Gentleman, I am new to this site. I am having difficulty trying to determine what kind of military rifle I inherited. It has a stock all the way up the barrel to about 6 inches from the end of the barrel, it has a bayonet on the end which is detachable. The info on the left side of the barrel says made in berlin, top of the barrel has a code of arms stating brazil 1889, right side says mod.1908. It has no other markings other than matching serial numbers. Do I need to take the gun apart to find the rest of the info. My dad purchased the rifle when I was young. It was packed in grease and came with the factory 5 shot target ( I'm guessing that was what the factory did ) It has never been fired. It was mounted on the wall for years and is in near mint condition. Is there any advice you can give me ? Cheers
World War 2 Rifle
- Thread starter agile
- Start date
That's almost certainly, a DWM manufactured 'contract Mauser', Brazilian Model 1908. Many South American, central European, and Middle Eastern countries had no arms manufacturing industries, so bought their weapons in from German (Mauser and DWM), Austrian (Steyr) makers. After WW1 when Germany / Austria were stripped of their arms industries by the allies, this function moved to FN (Belgium) and CZ/BRNO (Czechoslovakia).
DWM was Deutche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken, a merger of Ludwig Loewe and others, and in turn taken over by Mauser in due course. It was based in Berlin and made Mauser rifles under licence. Such small / medium sized armies' work was very lucrative and the manufacturers would make considerable numbers of modifications to suit customers' requirements and whims, so stocking, calibres, sling and stacking swivel positions, and especially sights varied between models, although they were all based on standard German / Austrian designs, primarily the M1889 Belgian rifle, M1893 Spanish, and M1898 German service rifle models depending on when ordered. Customers demanded and received very high standards of manufacturing precision and overall metal and woodwork finish, and national crests were usually incorporated into the action front reciever ring.
Unsurprisingly, those rifles ordered after 1900 were all based on the latest German model, the Gewehr 98, or M1898 as it's often called, until the AK47 appeared, the most manufactured and copied rifle in existence and the zenith of the late 19th, early 20th Century bolt-action rifle design. The M1908 was a modified G98 retaining its action, straight-out bolt handle, and long barrel, but with a tangent rearsight replacing the complex 'Lange' model of the German model. It was made in 7X57mm calibre, a cartridge originally developed by Mauser in 1892 for Spain, and widely used by several South American countries (by Brazil until the 1960s including in FAL assult rifles). Alongside the long rifle, there was a short rifle, and even shorter cavalry carbine also in 7X57mm.
7X57mm ammo is still widely available as are components for handloading, so your M1908 is still 100% serviceable if its bore is good. It's also a popular shooter / collector piece, and while not incredibly valuable will command a fair price if mint. Large numbers were imported into the USA as surplus rifles in the 1980s / 90s. They are rare in the UK as we saw very few come our way and people ask £700 - £900 here for a good one, but I'd imagine they're a lot cheaper in North America. Havcing an original bayonet (and sling if that's there too) enhances its value to collectors.
If you want to find out more on the rifle, there are many excellent textbooks on Mausers, and you can look up the M1908 Brazilian Mauser on Wikipedia etc. If you want to shoot it, have it checked out by a gunsmith and you can buy factory hunting ammunition in the calibre without too much trouble, several firms still producing it.
You have an interesting piece of history there - well worth hanging onto IMO.
DWM was Deutche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken, a merger of Ludwig Loewe and others, and in turn taken over by Mauser in due course. It was based in Berlin and made Mauser rifles under licence. Such small / medium sized armies' work was very lucrative and the manufacturers would make considerable numbers of modifications to suit customers' requirements and whims, so stocking, calibres, sling and stacking swivel positions, and especially sights varied between models, although they were all based on standard German / Austrian designs, primarily the M1889 Belgian rifle, M1893 Spanish, and M1898 German service rifle models depending on when ordered. Customers demanded and received very high standards of manufacturing precision and overall metal and woodwork finish, and national crests were usually incorporated into the action front reciever ring.
Unsurprisingly, those rifles ordered after 1900 were all based on the latest German model, the Gewehr 98, or M1898 as it's often called, until the AK47 appeared, the most manufactured and copied rifle in existence and the zenith of the late 19th, early 20th Century bolt-action rifle design. The M1908 was a modified G98 retaining its action, straight-out bolt handle, and long barrel, but with a tangent rearsight replacing the complex 'Lange' model of the German model. It was made in 7X57mm calibre, a cartridge originally developed by Mauser in 1892 for Spain, and widely used by several South American countries (by Brazil until the 1960s including in FAL assult rifles). Alongside the long rifle, there was a short rifle, and even shorter cavalry carbine also in 7X57mm.
7X57mm ammo is still widely available as are components for handloading, so your M1908 is still 100% serviceable if its bore is good. It's also a popular shooter / collector piece, and while not incredibly valuable will command a fair price if mint. Large numbers were imported into the USA as surplus rifles in the 1980s / 90s. They are rare in the UK as we saw very few come our way and people ask £700 - £900 here for a good one, but I'd imagine they're a lot cheaper in North America. Havcing an original bayonet (and sling if that's there too) enhances its value to collectors.
If you want to find out more on the rifle, there are many excellent textbooks on Mausers, and you can look up the M1908 Brazilian Mauser on Wikipedia etc. If you want to shoot it, have it checked out by a gunsmith and you can buy factory hunting ammunition in the calibre without too much trouble, several firms still producing it.
You have an interesting piece of history there - well worth hanging onto IMO.
Thanx , We are a german family and my Dad grew up during war times and I think he just wanted a momento of the war. I really don't have any interest in the rifle. Would like to sell it at our next gun show here in Calgary. I am a hunter but to carry this rifle all day long, forget it, it weighs a lot. I commend the soldiers who carried this rifle day after day. I think it would be a nice addition to a collector. I don't have the strap, all I have is the bayonet and the factory target under glass. The info that you have provided really helps a lot you seem to know a lot on this stuff. Thankyou
droid1963
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Do a lot of research and post pics in the Milsurp forum, so you don't sell it ior less than it is worth.
droid1963
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
^^^link to milsurps forum:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/75-Milsurp
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/75-Milsurp
droid1963
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
^^^ posting your photos:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/198167-Tutorial-How-to-Post-Pictures
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/198167-Tutorial-How-to-Post-Pictures
Not a fan of the old man? I am sure as hell aint a fan of my dad but I would never sell the firearms that were passed onto to me from him. That is sacrilegious imo. I never use half of them and never will but they are well taken care of and they will be passed onto my son and daughter.
brazilian model 1908 made by DWM berlin. one of the finest rifles ever made. assuming matching bayonet and test target (and minty condition), probably worth around $1000. personally i'd keep it. the last one came off the line 100 years ago. and it is a far better rifle than anything else you can get for a thousand bucks.
Understated.
I remember it was Century , I think , that brought these into Canada in the mid 70's, they were unissued, still wrapped, factory test target and muzzle guard and bayonet. The price was about $185 if I recall, used to get their flyer in the mail. I got a hold of one of these slightly used a few years later , everything except the target, shoots great. Could be one of the Brazilian 1908's from that shipment by the sounds of it.
To the guys that have been helpful on the info of this rifle, Thankyou. I am not a collector of these firearms, I think it would be a nice addition to some ones collection who would appreciate it more. My dad left me firearms when he passed, and I have passed some of them on to my son which he loves. This rifle needs to be displayed, it does not belong in a gun safe collecting dust. I am thinking of donating it to a museum or selling it. Now to the guy who said it was sacrilegious to sell it. My dad always said if your not going to use it, get rid of it!
With respect, I tend to agree with your dad's position. I could be wrong but I don't believe a museum here would be interested in such a rifle, so to honour your fathers wishes, sell it to someone who will shoot the rifle or who collects them. Who knows it may fill a hole in someone's collection? Post in on the Equipment Exchange (EE) as a WTS or if you are interested in something a "Wanted to Trade" WTT add may bear fruit.
