Mauser action bolt action 375 h&h.....

[Hawzzy]

I need help to identify this rifle...at present i only have pics of the few marks on the receiver and barrell...I will add pics of the whole gun asap....i know it is chambered in 375 h&h and is a mauser action....it came from a German fellow on a hunting trip on Griffith Island.

 

[Potashminer]

Since 375 H&H was never a military round used by anyone, then chances are good that the barrel was reamed out to that size, or a new barrel was installed. True "Mauser" actions were made mostly for various military - FN in Belgium made a lot of them , as did several plants in Germany and elsewhere. There was a "roaring" business, after WWI (say 1920's) for small town European gunsmiths to re-work ex-military rifles for hunting use - hunting in Continental Europe or Scandinavia, or made-in-England for use in India or Africa. A Swede "Mauser", a WWI "Gewehr", or a WWII Mauser 98 are all different to each other, different firing pins - different gas handling design, etc. but are all referred to, by some, as a "Mauser".

Unlike USA and Canada, many European and British were subject to "proofing laws" before a gun could be sold to a civilian - this went back in some cases several centuries, but never in USA or Canada - even well used military rifles that were "good enough for a soldier" to use, had to be "re-proofed" before it could be sold to a civilian as surplus (at least in Great Britain). Those might be the stampings that you see - there are myriad of references on-line that show different places where it might have been proofed - how the stamps changed for some time periods, what the stamps mean.

 

[guntech]

The bottom locking lug will have been ground away considerably in order for the magazine on a 98 to accomendate that long round. I believe that weakens the action somewhat but factories have done it for years.

 

[Potashminer]

GunTech is correct - there are a few "Mauser" rifles here that had a longer magazine box installed and the receiver support for the lower locking lug of the bolt was significantly ground away to clearance a longer round - specifically I am thinking of one Swede Mauser - now in 30-06 - probably originally made as 6.5x55 - it was a "commercial" product by STIGA - however, it has "proofing" marks, so I'm satisfied that installation is sufficiently strong for standard pressure or factory 30-06 ammo. I understand that Swede Mausers were also done up in 308 Win (7.62 NATO) - which is a higher breech pressure than 30-06 was - they were made and sold by a USA entity, so no "proof testing" done on them.

 

[Potashminer]

In some further reading, I found mention of a "magnum" length receiver - might have been made by some makers for sportsman - so, apparently longer than the standard military receiver, so perhaps a 375 H&H fit into those without any grinding needed. I am sure they were more "common" in Europe than in North America, but likely way more expensive than a standard ex-military receiver, so probably is actually found today, more often, with wealthy type people.

Roy Dunlap's book describes an off-set cut through two Mauser 98 receivers - bolts, receiver, mainsprings - then he welded rear end of one to front end of the other - resulted in an unusually long Mauser and an unusually short one - what he was intending to end up with.

 

[dan belisle]

In some further reading, I found mention of a "magnum" length receiver - might have been made by some makers for sportsman - so, apparently longer than the standard military receiver, so perhaps a 375 H&H fit into those without any grinding needed. I am sure they were more "common" in Europe than in North America, but likely way more expensive than a standard ex-military receiver, so probably is actually found today, more often, with wealthy type people.

Roy Dunlap's book describes an off-set cut through two Mauser 98 receivers - bolts, receiver, mainsprings - then he welded rear end of one to front end of the other - resulted in an unusually long Mauser and an unusually short one - what he was intending to end up with.

I've seen a few of the "cut and fit" Mauser actions back in the day (had a friend take two 98's and make one a magnum length action and one a short action, they were pretty nice). And yes, true Mauser magnum length actions have been made, both by Mauser themselves and a few aftermarket makers (including P.O. Ackley if memory serves). I have a couple of commercial Mausers set up for the 375, but they aren't true magnum length actions. Having said that, one of the most famous African professional hunters used an opened up 98 in 416 Rigby. It can be done, and the actions have certainly proved their strength over the years. - dan

 

[Deathrawt]

I couldn’t imagine shooting a 98 in 416 Rigby, especially it if still has the steel butplate
My shoulder hurts just thinking about it lol

 

[05RAV]

I need help to identify this rifle...at present i only have pics of the few marks on the receiver and barrell...I will add pics of the whole gun asap....i know it is chambered in 375 h&h and is a mauser action....it came from a German fellow on a hunting trip on Griffith Island.
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To the best of my knowledge, a crown over PV and a lion over P.V stamps are all Belgian proofmarks from Liege for smokeless powder. A star over an A is an inspector mark from Liege.

 

[dan belisle]

I couldn’t imagine shooting a 98 in 416 Rigby, especially it if still has the steel butplate
My shoulder hurts just thinking about it lol

Yes, I was shooting a steel buttplate 280 the other day and my old shoulder was not happy. Double that recoil (thereabouts) and real pain would ensue. - dan

 

[struff55]

I need help to identify this rifle...at present i only have pics of the few marks on the receiver and barrell...I will add pics of the whole gun asap....i know it is chambered in 375 h&h and is a mauser action....it came from a German fellow on a hunting trip on Griffith Island.
View attachment 1174263View attachment 1174264

post photos of the action complete bolt trigger complete rifle
this is like a guessing any info on the bbl it should have something

 

[Deathrawt]

Yes, I was shooting a steel buttplate 280 the other day and my old shoulder was not happy. Double that recoil (thereabouts) and real pain would ensue. - dan

Yesterday I was shooting a REM 700 in 375 h&h trying to sight in a red dot and it has a rubber butt plate on it
My shoulder is tender today, It cant handle the recoil like it used to that’s for sure
Was shooting it off a bench too so that prob didn’t help

 

[Mike Webb]

05RAV is correct. Belgian manufacture proof marks. The Belgians turned out thousands of economy shotguns in the last 150 years also made some of the finest guns built anywhere.
It may be a true magnum length mauser action. Brevex was well known for making a true magnum length action in Belgium. Just the actions went for significant cash in the last century.