Boer War Mauser?

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maxim08

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Hello all,
I am hoping that someone can offer advise as to the identification of a rifle. I do not have attachment privileges at this time so I hope that my descriptive abilities are up to snuff.

The gun in question is a Mauser action carbine.

Embossed on the right side of the stock is:
line 1: U.F.S MARX
line 2: Z.A.R.

Over all length is 37.5", only marginally longer than an M1 carbine.
Barrel length approx 19" from breech face to muzzle
s/n 5461
On the left side of the receiver adjacent to the bolt it reads: Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken.
There is a round cartouche to the left of the s/n on the breech. The same s/n is on the bottom of the mag azine floor plate. The number is repeated on the top of he bolt handle with the same cartouche on the ball end of the handle.
The cartouche appears to be a stylised, script e and b within a circle.
There are no markings or signs of grinding off markings above the breech.
I do not know the caliber but I estimate 7mm. (A 7.62 will not fit much less a 7.92)

The gun has a bayonet lug, blade site with no guard, left side sling attachments.

I understand that ZAR is an acronym in Afrikan for 'south african reublic'.

I will venture a guess that this is a cavalry carbine of some type.


(Click PIC to Enlarge)


(Click PIC to Enlarge)


(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Can anyone offer any insight?

Regards,

Maxim08
 
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Sure sounds like it. Somewhere there is a database of the serials of officially purchased Boer Mausers.
 
ZAR was the old Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek and OFS would be Orange free state, What puzzles me is that it should read OVS oranje vrijstaat spelled with a V.
There is a book that may help you written by a author named Bester about these guns. Also PM F_soldaten.
He may be able to give you some more advice.
Now if you ever decide to sell this gun and it turns out to be a real Boer war rifle
let me know!
 
As above the ZAR (Afrikaans), the U.F.S. Marx sounds odd, maybe a regiment ID, or it has been used after the war, I hear some ended up in Island, would not be on OVS that usually does not have marx after. The SN in correct range, matching bolt lucky, the circle logo is also correct, according to the book on mausers no one has a clue what it is but all the boer mausers have it, both mine a OVS and numeric both have this mark.

Working from memory as books packed, 4 sets of sn's A1-A10000,B1-B10000,C1-C10000,1-10000 yours would be in last batch.

Caliber 7mm mauser.

(Rooinek)
 
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UFS Marx Sounds like a name, sorry I thought you wrote OFS.
Just cant think what the first name would be spelled with a U. "Ulrich"?
F and S has a number of possibilities
 
Thanks to all for the responses. I have sent a few photos to Badger for hosting. They're not great but I hope that they give a sense of what is there.
This gun has been refinsihed, probably in the late 1960s. The metal has perfect looking blueing and the wood has an unfortunate gloss to it.
I believe that it was bought in Africa in 1961.
If you would like better/other photos, let me know.
Regards,
Maxim08
 
Pics now added to first post in thread........ :)

In my opinion, this is a DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken) Boer War Mauser carbine, one of 2,000 ordered from them under the 3rd contract dated April 20th, 1897, which also called for an additional 8,000 long rifles.

It was shipped (along with its brother rifles) on Aug 28th, 1897 on the ship "Europa" and accepted in Pretoria on October 7th, 1897.

The serial number range for these DWM Mauser carbines ran from #5001 to 7000 and the serial number of your rifle is #5461, which of course, falls into the correct range.

The caliber of both carbines and long rifles manufactured by Lowe and DWM was 7 x 57mm.

BTW, as you've probably guessed, "bubba" hurt the collector value with his re-finishing handiwork, but it is still a beautiful piece of Boer War history with the owners initials carved in the stock.

Hope this helps....

Regards,
Badger

EDIT:
Source of data: "Small Arms of the Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902" by Dr. Ron Bester and Associates.
I purchased my copy from John Denner & Co.
 
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