Identifying this Mauser and the cartridge it takes

This makes me wonder how the smith plugged the chamber for the casting. The “rim” might just be what settled against the plug that wasn’t fully seated.
He is an Austrian (born and trained) gunmaker and I feel like he would be aware of this detail, but I can ask him about that.
 
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He is an Austrian (born and trained) gunmaker and I feel like he would be aware of this detail, guy I can ask him about that.

Would you post another picture of the entire casting, please? Something with a clean background, with something to scale (a ruler, coin, and not holding it, etc.).
 
IMG_1004.jpeg
 

Initial feedback:

Wow that’s a shallow throat
The “rim” is several times larger than a normal rimmed cartridge
Measure the bolt face and compare it to the casting
Cartridges of the World (an authoritative, albeit imperfect source) gives the shoulder diameter of the rimless as 0.428” compared to the rimmed at 0.424”.
 
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Initial feedback:

Wow that’s a shallow throat
The “rim” is several times larger than a normal rimmed cartridge
Measure the bolt face and compare it to the casting
Cartridges of the World (an authoritative, albeit imperfect source) gives the shoulder diameter of the rimless as 0.428” compared to the rimmed at 0.424”.
Remember he didn’t have the bolt so the rim thickness of the cartridge couldn’t be determined. Good point about the shoulder differences -I will mic the casting and let you know.
 
Measure from the face of that “rim” to get an OAL of the chamber.
The more I look, the more I lean to the good ‘ol 9X57 rimless.
I have an original Oberndorf 9X57 I can cast to see if I get the same result.
 
Here’s my 9X57 chamber
The thick rim part is where the bolt rests against the barrel shank.
Looking at your smith’s cast, it looks like he may have cleaned it up in a lathe - maybe ask him about that.
I’m leaning toward the regular 9X57 but your barrel doesn’t have nearly as much freebore as mine does. My rifle has 11mm of freebore before getting to the slightest start of the rifling which makes sense as the original loading used a 245gr bullet.
IMG_2163.jpeg
IMG_2164.jpeg
 
Here’s my 9X57 chamber
The thick rim part is where the bolt rests against the barrel shank.
Looking at your smith’s cast, it looks like he may have cleaned it up in a lathe - maybe ask him about that.
I’m leaning toward the regular 9X57 but your barrel doesn’t have nearly as much freebore as mine does. My rifle has 11mm of freebore before getting to the slightest start of the rifling which makes sense as the original loading used a 245gr bullet.
View attachment 660791View attachment 660792
My smith might have cleaned it up with a file. I may be able to get a photo of this area of the chamber.
IMG_1013.jpeg
 
Wow 9x57R! If this is the case (no pun intended) I would keep it as is due to its uniqueness.
I have only seen one rimmed cartridge built on a non slant action ie standard M98 which was also built in Suhl most likely by Sauer. Slant actions are rare I myself only have one in my collection (.303 by Rigby).
 

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