german mauser

[joshlm]

recently purchased a mauser type rifle with german markings and a 1947 date stamp. the military stock has been cut down to a sporter stock and a recoil pad added, it is drilled and tapped but has no scope mounted or screws in the holes.blueing is about 50% but has no rust. bolt seems alittle loose in the reciever but this may be normal.it is chambered in the 8mm and the bore seems to have had little use. paid 50 dollars for the gun,is it worth fixing up or should i just shoot it the way it is. thanks for the help.

 

[mete]

1947 date stamp ? the war ended in 1945. German markings ? the three letter manufacturing code ? eagle and swastika inspection stamp ? It sounds like a sporterized war time rifle but give me some more details.

 

[joshlm]

mete,

i got the rifle out and the year is 1948,the holes are drilled right in the midle of the stamp so it is hard to read most of it but heer goes.
right above the year is the word LACORUNA then there appears to have been a crest of some sorts whare the hole was drilled it looks like possibly the feet of and lower feathers of an eagle. but that is all i can make out. above this in a circular formation is the word fabric but the rest is worn off.
on the side of the reciver is cal. 7.92 with two symbols after it. and the number j-9658 is stamped into the reciever and also the barrel. the floor plate and trigger guard area are both stamped with 9658. i am asuming by the numbers that all parts of this gun are the originals, it's really ashame someone butchered it up like this.

thanks for the help

 

[Jim K]

La Coruna is a Spanish arsenal and is where the rifle was made. It is not German, but is actually a Spanish-made copy of the German K.98k. The crest is the Spanish Fascist Eagle (Franco was still in charge in 1947). The scope mounting holes were drilled by an American gunsmith when the rifle was "sporterized".

The date is the date of manufacture. Spanish rifles are reasonably well made, though IMO not up to German, Czech or Belgian standards, and they tend to be a bit soft. I think I would go easy on loads in the German milspec category (S&B) or Turkish ammo, some of which is hot.

The loose bolt is a characteristic of the Mauser action.

You got your money's worth and a fairly good deer rifle, but again IMHO, not worth trying to restore or spending any serious money on.

Jim

 

[joshlm]

thanks jim