Weird Port m937a Now with pics

desporterizer

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I picked up a weird Port contract mauser from the EE and this thing has me stumped. The rifle metalwork has been painted (under cosmo so its not recent), the rear sight has been blocked to rear no more than 400yrds, & the bolt shroud & safety have a 5 digit serial with no letter prefix. Has anybody ever heard of a variation like this? Pics will be forthcoming but I don't know whether to strip the paint or not.
 
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The full 5 digit serial applied to the bolt and shroud is correct. If it has a letter prefix that should be on the bolt root as well. How about some pics of the serials in question and of the rest of the gun?

I was just discussing the Port 937-A model with another member here a few days ago. They don't come up for sale as often as the 1941's or 937-B. I would be interested in seeing some pics.
 
The shroud and safety wouldn't have the letter prefix on them. They never put the letter prefix on small parts as far as I know.

Not too sure on the paint. I can't imagine it was applied by the Portuguese though.

How is the rear sight blocked?
 
A blob of weld doesn't sound official.

I can't say I've seen 5 digits applied to a safety or shrould. Are those parts waffenamt marked? On a 37 contract they should be.

I've not heard of any mausers being painted during any type of refurb.

Pics of the enitre rifle would help.
 
As per Karabiner 98k, Port 937-A's had all 5 digits applied to all bolt components. Obviously this practice was dropped later on.

The blob of weld has to be some sort of bubba mod for whatever reason. I can't see that being an "official" modification.
 
What they should look like-

M937 at the top, (made in 1937), and 2 M941 Portuguese K98's (made in 1941), note the change from flat to cupped buttplate in 1941. Also note the differences between the M937 and M941's (sight hood, band, no sling slot...):

 
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I just talked with my gf's uncle who served in the Portuguese military in the 60s. He was an above average marksmen, and never saw a sight limited in such a manner, and he trained extensively on the K98K. Bring my matching port to show him brought a tear to his eye, he loved it.
 
Thanks. I have one more 1941 that is unfired and mint, just haven't found the time to take pics. Maybe when the snow starts!
 
Well be sure to post that up! I'd love to see it. The mint Ports are outstanding examples of the high quality workmanship and materials used by Mauser Oberndorf in the early years. I hope to own one like that some day.
 
The m/m cocking piece and shroud are early MO made parts and since they have all 5 digits, I would say they are off another 937-A.

Cool Port Desporterizer! Looking forward to some more pics.

Are those the only m/m parts?
 
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I'd restore that Port 1937...I wonder why someone put a soder bit on the rear sight ?

It looks like she has German commercial proof marks as well, very interesting.
 
Coyote Ugly mentioned that German law requires the rear sights to be limited to a certain range. With the German commercial proofs on it, it makes sense that this Port went through Germany at some point. Post war that is.;)
 
Coyote Ugly mentioned that German law requires the rear sights to be limited to a certain range. With the German commercial proofs on it, it makes sense that this Port went through Germany at some point. Post war that is.;)

I have had a few rifle with similar proofs that did not have the sight blocked. Maybe it was used by "tribal allies" of the Portuguese and they wanted to make sure they could not shoot at their former benefactors at long range?
 
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