Mystery Mauser?

Fazakerley

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I picked up a nice little rifle recently and I'd like to find out more about it. The serial number is just two digits and the receiver is clearly marked: DEUTSCHE WAFFEN - UND MUNITIONSFABRIKEN. BERLIN

It's in great shape although somebody has crudely repaired the wrist of the butt stock with a screw. The barrel is about 24 inches and overall it's about 42 inches. I assume it was made after WWI and before DWM changed its name in 1922. Alternatively maybe it could have been made after 1936?

Can anyone here shed some light on this?

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mystery mauser

looks like a commercial 96 action to me, I have a custom carbine posted on sporting arms exchange that uses the same action with no stampings.
joe
 
Id say a commercial conversion. My guess, without reference material, is a 7X57 model 1895 Chilean small ring mauser but the lack of a stripper clip reloading groove perplexes me. By the way, your photography skills are second to none.
 
...but the lack of a stripper clip reloading groove perplexes me. By the way, your photography skills are second to none.

The lack of the reloading groove makes me think it was made from scratch as a commercial rifle. Can't understand why it only has a two digit serial number, with no prefix or suffix.
 
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I thought I heard from someone, that the earliest Swedish Mausers were made in Germany, for the Swedish government using a differing rate of twist than later ones were made to. Once a licencing/manufacturing agreement was signed, regular production within Swedish factories carried on. Maybe this was one of these early trials rifle. And later on sporterized for civilian sales?
Of course you did not mention the calibre yet, so maybe or maybe not...........

perhaps
 
Id say a commercial conversion. My guess, without reference material, is a 7X57 model 1895 Chilean small ring mauser but the lack of a stripper clip reloading groove perplexes me. By the way, your photography skills are second to none.

That's a pretty little rifle.

Pretty sure the 5th photo shows a stripper clip groove in the upper right corner.

But there's no gas notch in the left wall which may mean commercial action - or not.
 
I assume it was made after WWI and before DWM changed its name in 1922. Alternatively maybe it could have been made after 1936?
Having disposed of my Mauser refrence books, and my DWM history being buried somewhere I can only go off the top of my head on this, but I am saying preWW1. The military flake / nitro proof was brought in pre-WW1 (1890s IIRC) and the name matches for that era, baring in mind the Berlin plant was the small arms plant. I would suspect preWW1 commercial rifle, either way very nice find, just a shame about the stock.
 
Clearly I'm no rifle expert but it seems too small to have ever been a military firearm, and the quality of the production does not look like it came from a country recently defeated in a major war.

I'd like to get the stock repaired professionally. The large ugly screw really detracts from a beautiful piece. Any suggestions on where I might find a craftsman capable of doing this?
 
Well - It sure looks like an 1895 Mauser action, originally in 7X57 - as yours is. I have a similar one. You can get nice aftermarket stocks for them, and triggers etc from Boyds.
 
Yes, a Model 1895, as Cosmic pointed. DWM made a bunch of those.

The early Swedish Mauser were made by Mauser Oberndof, have the Swedish crown of approval marks and a cocking thumb projection at the end of the cocking piece. Also, the extractor's exterior surface is straight for the M94/96 and 98, while the M/93/95 have a curved section, like the one pictured.
Proof marks are pre-1912 (from 1898 to 1912) if this can serve you.
The repair at the wrist can be hidden by covering the bolt heads with a matching round wood plug, the wood grain being oriented the same as the stock shows. That's what is commonly performed by professional gunsmiths.
 
Mauser

Possible to look at bolt-face and tell us if round or is bottom square? A true Chilean 1895 would have round face. Have to check my Mauser books.
Geoff
 
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The factory grinded bolt stop (en of the follower) wich allows to close the bolt on an empty magazine is also a characteristic of the M/1895.
 
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Who ever says ''bubba'd ''milsurps can't be absolutely gorgeous?-that is one fine rifle that anyone would be proud to own
 
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