Rob62
Member
Spanish Mauser Rebuild
As if I don’t have enough gun projects in the works already, I picked up the below Spanish Mauser in 7x57mm cheap. It has no crests or manufacturers markings other than a serial number. The only numbers that match are the barrel and receiver. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do with it. Originally I thought about cleaning it up and using it as is.
Then I got the idea to make it into a Mannlicher type carbine. So everything comes apart. The barrel gets whacked down to 17” and a short part of the stocks fore end also gets cut off even with the muzzle. FWIW - the bore looks in excellent condition. I was very surprised by this as I was expecting it to be dark and pitted.
Now I don’t have iron sights so will have to figure out what I am going to do for optics. Should I go with a forward scope mount, ala Scout Rifle, or have the receiver DT’d for a more conventional over receiver scope base.
The stock will be somewhat problematic. I plan on using a wooden ¼” dowel to fill some of the space in the stock where the original cleaning rod went. Brownell’s Acraglass bedding compound will be used to fill up any voids and also as a filler for where all the metal was in the front of the stock. I know that this will probably not look good but it should serve me for what I am trying to do. Which BTW is create a very budget friendly shooter that is going to be different from the stuff normally found out there.
I have no idea when I will work on this rifle again but as I do I will post more pics and update the thread.
Thoughts and opinions on this project welcome.
Regards,
Rob
Pictures of the rifle as in original condition.
Cutting the barrel down to approximately 17”
Barrel cut through
RE-crowning the muzzle
The crown finished. I used cold blue to re blue it after this photo was taken.
Removing the rear sight barrel sleeve. I used a propane torch to heat the metal just enough to loosen the solder. Then a hammer and drift punch to knock the sleeve off.
The muzzle end now that the stock and barrel has been cut down.
As if I don’t have enough gun projects in the works already, I picked up the below Spanish Mauser in 7x57mm cheap. It has no crests or manufacturers markings other than a serial number. The only numbers that match are the barrel and receiver. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do with it. Originally I thought about cleaning it up and using it as is.
Then I got the idea to make it into a Mannlicher type carbine. So everything comes apart. The barrel gets whacked down to 17” and a short part of the stocks fore end also gets cut off even with the muzzle. FWIW - the bore looks in excellent condition. I was very surprised by this as I was expecting it to be dark and pitted.
Now I don’t have iron sights so will have to figure out what I am going to do for optics. Should I go with a forward scope mount, ala Scout Rifle, or have the receiver DT’d for a more conventional over receiver scope base.
The stock will be somewhat problematic. I plan on using a wooden ¼” dowel to fill some of the space in the stock where the original cleaning rod went. Brownell’s Acraglass bedding compound will be used to fill up any voids and also as a filler for where all the metal was in the front of the stock. I know that this will probably not look good but it should serve me for what I am trying to do. Which BTW is create a very budget friendly shooter that is going to be different from the stuff normally found out there.
I have no idea when I will work on this rifle again but as I do I will post more pics and update the thread.
Thoughts and opinions on this project welcome.
Regards,
Rob
Pictures of the rifle as in original condition.
Cutting the barrel down to approximately 17”
Barrel cut through
RE-crowning the muzzle
The crown finished. I used cold blue to re blue it after this photo was taken.
Removing the rear sight barrel sleeve. I used a propane torch to heat the metal just enough to loosen the solder. Then a hammer and drift punch to knock the sleeve off.
The muzzle end now that the stock and barrel has been cut down.