Early Mauser Oberndorf commercial sporter.

jbmauser

jbmauser

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Mauser Oberndorf
Grabbed this off the EE for dirt cheap. I had no idea what it was exactly as I don't collect these and there were a limited amount of fuzzy, poorly lit pics but it looked neat and said "Mauser Oberndorf" on it so I had to have it.

From the research I've done, the serial number puts it in 1900 production. According to Jon Speed's book only 385 hunting rifles were sold by MO during that year. It has some confusing features like the Gew98 side rail marking but no date on the receiver. Everything down to the screws match and it has a decent bore. It's also the first M98 I've ever handled with the early firing pin and small gas vents in the bolt. I need to give it a good cleaning yet and figure out exactly what it's chambered in and the bore diameter. Pretty sure it's 8x57 and it chambers dummy rounds but I would like to make sure with a chamber casting and slugging of the bore.

It's a real shame bubba got his hands on the rear receiver bridge and ejector box, I have no idea what he was trying to accomplish there. I'm not sure what's with all the screw holes in the wood either.

I would appreciate any info experts on these might have. I am also considering having the receiver bridge repaired and returned to its original contour but maybe it should just be left alone? Obviously the rear sight is missing and if anyone has one or knows where I might find one, I would appreciate info on that as well.

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And pics of the early firing pin without the "safety" shoulders and the narrow vent holes in the bolt body.

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So what you have is an Army Hunting Rifle Model C. Sort of an economy model Mauser sporter. The Gew 98 sidewall marking threw me off, but apparently some of the early rifles were marked this way. Interesting mix of early and later features. Firing pin with no safety lugs and the narrow gas vents, yet it has the bolt sleeve lock. I would be tempted to leave the clip bridge as it is. Pity it was altered, but fixing it will be expensive and won't raise the value an equivalent amount. It seems to have the same amount of wear as the rest of the action, so it was likely a period modification. Perhaps modified for scope mounts that were never fitted?

Definitely get the bore slugged. With a 1900 dom it is very likely a .318" bore.
 
The stamping on the barrel - 7,9 and 8,2 are likely the bore and groove diameter (Germans used commas where we use periods) .311" and .323" respectively. Just a guess. No idea what the 156,14 or the 240 is about, but obviously part of a standardized proofing marking of some sort, along with the Crown U and Crown B that is shown.
 
I found an article - http://www.germanhuntingguns.com/about-the-guns/gun-indentification/ - that says that 156,14 is the bore size (not groove size), expressed in gauge - the number of pure lead balls, that diameter, that make a pound. "There were several commonly used rifle gauge marks such as 172.28, 156.14 and 141.95 that correspond to 0.010” increments starting at 0.300”and getting larger that followed British conventions", so, 156.14 gauge would be about .310" bore size.
 
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I'm no expert;

These are manufacturers marks:

7,9mm = 311 bore before rifling
8,2mm = 323 groove after rifling
240mm = 9.45" twist

This is from the proof house:

156,14 is a gauge.

This rifle is not 318", my concern be to confirm it hasn't been rechambered to 8x60 or 8mm-06 at some point.
 
Good find, wonder why you could not pass on this one :). Screw holes could be for snaps for an action cover. Protect it from rain/dirt while carrying.
 
That is a very nice looking rifle. The pics make it look awesome. I like the well used but not abused look a lot.

That rifle looks perfect. Any better shape would ruin it for me.

Very nice find. I wish i found it.
 
jbmauser said:
My understanding is the model C weren't made until 1903. It definitely has features of one though.
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I have a theory, but no proof, that these actions were likely originally for a German military contract, hence the Gew 98 markings. Because of the firing pin upgrade these early actions wouldn't have been suitable for military use due to parts interchangeability issues. I think they were kept in storage and eventually converted into sporters and sold on the civilian market. You should try to get in touch with John Speed, he would likely be interested in this rifle.
 
9.3mauser said:
I have a theory, but no proof, that these actions were likely originally for a German military contract, hence the Gew 98 markings. Because of the firing pin upgrade these early actions wouldn't have been suitable for military use due to parts interchangeability issues. I think they were kept in storage and eventually converted into sporters and sold on the civilian market. You should try to get in touch with John Speed, he would likely be interested in this rifle.
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I have a friend who is friends with Jon Speed and may try to contact him. I have been unable to join the Nitro Express forum unfortunately so no help from the experts there.
 
I picked up a rat bagged 98 sporter on here chambered in 30-03, serial 598, would have been first year production 1898. Nearly totally destroyed so it's just an action now (broken sights, pipe wrench knurl, rotten bore, out of headspace .031, stock made from fir bed frame). But as was said above yours seems to be a lower grade sporter assembled from parts, like mine, which was proofed for 30-03 (so between 1903-06) but serialed for 1898.

I'm away from my books stuck in weather but can look through later. Nitroexpress can have server issues.
 
Got some info from Jon Speed and others. Apparently in these early years before there were designated models, there were really no set rules as to what was made into a commercial. Everything from left over trials actions to military actions were used.

Dogfish858, I would love to see pics of your action if you have any. How is the receiver marked? What type of bolt vents and firing pin?
 
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