Another Mauser question (receiver similarity)

[Mauser lover]

Okay, perhaps this should go in the gunsmithing section, but I figured that I might as well put it here.

Mauser 93

Spanish and Turkish, what actual difference? I think that the Turkish ones were made in Germany, and the Spanish were not, but are there any differences in the action? Is the receiver identical?

Mauser 95

Is this receiver externally dimensionally identical to the 93?

Mauser 96 (Swedish)

Again, I know that it is a "small ring" Mauser, but is it dimensionally identical to the others?

Thanks for any help, the only reason that I am asking is because I have found conflicting information on the internet (fancy that) or I have misinterpreted the information that I have found.

 

[Jim K]

There are minor differences, but for all practical purposes they are all identical. The first Spanish Mausers were the 1891 models, made in Germany by Loewe. The first were identical to the Argentine 1891, since they were diverted from an Argentine shipment, but later ones were made for Spain as the Model 1892. At that time, Mauser introduced the Model 1893 with a completely internal magazine, and Spain immediately switched its order to the new model, the Model 1983, and almost immediately (1896) began making the new rifles in their own government factory at Oviedo in Asturias.

About the same path was followed by the Swedes, first buying a limited number of Model 1894 carbines and Model 1896 rifles from Mauser, then obtaining the license to make their own at the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori in Carl Gustafs city.

All Turkish Mausers were made in Germany or Czechoskovakia; while the point has been disputed, I have found no Mauser rifles made in Turkey, though many thousands were reworked and updated at various times. AFAIK, the Model 1893's were the same as the same rifle as made for Spain and Sweden except for the Turkish magazine cutoff. The Model 1890 was the old action, with the protruding single column magazine. After the 1893, Turkey went to the Mauser 1898 action.

I am not sure exactly what you need. All those rifles were identical to a point, but when it comes to, let's say, whether the firing pins are identical, I can't be sure without checking, a tedious process. For things like scope mounting bases, the answer would be that they are identical. But for all parts interchangeability, it would take a while, and is something that Brownell's and others have already done.

Jim

 

[Jim Watson]

In the Golden Years of surplus guns (pre-GCA 1968) Ye Olde Hunter and Ye Olde Western Hunter advertised the 1895 Mauser for its "safety lug". That was merely a notch in the receiver for the bolt handle, not a separate lug as in the 1898.
There were also the "square bolt" and "round bolt" variants, which I think was also the demarcation between 1893 and 1895.

I do not think you can count on any of those being "dimensionally identical."

 

[boom boom]

1893 Spanish Mausers have a flat bottomed bolt, no holes in the bolt or receiver for gas handling, and orginally produced in Germany. Oviedo arsenal in Spain began producing them in 1896.

1895 Mauser incorporates the bolt notch, a round bottomed bolt otherwise same as the 1893, and has a slightly wider flange at the rear of the receiver (will not fit 1893 stocks without alteration).

1894 and 1896 Swedes are similar to 1893/95 Mausers but the magazines are different to accommodate a different cartridge length for the 6.5x55 Swede. Bolts are not interchangeable with 93/95 Mausers.

Then comes the 98 Models and its variant large ring Mausers.

Yugo and FN 1924 Model and the m48 model are large ring but intermediate length actions and the bolts do not interchange with 98 models

Turks are all over the place---std. large ring 98's, small ring receivers, Large ring threaded for small ring barrels, etc. They also repurposed a lot of Mauser receivers from old stock it seems.

Here is numrich's list of mausers
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Mauser-33384.htm and

Good summary of receiver and bolt measurements on the various Mauser actions
http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/catalog/mauser_reference.html

 

[Mauser lover]

What I was wondering about was basically for stocks and maybe scope mounts, etc. Dealing only with "small ring" Mausers, I have no problem with finding two piece mounts, but I was wondering if they were all the same length, which would be of relative importance when looking for a stock or a mount. The bottom metal info about the 96 is good to know, I hadn't thought of that.

Contemplating an aesthetic restoration, if you care. From what I can find, it won't be perfect, but I hope to maybe make it "look" perfect. Always looking to start another project... maybe someday I will finish one!

 

[Mauser lover]

To throw a figurative wrench into all this...

I just found in my "archives" a "new in package" (it could be forty years old, for all I know) Leupold STD one piece mount that says it is for a Mauser 95 and 98. How is that supposed to work, or is it a mistake in the Leupold packaging?

 

[Jim K]

It would fit the 95 and the small ring 98 (like the 98AZ). Obviously, a one-piece base would not fit both the 95 (Swede?) and the standard 98.

Jim

 

[boom boom]

Given what you seem to be wanting as a basis for a sporter, I might suggest one of the Turk 38 models--they are a large ring design that uses a small ring barrel. While some of the receivers have been repurposed from older models, supposedly the 38 models were re-heat treated to withstand firing 8mm Mauser and the like. The parts while not as cheap as they were, are still affordable for these rifles as well as stocks etc and unlike some are pretty available. 1895 Mausers are another possibility and some of these have antique status (Ludwig Loewe made, not the DWM models). Swedes have generally gotten pretty high to be sporterizing but you might find something at Simpson's Ltd. website. At one time, he had a lot of sporterized m96 Swedes.

Take a look at Steve Wagner's page on sporterizing Turks if you are interested. http://www.gswagner.com/turk/turkmain.html

BTW, he also has a good general purpose Mauser and Gunsmithing section of his website as well.

 

[boom boom]

BTW, if you are doing the work yourself or simply want to know enough about Mausers to make an informed decision, consider buying Jerry Kunhausen's Shop Manual on Mausers--buy it either direct from the publisher or somewhere like Midway. Amazon and Ebay have inflated prices on this.

Jerry's manual compiles all of the lessons that he learned gunsmithing these during the golden age of milsurps. It is a bit dense and repetitive at times but he gives clear checklists to restoring, fixing, and sporterizing Mausers. Mauser Central is another good resource online with a supporting forum to ask questions.

Good luck.