubbed (sportized)
DWM B165x Ni
DWM B2040 Ni Crest
DWM B363x
DWM B4083 Ni Crest
DWM B4801 CIA Crest
DWM B5658 Ni Crest (en Argentina)
DWM B5940 Crest
DWM B6407 Ni
DWM B6928 Ni Crest
DWM B936x Ni Crest
DWM B9653 Ni Crest
DWM B999x JLD
DWM C3085 CAI Crest
DWM C803x
DWM C997x
DWM E0273 Ni Crest
DWM E584x Ni Crest
DWM E5932 Ni Crest
DWM E6013 Ni Crest
DWM E6044 Ni Crest
DWM E7911 Ni Crest
DWM F2072 Ni Crest
DWM F2564 Ni Crest
DWM F4777 JLD Crest
DWM F649x Ni
DWM F699x Ni
DWM G2637 CAI Crest (blued receiver plated parts)
DWM G6899 JLD Crest
DWM G878x Ni
DWM G9630 Ni Crest
DWM H008x
DWM H0240 Ni Crest
DWM H076x Crest
DWM H2393 CIA Crest
DWM H3039 Crest
DWM H339x
DWM H444x Ni
DWM H5693 CIA
DWM H767x CIA
DWM H8179 CIA
DWM K1xxx Ni
DWM K1061 Ni Crest
DWM K2071 Ni Crest
DWM K3623 CIA Crest
DWM K4370 CIA Crest
DWM K4430
DWM K6230 Ni Crest
DWM L4979 Crest
DWM L757x Crest
DWM M142x Ni
DWM N057x Ni
DWM N410x
DWM N4126 Ni Crest
DWM N4933 Ni Crest
¿? N7650
DWM N821x CIA Crest (wood stripped)
DWM P5204 Ni Crest
DWM P6038 Ni

Argentine 1909 Engineer Carbine
Source Serial # Importer Crest
DWM A052x Gibbs
DWM A0612 Ni Scrubbed
DWM A071x Ni
DWM A1046 Gibbs/JLD Crest (blued receiver)
DWM A152x Gibbs Crest
DWM A1536 Gibbs Crest
DWM A156x Gibbs/JLD Crest
DWM A1788 Crest
DWM A3019 Ni Crest
DWM A3213 Ni Crest
DWM A3949 VAM Crest
DWM A4155 Ni Crest (en Argentina)
DWM A4299 Ni Crest
DWM A9828 Arg Crest

Argentine 1909 Cavalry Carbine (NO Bayonet lug)
DWM 08 Ni Crest

Argentine 1909/26 Cavalry Carbine(bayonet lug added)
DWM A0096 Crest (blued receiver)
DWM A0691 JLD Crest
DWM A078x Gibbs Crest
DWM A1715 JLD Crest
DWM A2788 Crest
DWM A4307 Ni Crest
DWM A4320 JLD Crest
DWM A5653 CAI Crest
DWM A8955 Ni Crest (blued receiver)
DWM B0875 CIA Crest
DWM B2068 Ni Crest (blued receiver)
DWM B389x Crest
DWM B6318 CAI Crest
DWM B7716 Crest
DWM B969x Ni
DWM C0674 Ni Crest
DWM C121x Ni
DWM C385x JLD


Argentine 1909/47 Cavalry Carbine(manufactured by DGFM-FMAP)
Source Serial # Importer Crest
FMAP A00044
FMAP B014624
FMAP 000143
FMAP 000792 JLD Crest
FMAP 000972 JLD Crest
FMAP 001791 Crest
FMAP 002109 Crest
FMAP 00254x
FMAP 003074 Ni Crest
FMAP 004010 Ni Crest
FMAP 0045xx JLD
FMAP 004604 Ni Crest
FMAP 004898 JLD Crest
FMAP 005784 Ni Crest
FMAP 007041 JLD Crest
FMAP 009541 CIA Crest
FMAP 009689 Ni Crest
FMAP 009728 JLD Crest
FMAP 010398 Ni Crest (with Ejercito Argentino)
FMAP 011249 Ni Crest
FMAP 012277 CIA
FMAP 012379
FMAP 012603 Crest
FMAP 013945 JLD Crest
FMAP 014062 CIA Crest
FMAP 014371 JLD Crest (GN00.581)
FMAP 014973 Ni
FMAP 015991
FMAP 018390

Source: http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/forums/83

 

[dfariswheel]

The DWM made Argentine Model 1909 is almost certainly the best quality military Mauser ever made.
Its the only military 98 Mauser that had commercial Mauser features like the pear-shaped bolt knob, the hinged floor plate with the release in the trigger guard, and no lock screws on the action screws.

Back in the 1980's one of the Gun Digest Annuals had an article on why custom gunsmiths preferred the Mauser action to build custom rifles.
The author stated that to reproduce a Mauser of the same quality would cost $3000 in mid-1980's dollars.

These rifles were better finished and blued INSIDE than most modern guns are outside.
Since yours has been fired, you'll lose nothing by shooting it.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

This should tell you all you need to know to be able to date your Argy.<http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=33457>