A family friend, an older fellow with some African experience, has had me sell a few of his guns off in the last couple of years. He doesn't shoot anymore and needs the cash. They were all European sporting rifles of various types...but now some of his military stuff has surfaced (I really wonder where he hides them all....no guns are apparent in his little house). I don't know what these are worth and could do with some advice because I am asuming they are worth more than a regular Mauser of the type....they are Mauser 95's in 7x57, condition is good but not more than good...there are two and they are both marked OVS on the left side of the receiver ring (which I understand from him stands for Orange Free State) plus a bunch of other stamps and markings...the exceptional thing is, the wood on both is heavily carved with spirals and flowery patterns and one has two slogans carved on it as well...in German (Afrikans?)...I don't know much about the Boer War, except that my great (great-great?) uncle, a Brit officer, got knocked off by a Boer sniper when he went to light his pipe inside his tent at night. Does all this carving increase the value? (I think it should)...How does one know if it was done by a Boer? (I assume it was because of the language)...is there any reference book/value guide to Boer Mausers...one is a rifle and the other some sort of carbine....I will be doing some research but I don't have a lot of time right now so if any of you fellows are Boer Mauser experts, let me know your opinion or tell me where I can find more Boer Mauser information. . I'll try to get photos in the next few days...If I don't manage this, it'll have to wait until January when I get back from Alberta. Please, understand that these guns are not really for sale right now...I want to get some sort of research done and get some sort of price range...then I'll be offering them for sale (for him). I don't make a dime on guns I sell for him.
Boer Mauser info needed
- Thread starter Rob
- Start date
Hi Rob.... 
I currently own a beautiful "B" series 1896 Lowe Mauser that used to be in the CMI collection. Boer War authenticated Mausers (usually by serial #) with carved markings and even better, some kind of provenance, can sell from $700 to $1200 Cdn. That's the range I've seen them in, but I have seen the odd one advertised on U.S. gun auctions for ridiculous prices higher than that. It usually doesn't sell and often doesn't come around again in the same auction house.
In my opinion, the best work on the subject of Boer War guns is "Small Arms of the Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902" by Dr. Ron Bester and Associates. I have a copy that I bought from John Denner & Co (click here)http://www.denner.ca/ , but I thought that John Wall in an old 2003 Gunboards post summed it up nicely.
Hope this helps.......
Regards,
Badger
I currently own a beautiful "B" series 1896 Lowe Mauser that used to be in the CMI collection. Boer War authenticated Mausers (usually by serial #) with carved markings and even better, some kind of provenance, can sell from $700 to $1200 Cdn. That's the range I've seen them in, but I have seen the odd one advertised on U.S. gun auctions for ridiculous prices higher than that. It usually doesn't sell and often doesn't come around again in the same auction house.
In my opinion, the best work on the subject of Boer War guns is "Small Arms of the Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902" by Dr. Ron Bester and Associates. I have a copy that I bought from John Denner & Co (click here)http://www.denner.ca/ , but I thought that John Wall in an old 2003 Gunboards post summed it up nicely.
Hope this helps.......
Regards,
Badger
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Sorry to hear of your great-great unlce! it might have been one of my family members that knocked him off! About the carvings. I think boer war mausers with carvings should demand premium, especially is they are intricate, which by the sounds of it, are. Also, I believe OVS mausers are more desireable, as ZAR mausers are not marked. And you are correct, OVS stands for Oranje Vrystaat. The carvings in the wood is not in Afrikaans, but probably a bastardised version or pure dutch(Afrikaans was only formally adopted a few decades after . PICS of the carvings would be just fantastic, as I will be able to translate it for you. These are real treasures, and it is a shame that the government in South Africa is folowing suite with so many other democracies and destroying firearms. really peeves me off! BadgerDog has the right idea when he listed the price.
Well sorry to hear about your uncle too, might have been my great-great grand pappy.
When you are done with your research I would be more than interested to buy that rifle.
just PM me.
BTW. a good read would be the book by Thomas Packenham "The Boer war"
There is a book on mil mausers and have seen ZAR and OVS rifles listed unfortunately I can't remember the author.
"Commando" By Col. Deneys Reitz.
If you need any help with translation PM me
When you are done with your research I would be more than interested to buy that rifle.
just PM me.
BTW. a good read would be the book by Thomas Packenham "The Boer war"
There is a book on mil mausers and have seen ZAR and OVS rifles listed unfortunately I can't remember the author.
"Commando" By Col. Deneys Reitz.
If you need any help with translation PM me
Boer Seun... I made the mistake one day, when talking to a South African on my ham radio, of mentioning the Boer war... he was quite upset and he said "we call it the ENGLISH war of aggression down here".
It made me think... I believe he is right!
It made me think... I believe he is right!
The old folks used to be pretty peeved at the English, My own Gradfather used to go to an English school and university but to this day refuses to speak english to anyone if they understand Afrikaans!!
It is the enemy's language he says.
Most people now days say Boer war instead of "english war"
It's mostly the old timers that use english war.
Either way I can't see why he got upset (musta been some loonetic)
Yes it was a war of aggression, the Transvaal would not give "uitlanders" forrengers the vote, that was the reason Brittain gave but it was only aboyt the Transvaals gold mines.
The free-state rep. had a treaty with the TVL that it would fight with them if they went to war.
My own great-great grand fathers fought in the war and I have some artefacts that he made while a POW in st. Helena all of them dated 1902 so he must have been a "bitter einder" guys who fought to the bitter end.
Send some pic's on the rifle you have I would love to see the inscriptions on it.
And like I said when you know how much you want for it PLEEEZZZZe let me know first.
Kind Regards
Johan Malan
It is the enemy's language he says.
Most people now days say Boer war instead of "english war"
It's mostly the old timers that use english war.
Either way I can't see why he got upset (musta been some loonetic)
Yes it was a war of aggression, the Transvaal would not give "uitlanders" forrengers the vote, that was the reason Brittain gave but it was only aboyt the Transvaals gold mines.
The free-state rep. had a treaty with the TVL that it would fight with them if they went to war.
My own great-great grand fathers fought in the war and I have some artefacts that he made while a POW in st. Helena all of them dated 1902 so he must have been a "bitter einder" guys who fought to the bitter end.
Send some pic's on the rifle you have I would love to see the inscriptions on it.
And like I said when you know how much you want for it PLEEEZZZZe let me know first.
Kind Regards
Johan Malan
Interesting site and thanks!Boer seun said:
I know why Canada was involved in the Boer war... at that time, it was "automatic" to go along with "mother England". But I can see that it was an incursion into another country based solely on gold (although as you say the politicians argued otherwise).
And yes the man I spoke to on the ham radio, it was back in '79 as I recall, I was a teenager and was a fairly new ham radio operator, he did sound like a much older man on the radio. And in fact he did have a noticeable Afrikaner accent, I remember it to this day.
However making contact with ANY ham in Africa was very desireable (even today), since most of the continent is ruled by dictators/communists or any other kind of despots you would like to dream up. The "dark continent" is an apt title. Back then, RSA and Rhodesia (remember them?) were about the only countries in which hams operated. I don't think it has changed much to this day (although of course Zimbabwe has gone down the toilet under the madman Mugabe... I had distant relatives living in Salisbury when I was a kid, don't know whatever happened to them after Ian Smith relinquished power. I still have my Rhodesian flag they sent me in the mail).
In Africa the "ordinary citizen" is either too poor or cannot be trusted with a radio capable of talking to the outside world.
Small Arms Of The Anglo-boer War 1899-1902
Hi Rob
The Boer War Mauser is verry interesting. I would like to see what you come up with on the two Mauser's. I printed the information from Abebooks about who has one of these books in stock. John Denner has one:
SMALL ARMS OF THE ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902
Bester, Ron and Associates
Bookseller: John C. Denner Co.
(North Lancaster, ON, Canada) Price: US$ 145.82
[Convert Currency] Shipping within Canada:
US$ 4.49
[Rates & Speeds]
Book Description: A comprehensive study of all rifles, carbines, handguns and edged weapons used by the opposing forces during the Anglo-Boer War. This book has been long awaited, printed in South Africa, and finally here. Hard Cover. 385 pages. Standard Edition. Published in 2003. B&W photos. Many Colour photos. Bookseller Inventory # 4516
Albayo
Hi Rob
The Boer War Mauser is verry interesting. I would like to see what you come up with on the two Mauser's. I printed the information from Abebooks about who has one of these books in stock. John Denner has one:
SMALL ARMS OF THE ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902
Bester, Ron and Associates
Bookseller: John C. Denner Co.
(North Lancaster, ON, Canada) Price: US$ 145.82
[Convert Currency] Shipping within Canada:
US$ 4.49
[Rates & Speeds]
Book Description: A comprehensive study of all rifles, carbines, handguns and edged weapons used by the opposing forces during the Anglo-Boer War. This book has been long awaited, printed in South Africa, and finally here. Hard Cover. 385 pages. Standard Edition. Published in 2003. B&W photos. Many Colour photos. Bookseller Inventory # 4516
Albayo
Nee ek was nog nie daar nie (kom van die Noord Transvaal af)
Maar sal vir seker daar om gaan sodra ek weer in SA is.
Sask is bietjie "chilli" maar nie so erg nie, darm baie son-skyn.
I can help out with that Boer hat Al Flipo.
Maar sal vir seker daar om gaan sodra ek weer in SA is.
Sask is bietjie "chilli" maar nie so erg nie, darm baie son-skyn.
I can help out with that Boer hat Al Flipo.
eks van die oos-kaap My pa kom van die Frystaat, en my ma van die Karoo. n' mens moet rerig die moeite doen om na die monument te gaan, did is rerig its. Dis net jammer so min mense gaan nou daarna toe. Ek is nog I jonge(maak hierdie jaar klaar met skool) maar baie min kinners weet van hulle geskiedenis nou dat geskiedenis nie meer n' vak in die skole is nie.
Al flipo. ill keep it in mind!
My pa kom van die Frystaat, en my ma van die Karoo. n' mens moet rerig die moeite doen om na die monument te gaan, did is rerig its. Dis net jammer so min mense gaan nou daarna toe. Ek is nog I jonge(maak hierdie jaar klaar met skool) maar baie min kinners weet van hulle geskiedenis nou dat geskiedenis nie meer n' vak in die skole is nie.Al flipo. ill keep it in mind!
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I can't tell you values but Boer 7mm rifles are well known for the carvings in the stock.
Boer commandos bought their own rifles from the OVS Govt who shipped them in and sold them at reasonable prices.
They then personalised them to a greater or lesser extent and most featured markings that indicated the owner, their home town and squad.
There were some fine sporting rifles bought by the wealthy among the standard M95s but most were the military article.
As you are probably already aware the Boers were far better soldiers, marksmen & horsemen than the English regulars & they only found their equal in the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian soldiers who were dragged into the conflict, mainly because the "colonials" lived similar lives on the land.
It was the tactics of the Boers and the capabilities of the 7x57 M95 that made Britain painfully aware that it was time they issued all of their soldiers with long range accurate repeating rifles and modern ammunition.
It was also their experience in the Boer war that led to the development of the .276 Enfield and the Pattern 13 rifle, which would later become the P14 and ultimately, the M17.
And it bears mentioning that Britain invented the concentration camp during the conflict and used it to win, in the process killing many innocent Boer women, children and elderly.
Boer commandos bought their own rifles from the OVS Govt who shipped them in and sold them at reasonable prices.
They then personalised them to a greater or lesser extent and most featured markings that indicated the owner, their home town and squad.
There were some fine sporting rifles bought by the wealthy among the standard M95s but most were the military article.
As you are probably already aware the Boers were far better soldiers, marksmen & horsemen than the English regulars & they only found their equal in the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian soldiers who were dragged into the conflict, mainly because the "colonials" lived similar lives on the land.
It was the tactics of the Boers and the capabilities of the 7x57 M95 that made Britain painfully aware that it was time they issued all of their soldiers with long range accurate repeating rifles and modern ammunition.
It was also their experience in the Boer war that led to the development of the .276 Enfield and the Pattern 13 rifle, which would later become the P14 and ultimately, the M17.
And it bears mentioning that Britain invented the concentration camp during the conflict and used it to win, in the process killing many innocent Boer women, children and elderly.
well said kombi. I just visited the "vroue monument" or women's monument in south africa last year. I believe my great great grandmother died there, along with 3 of her children. it is a travesty that has gone very unnoticed.
p.s.
Im sure if it wawsnt for scortched earth, and the camps, the brits would have lost immensley. they just happened to outnumber the boers by hundreds of thousands of souldiers. i believe they literally swept the whole country with a line of men at one time, eacg spaced a mile or two apart(this was close to the end)
p.s.
Im sure if it wawsnt for scortched earth, and the camps, the brits would have lost immensley. they just happened to outnumber the boers by hundreds of thousands of souldiers. i believe they literally swept the whole country with a line of men at one time, eacg spaced a mile or two apart(this was close to the end)
Hoe lank is julle al hier?
Ek is self maar n jongeling (22) maar dis waar wat jy sê oor die geskiedenis.
Dis die ANC se manier om van die Boer n 2de rangse burger te maak!
Jou en my kinders sal tien teen een Kanadose wees maar moet nooit dat hulle nie weet waar hulle van daan kom of wat hulle geskiedenis is nie.
Wees Trots Boer
Don't you know?Boer seun said:
You see it was those "demmed colonials" and the British regarded it as stabilising a rogue part of the empire.
As such one doesn't criticise a superpower's methods on their own patch.
But Hitler deliberately tried to kill an entire race, where as for the Brits it was just a happy coincidence.
Remember we are talking about a nation that gave their highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, to an officer because he shot some of his own who wouldn't obey his suicidal orders.
