German Mauser.

Noel

Noel

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Bouncing around on the Farmall
Shopping up here was getting a bit stale so I looked southward and found a rifle in Illinois. Uh-oh.:redface: You have to hate it when you stumble across a rifle that is almost exactly what you want but not too easy to attain.

I mulled it over a bit then decided to take the plunge. It turned into a rodeo from there but I will avoid those details. When I did finally get it the breech bolt had been lost and Air Canada in no way is willing to help me, nor anyone else involved.
I put the gun in the back of the safe due to pure frustration. Last weekend I tried yet another bolt in it and what do you know, it fit! I will be taking it to a gunsmith to get it checked officially but we should be in buisness. It closes tight right now but I believe that is due to the handle having an interference fit where it slides along the receiver.

By the bug proofs it was built after 1912. It looks to me like a pre WWII rifle but I haven't much expertise there.
Caliber: 9,3x57 (what else is there?):D Load spec for a 282gr Steel jacketed bullet.
24 1/2" half round/octagon barrel, full length rib. Bore looks very good, just dirty.
98 Mauser small ring action, holds five down.
Modified floor metal like a Brno 21H, engraved.
Trigger is a two stage military style, but breaks very clean at 4lbs.
Rifle weighs 6 1/2lbs.

Stock has 14 1/4" LOP and lines up the irons perfectly.
There is a small 1/4" square pillar screwed into the stock for lug contact, no cracks visible at all. The finish is quite grim tho, it begs to be redone. It also reminds me to get a set of claw mounts fit but that may or may not be sacrilage.

Anyone know where I could get a butt plate that matches the bottom metal?
This one is very rough and chromed.:confused: The bottom screw does not match in the butt either so I suspect the butt was swapped out many moons ago.
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Another advantage to the Mauser. Many Mauser bolts interchang, except, of course, for the headspace.
A hunting partner had a Brno, I had a Husqvarna, both of about 1950 vintage, and the bolts would interchange.
 
Bruce,
I put this gun in the history display early this fall and ended up using my Brno 21H bolt in it just for the display. I have tried 5 or 6 other Mauser bolts and noe came close to fitting. Generally it is just the base of the bolt handle itself is too far forward to allow it to cam shut. This one is tight that way too but I will let the Smithy confirm if it is just the front of the handle base that needs a couple thou honed off or not.

Mark, there were very few horseshoes involved with this one. If I had any they were all lost by the time the gun got up here. I think I gained another in finding a bolt for the gun however, one that even looks at home without needing much adjustment.

From what I have been told so far, this rifle is a bit rare being a 9,3 chambering from Germany as most of them were plain 9x57 instead. They are German proof stamps though. Time to get practicing for another moose trip.
 
Noel, looks to me like your replacement bolt looks classier, although the more traditional round bolt knob might be easier to work for fast repeat shots. Once again, very nice. You are accumulating a nice collection.
 
nice rifle. hope it is in action soon.

my 9.3 didn't see an elk this year, but a WT doe sure didn't go far after getting hit by it.
 
Boomer said:
Noel, looks to me like your replacement bolt looks classier, although the more traditional round bolt knob might be easier to work for fast repeat shots. Once again, very nice. You are accumulating a nice collection.
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I agree on both accounts. I was going to use a K98 bolt and have the knob milled flat on the bottom but when this bolt fits as is, hard to argue with that.


MIG25, good to hear you got a WT with your 9,3.:) The one I hit last year just collapsed at the shot and never twitched.

Found this one late last night from a Swede auction site. I can't help but wonder if they are all from the same maker in Suhl, just different calibers.
This one is a 10,75x57!:eek:
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the 10,75 was the biggest of the 57 family. Can you say headspace problems?
It was brought out 1909/10 and did not survive the first war.
6,5x57 7x57 7x57R 8x57J 8x57JS 8x57R 9x57 9,3x57 10,75x57
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Boxhead, neat piece! I have never seen a front sight like that. Not that I am versed in the old Mausers but that one seems very different.

I have pictures of only one old Mauser from the early 1900's at home. Mr. Fossum had one. They left Bergen country in 1913 if memory serves for southern Alberta. Don't know of any other boltguns at home until the 30's....yet. This picture is from between 1910and 1912 as the rifle on the far left was built 1911 and came to Alberta the same year. Fossums rifle has the raised face on the stock just like your Whelan.
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If anyone else has some old Mausers to share feel free to post them.
 
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Noel said:
.....Fossums rifle has the raised face on the stock just like your Whelan.
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Aside from looking neat, that is one of the most practical aspects of these old stock designs. It strengthens the stock alongside the magazine mortise, which helps prevent the stock cracking behind the recoil lug and ahead of the trigger.

Ted
 
Amphibious said:
very nice rifle Noel!

the more time I spend around classic euro guns, the more I like them...
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Did I really just read this?:eek::p

I love every moment of packing these old guns around and shooting them too.
I only wish I shot as well in hunting situations as I do at paper with those iron sights. Practice practice practice........

Nrut, it was only by fluke I thought of trying the bolt from that junker. I sure am glad I did. I used a black marker on Sunday and honed the surfaces until the bolt fit like a glove. It was alot of tedious work but I am happy with the results. The stock is in rough shape and ugly as all get out. I have prepped it for restaining. The goal is not to have it look like new, justbetter than it does right now. The stain was almost a pumpkin orange and is very waxy coming off. Had to use wet sandpaper to keep it from clogging.
 
Noel said:
Did I really just read this?:eek::p
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yes, but only the classic ones!* spent 10days this fall guiding 5 dutchmen, 4 of them packing fancy new Sauer S92's.* over engineered, over priced, euro tra.... err, they had nice stocks :)

one of them did have a nice original Mauser 66....** mmmm
 
Amphibious said:
yes, but only the classic ones!* spent 10days this fall guiding 5 dutchmen, 4 of them packing fancy new Sauer S92's.* over engineered, over priced, euro tra.... err, they had nice stocks :)

one of them did have a nice original Mauser 66....** mmmm
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I saw the pics of the other gents you took out as well. Them Euro boys like big glass.:D
I wish I had taken the chance to guide when I was offered years ago. If I could raise a family doing it I`d be there.:)
Gimme a holler when you are ready to purchase.:D
 
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