Question 2 Portugese Mauser

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rgallant

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Ok I have this very old beast, in 7.92.

Matching serial numbers

Espingarda Portugueza 6.5 mod 1904
Deutsche Waffen-und Muntionsfabriken Merlin

serial h9421

There is a crown, and below that what looks like a C with and I through it.

The wood is dark and in fair ? shape, there is some external pitting that was there when I bought for $40.00 back in the 70's.

Can some point to more info and possible value.

Here is a link to an image of the rifle.

Picture of the Mauser
 
It's not a mauser, it's a manlicher action built in Germany for the Portugues.

From http://www firearmsmuseum.org.au/Catalogue/cat-long.htm
MAUSER Verguerio Mod 904/M39 service rifle in 7.92 MM CF, serial No.F8948, 5 round magazine, 23.62" barrel. Designed by Verguerio, a Portuguese officer and made by DWM for the Portuguese government. magazine floorplate hinged to facilitate unloading, mannlicher type bolt, marked on receiver ring "C1" for king Carlos 1 Espingarda Portugueza, converted from 6.5 mm model 1904 Verguerio by reboring and rechambering to 7.92 mm, shortening the barrel and fore-end and modifying the sights, receiver markings were not changed.
 
Thanks

Thanks for the help, it is a nice shooter but needs to be cleaned up. As for value $200.00 is far more than I paid so that is hardly a worry, more for insurance than anything else.
 
Sadly, these are pretty rare now. The bottom metal is hinged and requires minimal work to be used on high-end custom Mauser sporting rifles, so alot of top gunsmiths junked these (unpopular at the time in the 70's) Mannlichers for the bottom metal which fits the Mauser 98 screw spacing. (actually M1909 Argentine metal is even better as there are no lock screws, but it's also harder to come by).

As a result, ALOT of these were scrapped for the floorplate. IMHO, $200-250 is about right for one in that condition.
 
An interesting thing about these rifles.
Some were given to the Union of South Africa by the Portugese and were used By the union defence force in their attack on German South west Africa (Namibia today) during WW1
 
Do not, I repeat, do not take the bolt apart until you understand completely how to put it back together!! "I knew a guy once" (namely me) who took his bolt apart, then spent a fair amount of time trying to get it back together without breaking parts. If it works okay, leave it alone. I bought one years and years ago for SIR for $40, in very good condition. Typical dark stock, but nice rifle. It is on this rifle that I learned all about corrosive ammo!!:p
 
kjohn said:
Do not, I repeat, do not take the bolt apart until you understand completely how to put it back together!! "I knew a guy once" (namely me) who took his bolt apart, then spent a fair amount of time trying to get it back together without breaking parts. If it works okay, leave it alone. I bought one years and years ago for SIR for $40, in very good condition. Typical dark stock, but nice rifle. It is on this rifle that I learned all about corrosive ammo!!:p
Click to expand...

1904/39 Portuguese "Vergueiro" Model 937/M39 Mauser
(Mfg by Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken, Berlin)

Originally 6.5 x 58pmm in 1904 and converted to 7.92 x 57mm in 1937.
All matching except for bolt safety, c/w matching bayonet and original sling.

Why is the bolt safety the only part mismatched on this rifle ?

Here's a funny anecdotal story about possibly why..........

http://www.saaaca.org.za/links/m1904_bolt.htm

The complex nature of the M1904 Bolt and its difficult stripping and reassembly process conducive to the loss of parts, contributed significantly to the demise of this Rifle as a Service Arm with the Union of South Africa, Defence Force. UDF Troops are documented as arriving on Parade with disassembled Bolts and their parts tied in a handkerchief and many surviving Rifles today are found with replacement Bolts, or the Safety flag having been replaced, as was easily lost. Today, many M1904 owners rather do not strip the Bolt assembly, or, hand this job to a competent Gunsmith.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)


1904/39 Portuguese "Vergueiro" (lots more detailed pics ... click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/germanservicerifles/190439portugueseg3853
Click to expand...

I've got pages of instructions including some with pics, but I understand they can be misleading. Ludwig Olsen's book "Mauser Bolt Rifles" has instructions on Page 204, but another 1904/39 owner said he followed those and they turned out to be wrong. He sent me pics of the various pages and the corrections. It appears even Olsen had problems with these beasts. :D

(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Click to expand...


I love the comment about using a a large nail head .......... :D

Regards,
Badger
 
The Bolt

Too funny that is why I got mine cheap the bolt was disassembled in a zip lock bag. Took me days to figure it out, has not been apart since.
 
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