Spanish Mauser Butt Plate?

[wiscoaster]

Anybody here know if the Spanish Mauser butt plate was originally blued or in the white? It's kind of hard to tell on the one I just bought. I'm guessing white, but I couldn't find any decent images online showing the butt plate on the rifle, and the images showing butt plates for sale were of both varieties. The butt plate screw heads are blued, but I don't know if that signifies much. Thanks!!

 

[Jerry M]

White on the ones I had during the 1970s, but I am sure there were several makers with either.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The butt on my FR8 is in the white.

 

[wiscoaster]

Mine is Oviedo 1922 dated M1916 short rifle variant, if that makes any difference.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Mine is Oviedo 1922 dated M1916 short rifle variant, if that makes any difference.

I called my dad, who has an Oviedo carbine, not sure the exact model- he says the butt is white.

 

[wiscoaster]

Thank you!!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Robert Ball doesn't mention the buttplate in his description, but there are two 1916's in his book and it appears one is dark and the other shiny. Spanish Mausers may have had parts replaced in the field or been through arsenal refurbs, so provided it fits the stock reasonably well, it's probably authentic in some sense.

 

[wiscoaster]

The butt plate fits like it's original. It looks like originally white but well-weathered and somewhat rusted. I guess I got conflicted mainly by the blued butt plate screws that didn't match. But who knows. The stock itself isn't original (and is not serialized or cartouched), while the upper handguard is original (serialized to match receiver). But the bolt is not matching. Your typical well-used and rearsenalled mixmaster, I guess.
Why I got it for only $400. Pics to come post-clean up. It's all in parts right now.

 

[wiscoaster]

Finished rifle pic:
View attachment 1033161
In the end I decided to blue the butt plate. After cleanup, derusting and polishing it still looked pretty rough:
View attachment 1033162
Seeing as how the stock itself isn't original (except the upper handguard, which is, and different wood) I decided to go for appearance.

Hoping to shoot it tomorrow....

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Finished rifle pic:
View attachment 1033161
In the end I decided to blue the butt plate. After cleanup, derusting and polishing it still looked pretty rough:
View attachment 1033162
Seeing as how the stock itself isn't original (except the upper handguard, which is, and different wood) I decided to go for appearance.

Hoping to shoot it tomorrow....

Noice!

 

[hawg]

I think they were all blued originally. Most people don't know it but Mauser bolts were also blued.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I think they were all blued originally. Most people don't know it but Mauser bolts were also blued.

I've seen photos of a number of M1933s with bolts in the white, but at least some of the production probably left the factory with blued bolts. Robert Ball's book includes this photo of one with a turned-down blued bolt handle and the short handguard:

 

[theotherwaldo]

I just picked up a real Spanish mixmaster based around an M43 stock, scrubbed in-the-white receiver with appropriate M43 S/N, matching blued bolt, and what looks to be a German G98 barrel but probably just looks too long. Waiting for a buttplate, lower sling swivel and handguard.
Then we'll see how she shoots.

 

[wiscoaster]

First shooting posted here: What did you shoot today?