Newest mauser...
- Thread starter tokguy
- Start date
Model 1924 Mexican Mauser if large ring or Model 1936 if small ring......would have to see top of receiver to tell for sure however the bolt handle indicates Model 1924. Should be crested on receiver with a manufacturing date. Ron
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Yep - the funky "springfield style" striker end piece is the main give-away...
As you already know, it's a 1954. The bolt handle is unique to the 1954 models and looks very "sporter" like. The action is a very interesting variant of the M98 and the extra gas venting holes are neat, especially the one in the extractor. Likely to help prevent extractor blow off in the event of a case rupture.
The stock looks very heavily sanded on yours. They are a 3 piece laminate and very crudely finished from the factory. The 2 little holes on the keel just behind the sling loop would have been where a brass oval plate was mounted. Not sure of the brass plate purpose, possible for unit markings?
Nice find for sure! These aren't overly common.
The stock looks very heavily sanded on yours. They are a 3 piece laminate and very crudely finished from the factory. The 2 little holes on the keel just behind the sling loop would have been where a brass oval plate was mounted. Not sure of the brass plate purpose, possible for unit markings?
Nice find for sure! These aren't overly common.
Mexican small ring 98s are very interesting rifles. I have two of them.
One is dated 1957, marked 7.62mm and model 1954, with the Mexican crest. All of the metal bits are polished and blued to a black luster. The stock is the laminated one but you have to look closely to see the joints. Oddly, both of these rifles have different numbers on the butt. They have nothing to do with serial numbers. This one is 69 / 9 / 35 33. I have no idea what they are for or represent. I bought this rifle out of the International Firearms warehouse in 1971. Maybe they signify being sold out of service and by whom??
The other, is also a small ring but it isn't in nearly as nice condition. It is marked 1945 with a six digit serial number and of course the Mexican crest. It is chambered in 7x57.
The receivers, sights, trigger guards and barrels are identical. The stock is made from the same type of wood as the first one but isn't laminated. The fore end metal is different as well. The upper band has a provision for a stacking swivel the newer, 30cal rifle doesn't. The lower band has dual sling swivels and a side mounted butt swivel. The bottom swivel mount has been ground down to a curved plate and screwed into place. The metal on this rifle shows carry wear on the receiver ring and is has a matte finish instead of the polished finish of the newer rifle. The bolt on the model 1936 is different as well. The bolt nob handle is bent down but with a slight dog leg, not as long and beefier. Thanks jbm, I had to go back and have a look after reading your post.
Oh, one other difference, the vent holes on mine are in the same position on the left side but on the 1936 the oval is in a horizontal position and the 1954 is in a vertical position. Neither of these rifles have vent holes on the right as per the OP's rifle or vent holes in the extractors.
One other thing, the stocks on both of my rifles are quite original and neither have been sanded or refinished. Both are done very well. In truth, they are some of the nicest military stock finishes I've seen.
Both rifles have two small round holes on the bottom of the butt and a bit of discoloring which leads me to believe there was a metal plate of some sort being held in position by pins.
Both rifles are heavier than any of the German or other European Mausers I have. Both shoot very well.
There is a Mexican General that bought a piece of property about 5 kliks down the road to retire on. He had a bunch of old farm equipment on the place and much of it was well worn.
He had something I wanted very much, a Mexican made 1911 clone that wasn't. It was an Obregon. It was in a beautifully tooled brown leather holster with the screaming Eagle grasping a Viper in its talons embossed on the flaps. The pistol was very well fitted, polished and finished. It wore a pair of sterling silver grips with the seal of Mexico in raised gold plaques and gold screws holding them in place. He told me his officers had presented him with the pistol when he retired and it would go back to the museum on the base he commanded when he passed away or felt he could no longer enjoy them.
Oh well, getting that old equipment running and making up unobtainable pieces or converting pieces to take new bearings etc. kept me in beef and pork for quite a few years. Needless to say, the pistol is now residing in some museum on a military base in Mexico. I never even had a chance to shoot it. I don't think Nacho did either.
By the way, I am computer challenged so if someone would post some pics, I would be glad to send them to an email address for this purpose. Please don't ask for pics for personal perusal. That usually turns into a couple of dozen curious people or pic collectors asking.
One is dated 1957, marked 7.62mm and model 1954, with the Mexican crest. All of the metal bits are polished and blued to a black luster. The stock is the laminated one but you have to look closely to see the joints. Oddly, both of these rifles have different numbers on the butt. They have nothing to do with serial numbers. This one is 69 / 9 / 35 33. I have no idea what they are for or represent. I bought this rifle out of the International Firearms warehouse in 1971. Maybe they signify being sold out of service and by whom??
The other, is also a small ring but it isn't in nearly as nice condition. It is marked 1945 with a six digit serial number and of course the Mexican crest. It is chambered in 7x57.
The receivers, sights, trigger guards and barrels are identical. The stock is made from the same type of wood as the first one but isn't laminated. The fore end metal is different as well. The upper band has a provision for a stacking swivel the newer, 30cal rifle doesn't. The lower band has dual sling swivels and a side mounted butt swivel. The bottom swivel mount has been ground down to a curved plate and screwed into place. The metal on this rifle shows carry wear on the receiver ring and is has a matte finish instead of the polished finish of the newer rifle. The bolt on the model 1936 is different as well. The bolt nob handle is bent down but with a slight dog leg, not as long and beefier. Thanks jbm, I had to go back and have a look after reading your post.
Oh, one other difference, the vent holes on mine are in the same position on the left side but on the 1936 the oval is in a horizontal position and the 1954 is in a vertical position. Neither of these rifles have vent holes on the right as per the OP's rifle or vent holes in the extractors.
One other thing, the stocks on both of my rifles are quite original and neither have been sanded or refinished. Both are done very well. In truth, they are some of the nicest military stock finishes I've seen.
Both rifles have two small round holes on the bottom of the butt and a bit of discoloring which leads me to believe there was a metal plate of some sort being held in position by pins.
Both rifles are heavier than any of the German or other European Mausers I have. Both shoot very well.
There is a Mexican General that bought a piece of property about 5 kliks down the road to retire on. He had a bunch of old farm equipment on the place and much of it was well worn.
He had something I wanted very much, a Mexican made 1911 clone that wasn't. It was an Obregon. It was in a beautifully tooled brown leather holster with the screaming Eagle grasping a Viper in its talons embossed on the flaps. The pistol was very well fitted, polished and finished. It wore a pair of sterling silver grips with the seal of Mexico in raised gold plaques and gold screws holding them in place. He told me his officers had presented him with the pistol when he retired and it would go back to the museum on the base he commanded when he passed away or felt he could no longer enjoy them.
Oh well, getting that old equipment running and making up unobtainable pieces or converting pieces to take new bearings etc. kept me in beef and pork for quite a few years. Needless to say, the pistol is now residing in some museum on a military base in Mexico. I never even had a chance to shoot it. I don't think Nacho did either.
By the way, I am computer challenged so if someone would post some pics, I would be glad to send them to an email address for this purpose. Please don't ask for pics for personal perusal. That usually turns into a couple of dozen curious people or pic collectors asking.
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Thanks all.
I would not disagree on the finish, too smooth and too perfect. As far as sanding, the stock still feels quite substantial...ever notice how a sanded one feels diminished in your hand? But the finish feels like urethane or something similar when you handle it.
So I'm guessing it's been dycked with, just not much IMO. Me dycking with it to un-do it will only leave it looking like 'someone dycked with it'.
But it's still got cosmoline on the bolt and receiver crest, so it's not that far out of storage IMO.
The cosmoline fooled me, I'm surprised they bothered with the wood but not the metal.
I would not disagree on the finish, too smooth and too perfect. As far as sanding, the stock still feels quite substantial...ever notice how a sanded one feels diminished in your hand? But the finish feels like urethane or something similar when you handle it.
So I'm guessing it's been dycked with, just not much IMO. Me dycking with it to un-do it will only leave it looking like 'someone dycked with it'.
But it's still got cosmoline on the bolt and receiver crest, so it's not that far out of storage IMO.
The cosmoline fooled me, I'm surprised they bothered with the wood but not the metal.
I wouldn't jump up and down saying that particular rifle has been sanded down. The finish on your rifle is very similar to mine. When I picked out my rifle at International, they all had a similar type of shiny finish. They also ranged in condition from poor to excellent. I wasn't allowed to purchase one of the excellent condition rifles because they were all separate from the rest and the company hadn't decided what they were doing with them yet. The rifle I purchased is very good or a bit better. Just wasn't one of the lovely wrapped rifles with very light grease that looked like it had been sprayed on rather than hot dipped. The sharp edges on my rifles are still sharp but there is a bit of obvious rounding where the grasping grooves were held during field use or at the range. The same area has been polished by use as well.
The wood used for the stocks isn't walnut. It is a wood very similar to mahogany as far as grain goes and from what I can remember was given a heavy profile to maintain strength. The stock profile is almost oversize for me and most people I know of that have them feel the same way about them. Rumor also has it that they used laminated stocks because they had difficulty getting supplies of good quality wood.
I just noticed, the barrel on the 1954 30-06 is about 3/4 inch longer than the 7mm barrel on the model 1936.
I got curious about the rifles again so looked up some information on the internet. The 1954 receivers were made up from 1936 receivers and modified for the 30-06. Supposedly production of them started in 1954 and stopped in 1956. Mine is dated 1957.
These rifles were prime candidates for conversion to sporting rifles during the mid sixties. In the US there seemed to be a bit of a frenzy when these rifles first appeared. They were sought after because they had similar profiles to the 93/95/96 actions and were sleeker/lighter than the more bulky 98, Enfield and 03 actions that were more available.
This wasn't the sacrilege many would think. Of the few thousand rifles I saw, most of them were verging on FAIR only condition. Broken stocks, missing parts, no finish at all remaining, shot out bores, you name it. They were perfect candidates for conversions to sporters. Sleek profile, strong, light easy to work on and lots of after market accessories at reasonable prices. I did one in 6mm Rem. I loved it but my baby sister took a shine to it and so she got it for a birthday present. To bad it went south with her ex husband.
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This one has two flaws. A very faint ring in the bbl about 4" from the muzzle and the butt plate has damage on the top ( from doing drill I'd guess?).
Nothing seems proud; wood to metal, so maybe I'm lucky and it's original. Either way I'm not dycking with it.
But I may shoot a deer or two next week with it.
But I am going to get off my *ss a make some sight hoods, I've got about 3-4 that need them.
Nothing seems proud; wood to metal, so maybe I'm lucky and it's original. Either way I'm not dycking with it.
But I may shoot a deer or two next week with it.
But I am going to get off my *ss a make some sight hoods, I've got about 3-4 that need them.
Here's a link to the one I used to own. The wood on this one is definitely not sanded but the metal isn't as nice as yours.
Just for comparison.
https://imageshack.com/a/8Heq/1
Just for comparison.
https://imageshack.com/a/8Heq/1
supposedly these rifles were all assembled by 1956-57. The date on yours is much later 1961. I know they used 1936 receivers for the mod 1954 rifles. I don't know if they waited until the Mod 1936 rifles were no longer usable as 7mm before they converted them or if they were built from extra receivers.
As for the wood, the only things I remember Nacho telling me was that the trees were from the jungle and becoming very scarce. Finding them large enough to make stocks from and density being ok was almost impossible, hence he laminations, which are extremely well done.
Another thing I just noticed, the OAL of the 1936 rifles in 7mm is appx 2 inches shorter than the OAL of the 1954.
One other thing for people to understand, back when these rifles were built, Mexico wasn't like it is now. It was a full blown 3rd world nation. A bit of mining and very light industry but mostly an agrarian society. Corruption was the norm from top politicians to local LEOs and military. It was a way of life.
The fact that they made such lovely firearms speaks volumes. They had the skills and the tech of the time but the system kept them down. Easier to control I guess.
As for the wood, the only things I remember Nacho telling me was that the trees were from the jungle and becoming very scarce. Finding them large enough to make stocks from and density being ok was almost impossible, hence he laminations, which are extremely well done.
Another thing I just noticed, the OAL of the 1936 rifles in 7mm is appx 2 inches shorter than the OAL of the 1954.
One other thing for people to understand, back when these rifles were built, Mexico wasn't like it is now. It was a full blown 3rd world nation. A bit of mining and very light industry but mostly an agrarian society. Corruption was the norm from top politicians to local LEOs and military. It was a way of life.
The fact that they made such lovely firearms speaks volumes. They had the skills and the tech of the time but the system kept them down. Easier to control I guess.
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Did some research tonight on it...to not much avail.
It's been suggested that the wood might be Beech; which would kind of make sense. I've had a beech table or two; and they've been a composite of small pieces glued into a tabletop. Had a fairly open grain too.
Seems like I actually got a pretty decent condition, fairly rare ( although not a lottery win $$$ wise ) Mauser. Chambered in the popular 30-06 ( first 30-06 I ever owned , lol) as well. Be cooler with the '03 Springfield rear peep, but still a neat Short rifle IMO
It's been suggested that the wood might be Beech; which would kind of make sense. I've had a beech table or two; and they've been a composite of small pieces glued into a tabletop. Had a fairly open grain too.
Seems like I actually got a pretty decent condition, fairly rare ( although not a lottery win $$$ wise ) Mauser. Chambered in the popular 30-06 ( first 30-06 I ever owned , lol) as well. Be cooler with the '03 Springfield rear peep, but still a neat Short rifle IMO
I just returned from a trip to Huatulaco, Mexico and luckily I had some pictures of this fine rifle on my phone.
After quizzing a tour guide it seems the most likely source for the wood is the Guanacaste tree; which verifies Brother Bearhunter's friend's input. They are protected by the Mexican Govt as they're great wood.
Legend has it they will grow down to 30 meters looking for moisture in the dry season...splitting rocks that get in their way.
Pretty cool bit of found knowledge IMO
After quizzing a tour guide it seems the most likely source for the wood is the Guanacaste tree; which verifies Brother Bearhunter's friend's input. They are protected by the Mexican Govt as they're great wood.
Legend has it they will grow down to 30 meters looking for moisture in the dry season...splitting rocks that get in their way.
Pretty cool bit of found knowledge IMO
