[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

I saw something weird at the gunshow today. On one of the less reputable tables I saw what looked like a K98--sorry mausers are not my specialt, I can't tell you what flavor exactly--that had the remnants of white paint on it, pitting, rust etc. The receiver was marked Standard Modelle. The guy said it came from North Korea. I've never heard of such a thing but maybe you can enlighten me. Is that what I saw? Or simply a bubba snow camo job?

[SDC]

I doubt very much that the North Koreans would be marking their guns in anything other than kanji ideographs; none of their other firearms are marked that way. If this marking was on the left side of the receiver, it was probably a pre-WW2 commercial rifle, made by Mauser for sale to hunters.

[Vaarok]

The Chinese made licensed Mauser Standardmodell rifles, as well as buying thousands in the 1930s from Germany.

[dirtyjim]

the chinese copies can be identified by the starburst stamp on the sides of the front receiver ring

[Jim K]

Chinese Mauser copies made in factories for the Nationalists have the sunburst insignia. Those made in what we may call "less organized production facilities" can be marked with just about anything.

I think that a rifle marked "Standard Modell" is just that, a Mauser made in Germany by Mauser and sold, probably to the Chinese government, before WWII. It is very likely that some were still in service, or at least were issued to some of the Chinese forces, during the Korean War. It was certainly not made in Korea.

Jim

[Moonclip]

I've seen these Chinese Mausers here and there. I'm usually cautioned they are not safe to shoot.

[Jim Watson]

The guy said it came from North Korea

Unfortunately, people will say what they think will sell a gun, whether it is so or not. Do not take such things at face value unless substantiated by documented characteristcs of the gun itself.

Buy the gun, not the story.

[Famaldehide Face]

Were they chambered in the same 7.92mm calibre?

[Vaarok]

Yep, all the Chinese contract rifles and Chinese produced rifles were 8mm Mauser.

Odd but interestingly, the very first Gew88 Commission Rifles bought by the Chinese before the turn of the century were actually in 6.8mm (7mm Mauser).

But those were only like ten thousand rifles in the late 1890s. Everything since was 8mm, though some of the Hanyang rifles were .318 bore rather than .323 - not that it matters much, considering how worn most are.

[Jim K]

I agree with Jim about not buying the story, but I can't see that story adding much if anything to the value of a junker Mauser.

At least the story is not inherently ridiculous as most are.

Jim

[Jim Watson]

The 6.8x57 Chinese was a distinct cartridge with a .277" bullet, same as the later .270 Winchester; not another name for the 7mm Spanish Mauser. China looked at both 6.8 and 7mm in 1907 and apparently bought and built Mauser rifles in 6.8mm for several years, but eventually decided to stay with the 8mm. Ludwig Olsen described a Steyr Mannlicher in 6.8x57, too.

[Trex]

If you postulate that it was originally a Republic of China rifle, it's not hard to believe that it may have seen North Korean service. The PLA was originally armed with a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Russian small arms. While North Korea was primarily armed with Russian weapons post-WW2, it is hard to ignore at least the possibility that the Chinese passed some surplus Mausers to North Korea. Possible, in other words - but so what? If you have the provinence to show that it was the personal weapon of Kim Il Sung or if it was the weapon used to fire the first shot of the Korean War, it might be of some interest. As it is, it would seem to be a beat-up old Mauser. Put your hand on your wallet and back away.