Oberndorf Mauser

Rob said:
Decades ago, I lived just down the street from Reliable and often checked out their used gun rack. It was very accessible, right in front of the main counter. Prices were low and many great deals were to be had. I recall a Mauser Model M in otherwise very good condition that I passed on just because it had an altered bolt handle. As I recall, the price was under $400.
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They still have that used rack in the middle, but they usually keep the used high end rifles behind the counter. There's been a few i passed up myself over the years and looking back I wish I hadn't. You live and learn.
 
Recently picked up this Oberndorf Mauser Model M in 30-06. from Reliable.. They were asking too much for it, but I negotiated with the actual owner of the rifle and managed to get the price down to something a bit more reasonable.

I have a Model M, also in 30-06, with a serial number only four numbers later. (So probably made the same day in 1922 or 1923.) However, that one has a more conventional Lyman #35 sight. (See the last photo.) The "new" Model M, has a receiver peep sight that also mounts on the bolt stop like the Lyman #35, (no drilling and tapping), but it does not resemble the Lyman in any other way. I can find no manufacturer's markings on it. There is also no indication that any open rear sight was ever installed, so it may be a factory installation. I know Mauser kept a supply of Lyman sights on hand for installation, per customer request, but this sight is different.

Has anyone ever seen this particular peep sight? I have not.

As an unexpected bonus, it came with a brass cleaning rod stored in the buttstock. Hard to remove, it seems to have been stuck in there for quite some time. Each section of the 5-piece rod has a number, and it is the correct length for the short barrel.

Another interesting feature is the factory-installed steel recoil cross-bolt.

The rifle is in overall VG+ condition with great wood and an excellent bore.


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A few photos of the rear peep sight (still attached to the bolt stop) in case someone can identify it.

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Jon Speed tells me that it looks like German sights he has seen, so I am assuming it was factory-installed.
 
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zywina said:
I picked up an original Orbendorf model A (African) in 9.3x62 Mauser. It's a little different as has a 29" barrel with African 3 leaf sight, has a longer than normal fore end with horn tip. Barrel band on barrel, the only thing that wasn't original was a Pachmeyer pad put on in the 1960's, thank God the stock was not cut, the original curve wasn't cut off, so I just need to find an original Mauser banner butplate and screws to complete the rifle back to factory specs.
This gun came from an older fellow who's dad was a gunsmith for Ellwood Epps. It came with handloads, and gave how much higher or lower than the factory sights, as the loads were 270gr Speer bullets.
I am sure I can get it shooting to POA once I load sum 286-289 gr bullets.
This gun was built I believe in 1931.
I've never took it moose hunting due to the long open range I've been hunting the last few years. But am taking deer hunting for the 2025 season , should be fun 😊.
Don't ask for photos, as am Teck illiterate.
I was lucky a good friend put me on this rifle, as he didn't have the funds or knowledge of wether it was real!
Love the Mausers that the US master gunsmiths made in the 1930-50 period👍👍
Cheers ,happy new year, Dale Z
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https://www.dorleac-dorleac.com/arme/mauser-african-modell/?lang=en
 
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