WebleyGreene455
AH fanatic
Good evening y'all.
I'm looking at a trio of Mauser rifles in the hopes of getting one and using it alongside my .303 BSA sporter in the future.
Rifle #1 is advertised as a circa 1928 sporter. 8mm Mauser, 22" half-octagonal ribbed barrel, pear-shaped bolt handle, has a dovetailed claw mount on the receiver ring and a saddle one at the back of the receiver. Stock has a keyed foreend, schnable, no checkering, cheekpiece, rounded pistol grip.
Rifle #2 is listed as an Oberndorf Model A. 9.3x57mm, approx 23" round barrel, Oberndorf bolt handle, has a side-rail mount fitted to the receiver. Double set triggers, lever-opening floorplate. Stock has checkering at the grip, a capped pistol grip, cheekpiece, and a less-pronounced schnable versus rifle #1.
Rifle #3 is listed as a Mauser Type B. 8mm Mauser, 23.5"-ish barrel, butterknife bolt handle, side rail mount. Double set triggers (different style from rifle #2), military-style floorplate. Stock has checkering at the grip and forearm, capped pistol grip, cheekpiece, and a more pronounced schnable. It also has a muzzle device of some kind fitted to the barrel, a compensator or muzzle brake I expect.
According to an article I found in SA Jagter Hunter, the serial # range for rifle #2 and #3 puts them in the 1910-1914 range (referencing John Speed's guideline).
So how do I tell if it really is a Mauser Model A (the foreign-export ones modeled after the British-styled Mausers) or the Model B (the ones intended for domestic consumption) if they don't quite fit into the assorted descriptions of the Model A and Model B? Does it actually matter, anyway?
I'm after a "poor man's Rigby" (or an American's), so to speak; a German-made Mauser that looks British, was intended for export, but wasn't made by Rigby. Any of the three rifles here mentioned would be rechambered/bored to 9.3x62mm and have a Rigby aperture sight fitted. Rifle #1 would need a fair bit extra work as it's missing the front sight, would need scope mounts fitted, and unfortunately would require a rework of the stock since it appears to fit the rifle quite poorly now. That just mounts in price and overshadows the handsomeness of the ribbed half-octagonal barrel. Rifle #2 would just need a hood fitted for the front sight and it'd be good to go. Rifle #3 would need a hood fitted and I'm wary about that compensator or whatever it is, but I also like the checkering on it.
As far as prices go, rifle #1 is cheapest, followed by #3, and #2; all are under $2,000USD. What should I do? Going with the as-listed Model A (#2) is what I'm leaning towards since while it's the most expensive, it also seems to be the closest to what I'm after (and requires the minimum of alteration).
~~W.G.455
I'm looking at a trio of Mauser rifles in the hopes of getting one and using it alongside my .303 BSA sporter in the future.
Rifle #1 is advertised as a circa 1928 sporter. 8mm Mauser, 22" half-octagonal ribbed barrel, pear-shaped bolt handle, has a dovetailed claw mount on the receiver ring and a saddle one at the back of the receiver. Stock has a keyed foreend, schnable, no checkering, cheekpiece, rounded pistol grip.
Rifle #2 is listed as an Oberndorf Model A. 9.3x57mm, approx 23" round barrel, Oberndorf bolt handle, has a side-rail mount fitted to the receiver. Double set triggers, lever-opening floorplate. Stock has checkering at the grip, a capped pistol grip, cheekpiece, and a less-pronounced schnable versus rifle #1.
Rifle #3 is listed as a Mauser Type B. 8mm Mauser, 23.5"-ish barrel, butterknife bolt handle, side rail mount. Double set triggers (different style from rifle #2), military-style floorplate. Stock has checkering at the grip and forearm, capped pistol grip, cheekpiece, and a more pronounced schnable. It also has a muzzle device of some kind fitted to the barrel, a compensator or muzzle brake I expect.
According to an article I found in SA Jagter Hunter, the serial # range for rifle #2 and #3 puts them in the 1910-1914 range (referencing John Speed's guideline).
So how do I tell if it really is a Mauser Model A (the foreign-export ones modeled after the British-styled Mausers) or the Model B (the ones intended for domestic consumption) if they don't quite fit into the assorted descriptions of the Model A and Model B? Does it actually matter, anyway?
I'm after a "poor man's Rigby" (or an American's), so to speak; a German-made Mauser that looks British, was intended for export, but wasn't made by Rigby. Any of the three rifles here mentioned would be rechambered/bored to 9.3x62mm and have a Rigby aperture sight fitted. Rifle #1 would need a fair bit extra work as it's missing the front sight, would need scope mounts fitted, and unfortunately would require a rework of the stock since it appears to fit the rifle quite poorly now. That just mounts in price and overshadows the handsomeness of the ribbed half-octagonal barrel. Rifle #2 would just need a hood fitted for the front sight and it'd be good to go. Rifle #3 would need a hood fitted and I'm wary about that compensator or whatever it is, but I also like the checkering on it.
As far as prices go, rifle #1 is cheapest, followed by #3, and #2; all are under $2,000USD. What should I do? Going with the as-listed Model A (#2) is what I'm leaning towards since while it's the most expensive, it also seems to be the closest to what I'm after (and requires the minimum of alteration).
~~W.G.455
