Chinese Mauser: What do I have?

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What do i have here? Chinese Mauser; pretty sure. Don't think it was made in China. Maybe Germany? Czech?

Mismatched bolt, nice bore (surprisingly!!)

Any ideas on value?


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Lots of Mausers were made in China. Some were made in Germany for China as well. Check Google for more information as it's quite extensive. Different calibers/cartridges including a 6.7 version many attribute the 270 Winchester to.

Your rifle appears to be a Model 24, which could have been made at one of four different arsenals.

It should be chambered in 8x57 Mauser

If the bore is VG to EXC $450. They don't seem to bring the premium that European 98s do. Strange, because a lot of them saw extensive action. I have never seen one that went through a factory thorough repair.

I have used a couple of these receivers from a time when they were offered for $20 each. The parts were interchangeable with their European cousins and they were every bit as precise.

I haven't seen many CLEAN or matching numbers Chinese Mod24 rifles. The one in the pics is about average.

They started making them around 1935 so your example is quite early. I believe they made them under Japanese occupation as well, up to around 1950.

I used to have one that was brought back by a now deceased friend from the Korean War. It was chambered in 8x57. I gave it to his son, along with the document his father had to bring it back to Canada with him. It had been ridden hard and put away wet by whomever had dropped it. No, he didn't have an interesting story other than he found it in a ditch covered in brush and debris, while looking for firewood.
 
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What you have there appears to be a Chiang Kai-shek mauser.

Lots of info on the internet to read.

Just Google Chiang Kai-shek and youll find lots of info.

As for value , I've seen them go for around $250 to $400 around these parts. Yours looks to be in good condition as most are very worn.
 
If you want to sell it please message me.

The Chinese characters say Zhong Zheng Shi

Shi means style. So the name of this rifle is Type Zhong Zheng. Jiang Zhong Zheng was a leader in China.

That symbol that looks like a Nazi symbol is a lucky symbol to Chinese at that time.
 
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Thanks guys. So can I assume the "37" means that it was manufactured in 1937?

It has been a few years since I researched about this kind of rifle - I believe they used a different calendar year system than we do - the "year" might indeed be "37", but not necessarily "1937". I will try and find that information again.
 
Thanks guys. So can I assume the "37" means that it was manufactured in 1937?

So, as per good old Wikipedeia, this rifle started in our year 1935 which was year 24 on the Republican calendar - hence known as model 24. That would make year 37 on Republican calendar to be 1948 in our system, which appears to make it a relatively "late" one. All this assuming, of course, that the "37" is actually a manufacture date. I have yet to find the reference I once had that explained the symbols and crests - they identify the arsenal where it was built - there were several (4?), plus ones made by or in Germany by Germans.
 
Page 90 of Mauser Military Rifles of the World 5th Ed. Robert Ball. Has picture of identical receiver markings to yours, except "34" instead of "37".
"Chiang Kai-Shek" Model Short Rifle: State arsenals in China made several million copies of Mauser Standard Modell Short Rifle during period from November 1936 to 1949, with this weapon becoming standard issue for Chinese troops. Manufacturing quality ranged from very good (not up to German standards, by any means!) to the very crude, with little attention paid to the bedding of the action or the barrel, and very minimal standards of finish".
Ball on p. 91 captions another picture with "A Chiang kai-Shek (Zhong Zheng Shi) pattern Mauser Short rifle ..."
 
Yours is a 1948 production made at the 21st (Nanking) arsenal. One of the nicer Type 24s I've seen! I have a wartime model and it's in very rough shape. Word to the wise on shooting it - The metallurgy on these rifles is kind of a crapshoot depending on where and when it was made. Some of them are fine, some of them aren't. Mine has peening where the bolt handle kits the receiver when being closed. I definitely don't need to risk shooting it. I wouldn't shoot any of them simply because I don't have the knowledge to say whether it's safe or not. YMMV.

Don't take that as disparagement, they're very cool and very under appreciated rifles that saw a lot of the worst fighting of WW2 and if they are crude it just gives me more respect for the poor bastards who used them. True collectibles, just maybe not shooters.
 
I obtained a Chinese made Mauser many years ago.The bore was shot out and the breech bolt had seen better days.I pulled the barrel and discovered the lug seats in the receiver were serviceable.I fitted a serviceable German made barrel and breech bolt to the rifle.I started testfiring it using some 1940 dated German heavy ball.I checked headspace after firing each round.Headspace never increased.I probably fired a 100 rounds thru the rifle while checking headspace.I still have the rifle and could never sell it.
 
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