"Bicycle" Mauser (?)

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Bwana John

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M98 Mauser, FN made, Mexican crest marked 1924, turned down bolt, refinished, possibly bad pitting under wood line, all numbers visable matching, very strong rifleing, 7x57..... With a 16" barrel !!!

Looks like a factory front sight, but last barrel band looked "funny". No cleaning rod.

Advertised as a "Bicycle Mauser" (?)

Has anybody ever heard of a bicycle mauser? I always wanted one of the Latin American super shorty Mauser, but was put off by the bicycle nomenclature.

Did I miss out, or was the little voice that said Mexican Bubba "Tanker" right?
 
There were bicycle troops, they were uncommon, but they existed in pre WW1 and pre WW2 armies. The pictures I have seen, bicycle troops carried the same rifle the Cavalry carried. I have no idea whether any special rifles were made for them. That rifle could also have been a special run for military police for all we know.

What it is now, is a rusty roach!
 
I have the book FN Mechanique, where the it shows the production of bicycle and I do believe also trucks too.
 
Looks like I missed out. The rifle was in much better shape than the collectorsfirearms.com
example and a couple of hundred dollars less, but that was the same rifle I was looking at.

I think the seller made up the term "Bicycle Mauser" to enhance the sale.

The search continues, hopefully a perfect FN 30-06 Columbian short Mauser is just around the corner!
23057080_3.jpg
 
I have what I think is a Danish bicycle Mauser (pretty sure its a bike Mauser but not sure of the nation). Mag has a wooden addition to that side so it will lay flat against a person's back and the sling is set for the side. Neat design and pretty uncommon as the bike units didn't last long.
 
I have a short one in 8mm. FN made, no crest of any type with a cleaning rod. Imported by century in the 80's. Big bark and accurate.
 
Cant help you on the carbine, but I just watched a feature film on belgian bicycle troops in ww2. I think it was on Netflix. They put up a decent fight.
 
You know I do not see the word Bicycle Mauser in Balls Muser Book.. So I think it is just a carbine.. I like it alot..

But I love the term now... too bad Interarms is no more... they may have found some of those Bicycle mausers down in the same Secret sub pens that other things were found... I love the term...

Those Mauser carbines are a hoot to shoot.. I really like that one..
 
There were bicycle troops, they were uncommon, but they existed in pre WW1 and pre WW2 armies.

Bicycle troops were intended as a cheaper alternative to horse-mounted dragoons, since (on decent roads) they could move as fast as horses; bicycles cost less than horses to buy in quantity, don't require feed and take up much less space on motor transport.

As distinct, independent formations they became less common after WWI, but as a general means of soldier transport they remained very useful. I recall reading that bicycles played an important role in the Japanese capture of Singapore. Modern armies still use them, just not in special formations. I came across this page some time back when I was looking at folding bikes: https://www.montaguebikes.com/military-folding-bikes/

During the great bicycle craze in the 1890s+, there were a number of special bicycle-themed firearms on the market. The Velo Dog revolver, as its name makes plain, was intended for cyclists as a protection against dogs! My favorite was Marlin's cool bicycle rifle:
 
Come on, if you guys are going to start showing Bicycle guns lets show some Bicycle guns :)

1891 England over 90 pounds.. This bike is just old world class

machinegun1.jpg


Columbia 1986 bicycle with a Colt potato digger.. Pretty sure no one tested this, but would love to see it in action.. :)
gun-bike-807x500.jpg

Pope tricycle 1895

bicycle%20cannon%201895a.jpg

1901 Vickers light machine gun bike

vickers4a.jpg

Nice detailed link on the Vickers...

https://oldbike.eu/1899-military-tandem-tricycle-with-maxim/
 
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Nowadays I suppose it would be something like M4s on electric scooters. They can move relatively fast and are very quiet.

A major university town like Gainesville FL could field a couple of regiments easily during the school year. Offload from trucks several miles out then blitz the position.
 
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My Grandpa on my dad's side was born in 1885 . Claims he spent 2 years as a bicycle trooper in the Italian army before emigrating here in 1908. I was too young and stupid to ask him what kind of weapon he carried. I guessing Carcano, but who knows.
 
It's a wonder the seller did not call it a "TANKER MAUSER" to liken it to the TANKER GARAND. I'd give an extra $100 for a tanker Mauser :)
 
When I was a fifth-grader I owned an F/N Chainless bicycle much like this one:
1910s_fn_shaftdrive2.jpg
It had a couple of brazed on loops under the top tube.
I found out later that these were usually used for strapping on an F/N 1889 Mauser rifle or carbine.

I only had this heavy beast for a few months before it was stolen, just like all of the other bikes that I had while I was in Portland, Oregon. It felt like bike theft was a competitive sport there.
 
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