Looking to ID a Mauser - Get out your proof mark books

Tyroma

Tyroma

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Norfolk County, Ontario
Hey Gang!

I had good luck last week with the identification of an old Enfield-style muzzle loader...SO, here's another one for the Milsurp guys!

I have a sporterized Mauser rifle:
straight bolt handle
590mm barrel
8mm Mauser
NO marking on receiver ring or action
just a collection of tiny proofs

I think I have narrowed it down to Serb/Croat/Yugo because of the T under the crown proof on the bolt handle. Haven't been able to find the CP under a crown proof on the internet.

Here are the proof pics:



Let's here what you'all got!
 
A complete shot of the rifle of barreled action would be helpful. Most probably a Serbian M24 converted in Great Britain

Crowned T: The Crown/T is an established Serbian marking, which survived into the post WWI era. It has been found as a prominent mark on the Serbian Model 1899/07 as well as a wide variety of other weapons, which were used by the Serbs during and after WWI. Following WWI the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, were universally marked with a Crown/T. Either way, there is no question that this mark was used by the Serbs before, during and after, WWI.

Crowned GP: British gunmakers proof for Final black powder proof for use with nitro.

The Cyrillic letter if Serbian: D

Stamp on bolt release is Cyrillic: F

Your Google Foo is weak

Chances are it was one of these:

pre98.***/shop/rare-serbian-model-1924-mauser-rifle-non-import-all-matching-early-1929-production-very-sharp/
 
Last edited:
It is part of British proof marks from 1868 to present (1978 is when the book was published).

The British had proof houses in London and Birmingham.

It is the final black powder proof. The London mark was in use since 1672 in more or less the same form. Since 1925 the London mark was also used to indicate semi-smokeless final proof for shotguns, but only in conjunction with the "NP" mark.

This all comes out of The Standard Directory of Proof Marks by Wirnsberger.
 
You should measure the distance between the retaining screw holes and determine whether the action is a "standard" length or a shorter version.
 
bearhunter said:
You should measure the distance between the retaining screw holes and determine whether the action is a "standard" length or a shorter version.
Click to expand...

Tyroma said:
Yeah, I can do that. I will see the gun tomorrow
Click to expand...

M24, 47, 48 FN or Yugo would have an 'intermediate' action with 8.500 oal rather than the 'standard' 8.750

I have a 48 Yugo here and eyeballing the large trigger guard screw distance it's about 7-5/8" centre to centre
 
'The British had proof houses in London and Birmingham'. Still do, or did yesterday when my local dealer sent half a dozen guns to each of them. Our 'local' is Birmingham, but those going to London were London-made shotguns, and are being re-proofed there for continuance of their records.
 
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