Boer War Mauser. Looking for Research Help.

[The_Red_Rabbit]

Hello CGN,

Picked up a few Mausers back in July. Looking for some info on this ZAR Mauser.

The rifle is all matching and was part of the A block shipment to the ZAR.

Now, I have spent sometime researching the former owner. As you can see, it is marked W. Skinner, Pretoria, ZAR.

From Anglo Boer War Museum, I found the record of Marthinus Jacobus Wessel Skinner. He was the son of William Skinner. Born 22/3/1862 in Pretoria and was captured by the British in 1901. Sent to Portugal as a POW.
He died on 9/2/1939 in Mooiplaas.

Going back to the rifle, is it safe to assume that Marthinus Jacobus Wessel Skinner marked his rifle W. Skinner? Or is it reasonable to believe this was a different person?

Thanks in advance!

 

[fredqc]

Very nice!

 

[MiG25]

Google-fu seems to indicate that Marthinus Jacobus Wessel Skinner had a brother named William Roland Skinner born 1865.

Nice rifle.

 

[Winchester-1897]

Marked for interest

 

[Potashminer]

You probably want to reach out to Dave George, in Australia. He has published three books - "Carvings from the Veldt". Seems to be "the guy" when it comes to Boer war mausers, their carved stocks, and searching for former owner's families. I found him through Milsurp site - matchmaking service in the stickies - almost mandatory that a genuine boer mauser does not have a matching bolt serial number - their matchmaking service is trying to match up bolts and rifles, where ever in the world they might be.

In his volume three he lists a rifle within 50 of yours - and to prove the "rule" by exception, he also lists the matching bolt for it. He was very quick to respond regarding the one I own. He is keenly interested in collecting the numbers, and has a history of tracking down current living descendants to marked Boer mauser original owners. Well worth your while to email him with what you have. PM to me if you can not PM him on Milsurps site.

 

[Forty4Forty]

These are interesting books, and the author (Dave George) would I assume love photos of your rifle. www.amazon.com/CARVINGS-VELDT-Three-David-George/dp/B07MBCFN7D.

Also "Small Arms of the Anglo-Boer war, by Ron Bester https://www.amazon.com/Small-Arms-Anglo-Boer-War-1899-1902/dp/1874979316

That one you have would round off my little collection, of OVS, and Unmarked.

You tube: https://youtu.be/bjSShy_Yr3U

 

[zyh9479]

Very nice historical collection. Thank you for sharing！