Mystery Mauser

Rating - 100%
18   0   0
I picked up a Mauser about a year ago off of the EE, I was told it was a cigarette Mauser made during or shortly after WW2 by and unknown maker. Well tonight I had the idea to take the steel butt plate off to see if there was any info hiding behind it. There was a rolled up piece of paper in there with a makers name, I believe it says L G Bates Dawson Creek B.C. Im curious to know if anyone has any info on the maker?


CMaCVSp.jpg


vrzc5KN.jpg


K4r5Oyi.jpg
 
Sure looks pretty in that wooden stock with the rosewood nose cap .
Or is it ebony ?
Sorry can not offer up any info as to the maker, but Dawson Creek being smallish there will be someone who does.
Look forward to the information.
 
Last edited:
I have a fine Mauser custom 1908 Brazilian in 358 Norma that was stocked by Lou Bates in 1981. Metal by Frank Magro.

That’s about all I know about him. Sure does nice work! What chambering? Any more pics?
 
I’m thinking you’re probably right. It appears to be a stock from a higher end rifle. The stock work is high quality but it appears some one fit in an aluminum floor plate and did a poor job unfortunately.
 
Cigarette Guns could be made from Argentine 1909's? A gun made on the side by a German Gunsmith to barter for cigarettes or what not, I doubt it.
 
Specifically in occupied Germany. Traded for cigarettes from allied soldiers to be used for bartering or the traditional way

But again, the action being Argentine suggests it is not one
 
Last edited:
The note was found in the stock behind the butt pad. What I’m assuming happened here is the stock is a take off from another rifle. There is no makers marks on the barrel or action. There is some proof marks on the underside of the action but I can’t decipher them. I’ll post some more pictures in a bit. Calibre is 8x57 from my understanding the Argentine mausers were a different calibre.
 
An Argentine Mauser should be 7.65x53. A good number were rebarreled or rechambered to .30'06 after WWII. Markings should be on the left receiver wall unless it's been scrubbed. The bottom metal on that rifle is not Argentine. The 1909 had a button release in the trigger guard bow, a system that looks and functions better than the on installed on the rifle now.

Although the note says "1909 Argentine", I'm wondering if a different action and barrel have been substituted at some point.

P.S. I was writing this as you posted your pics. The bottom metal looks brazilian. There is a gap at the forward edge of the magazine, so it's likely not what the stock was originally inlet for.
 
I am quite sure that the marks shown in first picture Post #17 are not "proof marks" - at least as per the Swede Mausers, those would be stamps that were applied by various "Inspectors" as the piece moved from one stage to the next in production - the stamping showing that last thing done was to spec, to go ahead and do next step. Is typical that the "proof" occurred when the thing fully assembled - proofed by firing prescribed over pressure round or rounds without any measurable permanent deformity. As I understand, some arms DID NOT pass proof, but had passed all the other steps.

Regarding the cartridge - I think that one had many names - all identical thing though - 7.65 Argentine, 7.65 Mauser, 7.65 Belgian and other names. The RCBS die set here calls it "7.65x53 B M" - RCBS S/N: 14301. From the backward cursive "E"'s that I see, as if those parts from a 1908 Brazil - also a Mauser 98 variant. Contrary to post above, I have two Argentine 1909 rifles here - one is the long Infantry rifle and other is the shorter Cavalry Carbine - neither has the hinged floor plate "button" - they have a lever set into the front face of the trigger guard, to release their hinged floor plate.
 
Contrary to post above, I have two Argentine 1909 rifles here - one is the long Infantry rifle and other is the shorter Cavalry Carbine - neither has the hinged floor plate "button" - they have a lever set into the front face of the trigger guard, to release their hinged floor plate.

1_6ac6ea61b011d9b6ff8c516d2520eb36.jpg

^ This is exactly what I'm referring to, we're just speaking a different language.
 

Attachments

  • 1_6ac6ea61b011d9b6ff8c516d2520eb36.jpg
    1_6ac6ea61b011d9b6ff8c516d2520eb36.jpg
    32.7 KB · Views: 136
Back
Top Bottom