Anybody an Early Mauser Expert? With Pictures

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cthor

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I recently acquired an early Mauser 1896 and am looking into the history of the rifle. It appears to be a cavalry carbine as it is an 18 inch barrel, and a sling loop ring. From what I can find most of the rifle versions are from the Boer War but it has no crest or markings on the receiver from either side and all other examples i've found are model 1895's however. It was made by Ludw Loewe and CO, Berlin and has a small mark under the serial number. All numbers are matching on the rifle and all the markings are shown in the pictures, and it is chambered in 7mm Mauser (7x57). Any information would be helpful.

Screenshot_2015-08-02-21-53-16_zpsannlaxr4.png.html


Screenshot_2015-08-02-21-53-56_zpswgjrvpqr.png.html


Screenshot_2015-08-02-21-53-38_zpsvunnzffh.png.html


20150722_210643_zpsgsya8zmq.jpg.html


20150722_210614_zpstkbupfau.jpg.html


20150722_191908_zpszfsniacz.jpg.html
 
Anybody an Early Mauser Expert?

I recently acquired an early Mauser 1896 and am looking into the history of the rifle. It appears to be a cavalry carbine as it is an 18 inch barrel, and a sling loop ring. From what I can find most of the rifle versions are from the Boer War but it has no crest or markings on the receiver from either side and all other examples i've found are model 1895's however. It was made by Ludw Loewe and CO, Berlin and has a small mark under the serial number. All numbers are matching on the rifle and all the markings are shown in the pictures, and it is chambered in 7mm Mauser (7x57). Any information would be helpful.

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/cthor1051/media/Screenshot_2015-08-02-21-53-16_zpsannlaxr4.png.html?sort=3&o=0

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/cthor1051/media/Screenshot_2015-08-02-21-53-56_zpswgjrvpqr.png.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/cthor1051/media/Screenshot_2015-08-02-21-53-38_zpsvunnzffh.png.html?sort=3&o=2

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/cthor1051/media/20150722_210643_zpsgsya8zmq.jpg.html?sort=3&o=6

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/cthor1051/media/20150722_210614_zpstkbupfau.jpg.html?sort=3&o=7

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/cthor1051/media/20150722_191908_zpszfsniacz.jpg.html?sort=3&o=9
 
1896 was maybe the date it was made. There is no model 1896 . Mauser models go 91 93 95 and 98. If it was a boer war gun it would be a model 93'. Can't say more till the pics are up.
 
In early 1897, Ludwig Loewe of Berlin - later to become DWM - filled out a contract for 2000 cavalry carbines for the ZAR - serials 5001-7000. No crests were applied as part of the contract details BUT, in order to identify them, they had a small cryptic cartouche on the left side of the lower part of the butt, about three inches up from the butt-plate. Additionally, the serial number was repeated on the wood, immediately below the one in the receiver. They were delivered to the ZAR at the end of August that year, and taken into service in Natal Province.

Mine is #6691, and was surrendered by Piet Huijsen - whose name is carved on the butt - when he was taken prisoner after the Battle of Korannafontein on May 10th 1901.

None of your pictures work for me, BTW.

PM me for any more details. Meanwhile - here is a pal shooting mine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ygxIdeTtdE - tac's guns on Youtube has a couple of hundred little movies like this.

tac
 
JTF# said:
1896 was maybe the date it was made. There is no model 1896 . Mauser models go 91 93 95 and 98. If it was a boer war gun it would be a model 93'. Can't say more till the pics are up.
Click to expand...

What about the Model 1894 and 1896 Mauser rifles designed by Mauser to specs required by Sweden?

They are not a Model 1893 or 1895 but do have some of their features and others these do not have.
 
cthor said:
Screenshot_2015-08-02-21-53-16_zpsannlaxr4.png.html


If that image didnt work here is the URL. Just copy it and open it in a new tab, all the pictures should be there. Thanks for the info tac. It does have the serial number on the stock right below the receiver, but it is missing the cartouche on the stock, and its serial is #2048.

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/c...8-02-21-53-16_zpsannlaxr4.png.html?sort=3&o=0
Click to expand...

Ah, OK - that cartouche and serial number set was just for the contract I mentioned. Yours is a good deal earlier, but still undoubtedly an African carbine.

IF you are going to shoot it, please note that it does NOT like modern spitzer [pointed] bullets - it was designed to shoot the long round-nosed 'pencil' bullet of 175gr. I have loading data if required.

Best

tac
 
mkrnel - yes there is a m/96 - the Mauser rifle designed for the Swedes at that date. Mine is a very early Carl Gustaf-made //96, serial #896.

That, too, is on Youtube = tac's guns swedish mauser.

tac
 
tacfoley;11789348 said:
bullets - it was designed to shoot the long round-nosed 'pencil' bullet of 175gr. I have loading data if required.

Best

tac
Click to expand...

How bad is it with spitzer bullets? I can find relatively cheap remmington core lokt 140gr rounds... Wouldnt even know where to start looking for 7mm RN 175gr.
 
tacfoley said:
mkrnel - yes there is a m/96 - the Mauser rifle designed for the Swedes at that date. Mine is a very early Carl Gustaf-made //96, serial #896.

That, too, is on Youtube = tac's guns swedish mauser.

tac
Click to expand...

That is a nice looking M96 Swede, the stock still locks almost like new, here is the video Tac was mentioning so others can see -

 
My Brazilian M1908's also seem to like the old Speer 175gr 7mm Grand Slam bullets a lot when shooting at the range, way more than any of the lighter weight bullets.

l_100010459_1.jpg
 
i hear what you are saying but yes the 1896 'swed' is only a variant. its like the mexican m1910. its just variant. its not a true model of mauser. the swed is a mod of the 1893.

mkrnel said:
What about the Model 1894 and 1896 Mauser rifles designed by Mauser to specs required by Sweden?

They are not a Model 1893 or 1895 but do have some of their features and others these do not have.
Click to expand...
 
JTF# said:
i hear what you are saying but yes the 1896 'swed' is only a variant. its like the mexican m1910. its just variant. its not a true model of mauser. the swed is a mod of the 1893.
Click to expand...

While not wanting to seem pedantic, that's like saying a model 1895 is a variant of a 1893 and not a separate model, BTW, all Mauser's are pretty much a variant of the previous model as Mauser just kept improving on the previous model and adding new features with each new model he brought out.

Or using the same thought process, that a M16A2 is a variant of a AR-15 and not a different model or that a Lee Enfield No.4 is only a variant of a Lee Enfield SMLE and not a different model.

The Swedes asked for improvements on the Model 1893 design with the Swedish Model 1894 Carbine and this is why they got new model and not a Model 1893 carbine which while looking similar is not the same.

The Mexican 1910 (which is a later manufactured Model 1902) has features different to all other Model 1898 rifles. It actually looks more like a Model 1895 with the same no pistol grip, straight stock, rear sight, bayonet nose cap etc.

It even has a small ring action but while it does have features of the Model 1898 in the bolt design a Model 1898 Mauser bolt and extractor will not fit in the Mexican Model 1910 action.
 
mkrnel - many thanks for that assistance, a beer is yours next time I'm home! In case anybody is wondering, my m/96 was refurbed in the usual manner in Carlsborg Arsenal in the late 30s, a new and blank disc was installed and the muzzle thread-cut for the BFA, and then it was forgotten. I got it off the wall of a collector who had owned it since the late 40s. The little sight you see is the very rare 'Wehrmann' precision peepsight, made between the wars in Germany for the purpose of target-shooting with a Mauser action centrefire. It simply locates on the bolt latch with a longer screw, and can be taken off without leaving a trace.

Back to the bullets - the problem with modern bullets is their very short bearing surface by comparison with older style bullets, so yes, the GS bullet may probably work well in your carbine, but it will not be anybody's pussycat to shoot. My problem is not a lack of GS bullets, but the fact that I'm prohibited from having them since here in yUK I only shoot paper. The dealer cannot sell them to me as my FAC is only for target shooting.

tac
 
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