[gary@r&g]

I just picked up a Mauser on a gun trade. Hoping someone might be able to tell me Vintage and any other info.

It appears commercial with serial number on rt front of reciever. BBL is Octagon into round with a full rib. On the top of the rib is " R. REGER KONIGSBERG I/PR" On the left side of Barrel is "KRUPP ESSEN" on the rt side of BBL written upside down is "GUSS STAHL" . ON the left side of the receiver is "3G GBP" "S.G."

Here is a pic. I have more if it would help.

Thanks!! Gary

[Wildalaska]

Need more pics, but is definately an ex military mauser that has been made into a sporter by a german gunsmith...definately not a commercial Model A or B

Krupp Essen Lauf Staul is the maker of the barrel steel

WildandwhatcaliberisitAlaska

[M2HMGHB]

Call me crazy but that looks like a 1903 Springfield with the cut out for the pederson device

[Gordon]

Crazy!:rolleyes:

[Wildalaska]

OK Gary based on the pics, you have a Mauser made from a WW1 action by a gunsmith name of Reger....the gun would have been made between 1920 or so and 1933...the cartridge is apparently the 8x60S, which the Germies had to use after Versaille instead of the 8x57, the case is about .20 longer than the 8x57..its roughly betweena 30-06 ands 300 H&H..

My understandind is that it is still loaded in Europe...you would probably need to import or get some cases to shoot it..

Goods news is its probably a finely crafted gun that would cost several thousand dollars to duplicate today...bad news is it has low market value in the US since it is not a commercial mauser and is an oddball caliber.....


WildbottomlinerAlaska

[Jim K]

OK, Wildalaska, I give up. I'll go with most of what you say, but where did you come up with 8x60? With the new barrel, the caliber could be almost anything, including .30-'06, as many guns like that were imported into the U.S. in the 1920-1940 period.

FWIW, Königsberg in Preußen (i/Pr) was in, and the capital of, the old East Prussia. The name means "King's Mountain" and the "i/Pr" was added because there is a mountain and village of the same name in the Rhineland. The old Königsberg i/Pr is now Kaliningrad, and is in that sliver of Russia that lies between Lithuania and Poland.

The barrel was made from Krupp Guss Stahl (cast steel or ingot steel) so it would have been very high quality material.

I don't know what "3G GBP" and "S.G." mean.

Jim

[Wildalaska]

Jim, it was easy, if you look at the chamber area and compare it with the use of a micrometer (even via the photo) to the front reciever ring, subtract 1.23489mm then divide the result by pi and multiply by 50.34% its self evident that its an 8x60S.

Surprised ya didnt know that Im a little dissapointed.

:neener:

WildactuallygarysentmeanemailthatswhatitsstampedandhehasdiestooAlaska

[gary@r&g]

WA your too much!!!! I dont think I can remember that caliber formula!

Thanks for everyones input. I spent some time in Germany and was aware that Konig was King but wasnt sure of the rest. It is really a nice old rifle. I may stick a high price on it and see what happens.

Thanks again!

[gary@r&g]

according to a GA inquiry the 3g GBP SG means:

3 g GBP stands for 3 grams
of Gewehr Blaettchen Pulver, an early smokeless powder used before WWI. S G (usually St. G.) is
for Stahl Geschoss, or steel jacketed bullet. 8.60 obviously means it is chambered for the 8x60
cartridge, which was developed after WWI as a result of Germany being prohibited from owning
military caliber rifles such as the 8x57.

[gary@r&g]

more info from a Mauser collector via GA.

The markings and grip pattern indicate that it was originally an 8x57 that was made prior to 1912. After the war, it was rechambered to 8x60 to avoid confiscation. The scope mounts were probably added at this time (or later), as well as the bent bolt. I have never seen stock reinforcing bolts that large, so I cannot comment on when they were installed.

[Jim K]

WA, I definitely will remember that formula. It saves on the Cerrosafe.

I should have caught that "3g GBP". That marking is part of the German proof mark, which indicates the powder charge and type, and the type of bullet, used for the proof. The "S.G." for steel bullet is possible, but normally, the mark would be St m (Stahl mantell) for a steel jacket bullet. The marking for 8x60 should be 8 over 60 with a line between them, not a period. Normally 8.60 as part of the proof would mean the bore diameter as determined by a plug gauge, and 8mm would not run to an 8.60 bore (and I can't find anything that would), but again, I can't say what might have been done at that time.

If you are thinking of shooting the rifle, I suggest you take a chamber cast and slug the bore to determine exactly what you have.

Jim