Boer Mauser?

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I picked this Mauser up recently at a Duncan,BC. show from a CGN member and all around "good guy". I know a thing or two about Mausers, but looking for advice on this one. From what I can tell from Ball's 4th addition Mauser book (page 441 section #4), I think it fits the description. Ball describes it as one of the 37,000 Model 1895's that were purchased by Z.A.R. prior to the Boer War. What puzzles me is the "square chin" bolt-face like a Model 1893when I read that the Model 1895 had a round bolt-face. Mine is clearly squared (flat) on bottom and is original to this rifle. Who knows, anyway, would like to hear your thoughts. Also notice the initials D U in the butt and also a faint name scratched into the butt, looks like TE Poolev or Poulev. Very typical practice of the Boers. Either way, it's a really interesting old boy I thought I'd share with you folks. Hope to get some better pics when the light is better. I plan to clean and oil it but otherwise leave "as-is". Shame that their doesnt appear to be a list of Boer volunteers who served, but guess that wouldnt have been a popular practice at the time.
Cheers
Geoff
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Some had Orange Free State O.F.S. stamped on them and various custom soldier carvings/girlfriends names/dates of enlistment..........etc......Harold
 
I have the same big reference book and find something new everytime I open it. Like, did you know Haiti ordered Mausers?
 
Mausers

Yeah what a waste of a Mauser eh? Haitian Mauser pics I've seen were beat to crap. Ok, now back to my Boer Mauser question, anyone know of any good books on the conflict that concentrate on the weapons and the Boers that used them?
Cheers
Geoff
 
Winston Churchill wrote about the Boer War, just how neutral do you want the story!? The bibliography on the Boer War is good, but getting harder to find. Most of the early books will be 100 yrs old by now, so their themes will be traditional English-language imperialism. The South Africans have a long history, and without a doubt will have some excellant reads.
 
The War Museum in Ottawa has a Boer Mauser. Looks like a 95. They have it labelled as a '96.

I have a Spanish Mauser with a flat bottom bolt. It looks just like yours. This means that it an early 93. Your stock is distictive. Either the book has the model number wrong or the '93 rifle was put in an other stock at some point. Given how stocks get broken all the time, this is quite possible.

The Spanish 93 Mauser quickly changed from a flat bottom lip to a round bolt and no subsequent mauser had this feature. A regular 93 and 95 are almost identical. The difference is that the round bolt 93 Mausers have a bolt vent hole about a half inch back from the bolt face.

Some 95s (and only the 95s) have a small safety lug on the receiver (yours does not) just behind the bolt shaft.
 
mystery Mauser

Agree Ganderite, lack of the extra lug behind bolt-root would make it more '93 AS for stock, it is serialed to the gun so not a replacement. Absolutely no Spanish markings of any kind, only German. Book says German made for Spain 93's had a small tree under stock serial number. Mine does not have this sign. Also serial number has no letter prefix. It's a mystery for sure.
Cheers
Geoff
 
PM me , I have a Boer War book that was written in the 70's which is great. It looks at both sides and even includes opinion from the british homefront and has no problem laying blame at the feet of some of those in charge of the stupidity that happened.
 
TE Poolev or Poulev
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That almost sounds Russian to me... It would be very cool if it were!
It is true that there were Russian volunteers fighting for the Boers (as well as Irish, French, American, German and Dutch and also a lot of Jews of various nationalities)

I am the proud owner of a Boer War M95 which was used by an Irishman and was apparently taken back to Ireland to fight the Brits there.
 
On the Boer mauser, there were three batches I believe made 10,000, in each, some marked, OVS, ZAR and no markings. They are referred to as the model 1895,1896,1897 and are supposed to be different from the Spanish Modelo 1893. plus, a small number of 1895 carbines., The one you have photographs looks like the ones with no markings, it points to a Boer as there is a circle stamp mark and the bold that seems to have no explication to date. Both mine have the square bolts, an OVS and non-marked. As someone mentioned some OVS ended up in Chile also a good find. A good book not just the Boer war but covers a lot, is ‘Ashes and Blood’ The British army in South Africa 1975-1914, Peter B Boyden, Alan J Guy,& Marion Harding. A big heavy book.

In Ashes to Blood the arms they have used by the Boers:

Mauser Model 1896, photo with turned down bolt.
Winchester Model 1873 Rifle, 44/40
Portuguese 8mm Guedes Rifle
Mauser Model 1896 carbine.
Krag-Jorensen 6.5mm
Wesley Richards Martini Action .45 1897
Lee Enfield Carbine Mk 1. .303
Lee Metford MkII .303.

There was also a post some where on CGN on a short barrel round butt Webley Mark II this shown under the British weapons, in .455

MauserOFS.jpg
 
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Boer

Definitive book on Boer arms is " Small Arms of the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902" by Ron Bester a great grandson of a Boer combatant. This book deals with Boer arms. Detailed chapters on Mauser, Guedes, Krag and Martini as well as pistols, ammo and edged weapons. Shows technical details of arms and how to identify a Boer item. Describes Boer trials of arms and gives details of contracts. Also covers British arms and ammo. 386 pages, hundreds of illustrations 9 1/4" by 12 1/4".
Best book on Boer arms ever.
 
Mauser

Thanks for all the replies so far. I also figured it to be one of the 10,000 95/96/97's mentioned on page 441 4th Ball book. As it has no letter prefix or crest, Spanish, Chilean or other. The square chin bolt and lack of third lug technically make it a '93 though doesnt it? Seems all 93's I've seen in books had letter prefix serial numbers and were somehow marked to another country. Mine has only German markings plus the stock is serialled to the gun. It's a mystery for sure. I'll definetly have to get one of the books mentioned.
Thanks to all again.
Cheers
Geoff
 
looks like TE Poolev or Poulev
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Not a Boer Surname or first name. Could be Polish or Russian but there was not as many Russians or Poles as there was say Germans, and Hollanders. Which opens it up even more as to where did it come from.
Any other markings or carvings?
Read the book Commando by Deneys Reitz. The best first hand account of the war.
 
Bolt

The Spanish 93 Mauser quickly changed from a flat bottom lip to a round bolt and no subsequent mauser had this feature. A regular 93 and 95 are almost identical. The difference is that the round bolt 93 Mausers have a bolt vent hole about a half inch back from the bolt face.

The Spanish M1916 short rifle had a flat bottom on the bolt face, like the '93. Also, many Boer Mausers don't really fit the description of either a '93 or '95, because they were actually hybrids using parts from both models.
 
GANDERITE said:
The Spanish 93 Mauser quickly changed from a flat bottom lip to a round bolt and no subsequent mauser had this feature. A regular 93 and 95 are almost identical. The difference is that the round bolt 93 Mausers have a bolt vent hole about a half inch back from the bolt face.
Click to expand...

how quickly? i have a spanish mauser made at oveido in 1909 with matching bolt and it has the flat bolt.
 
The DWM catalogue c1896 shows the bolt with a round face. All Boer Mausers I have examined , both Loewe and DWM have the square face. The rifle In the DWM catalogue is listed as a Model 1893-95.
The Loewe rifles were stamped MOD MAUSER 1896.
 
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