Another Mauser Thread.

[Oldschool shooter]

Came across this Mauser based rifle and had to bring it home. I think it could be an FN Mauser. But can find no markings. Rifle is chambered for 270. The scope set up is old and a bit odd. Bausch and Lomb variable scope, with no magnification markings on it, possibly an 8A 2.5-8 variable with a post and crosshair reticle. Windage and elevation are adjusted on the mount, no adjustment turrets on the scope. Any further insight would be appreciated.

 

[Offfhand]

That is a very nice rifle and scope rig. The American made Bausch & Lomb scopes of the 1950's-60's era were the best of the best and genuinely waterproof. The B&L mounting system is bulky and sometimes tedious to get adjusted but once you get the rifle zeroed it will hold forever. A feature of the mounting system was allowing the scope to be quickly removed and replaced without losing the zero. I have B&L scopes on a few of my rifles, including the FN Mauser shown with a 4X scope. The other rifle, at top is mounted with a Balvar 2-1/2-8X. Your scope appears to be a Balvar 4, which is variable from 2-1/2X to 4X.I hope this information is helpful.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

That is a very nice rifle and scope rig. The American made Bausch & Lomb scopes of the 1950's-60's era were the best of the best and genuinely waterproof. The B&L mounting system is bulky and sometimes tedious to get adjusted but once you get the rifle zeroed it will hold forever. A feature of the mounting system was allowing the scope to be quickly removed and replaced without losing the zero. I have B&L scopes on a few of my rifles, including the FN Mauser shown with a 4X scope. The other rifle, at top is mounted with a Balvar 2-1/2-8X. Your scope appears to be a Balvar 4, which is variable from 2-1/2X to 4X.I hope this information is helpful.View attachment 957399 View attachment 957400

Thanks. The magnification seems to be more than just 4x, but it may just be my eyes. It is a Balvar. I thought the rig was probably a late 50s or early 60s build. Anxious to get out and see how it shoots. Those are 2 fine looking rifles.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Thats a beauty!

I have a 50s era sporterized 1916 G98 that is as pretty. I recently found a note of my grandpa's saying it was chambered for 30-06. Its what I assumed by bore and testing a fired case in it.

My scope is a variable Pecar-Berlin in an unknown side mount with quick release and return to zero.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Something about a well done Mauser sporter that just calls to me. The fact that yours belonged to your grandpa makes a nice rifle even more special.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Ill throw a pic or two up for ya then. I think its a gorgeous gun. Fajen stock. Unmarked barrel. Receiver is a 1916 J.P. Sauer & Sohn from Suhl. My grandpa was a collector and went through many firearms. Ive found that many of the ones he gave me, and then ones I chose after his death are ones he had kept for a long time. He collected from about 1975 until his passing in 2004. I have about 2/3rds of his total collection.

Edit: the peep sight is a Redfield

Sorry, the pics could be better...

 

[Oldschool shooter]

That is a very nice rifle and scope rig. The American made Bausch & Lomb scopes of the 1950's-60's era were the best of the best and genuinely waterproof. The B&L mounting system is bulky and sometimes tedious to get adjusted but once you get the rifle zeroed it will hold forever. A feature of the mounting system was allowing the scope to be quickly removed and replaced without losing the zero. I have B&L scopes on a few of my rifles, including the FN Mauser shown with a 4X scope. The other rifle, at top is mounted with a Balvar 2-1/2-8X. Your scope appears to be a Balvar 4, which is variable from 2-1/2X to 4X.I hope this information is helpful.View attachment 957399 View attachment 957400

Found an old B&L advertisement, looks like you are indeed correct, that it is a Balvar 4. Thanks.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Ill throw a pic or two up for ya then. I think its a gorgeous gun. Fajen stock. Unmarked barrel. Receiver is a 1916 J.P. Sauer & Sohn from Suhl. My grandpa was a collector and went through many firearms. Ive found that many of the ones he gave me, and then ones I chose after his death are ones he had kept for a long time. He collected from about 1975 until his passing in 2004. I have about 2/3rds of his total collection.

Edit: the peep sight is a Redfield

Sorry, the pics could be better...

That is a beautiful rifle. The scope was pretty high end back in it's day and they were known for making fine optics.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Thank you. My grandpa had some good taste! The scope is still clear as day. I still want to cast the chamber just to be sure of caliber. Judging by the style and brand of stock, as well as the scope, I think that it was sporterized in the 50s. In which case 30-06 would make sense.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Very nice rifle!

You definitely have a commercial M98 action, since the military thumb notch is missing from the left side of the receiver. FN is a good bet, but If you want to confirm this, take the action out of the stock and look for Belgian proofs someplace on the receiver ring. The Perron (the thing that looks like a candlestick) should be visible somewhere.



Next, flip the action over and look for a postwar FN date code on the flat just behind the recoil lug on the underside of the receiver:



The date code is a single digit inside a square/diamond/polygon -- here is the table for decoding this mark:



Another thing to check is the barrel/receiver intersection inside the action. Look at the left raceway; if it is solid as in the right hand photo below, action is not post-1948 (or '49, I forget exactly) FN manufacture. This broaching cut was a cost-saving measure.



Lots of postwar commercial rifles were built using FN actions. Husqvarna used them until they introduced the HVA action in the 1950s. The big mailorder catalog outlets also sold them under house brands like Western Field, but those generally have additional markings on the barrel and/or receiver.

Possibly this rifle has been built by a custom shop, especially if the '44' on the receiver is the serial number.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Very nice rifle!

You definitely have a commercial M98 action, since the military thumb notch is missing from the left side of the receiver. FN is a good bet, but If you want to confirm this, take the action out of the stock and look for Belgian proofs someplace on the receiver ring. The Perron (the thing that looks like a candlestick) should be visible somewhere.

View attachment 957479

Next, flip the action over and look for a postwar FN date code on the flat just behind the recoil lug on the underside of the receiver:

View attachment 957466

The date code is a single digit inside a square/diamond/polygon -- here is the table for decoding this mark:

View attachment 957467

Another thing to check is the barrel/receiver intersection inside the action. Look at the left raceway; if it is solid as in the right hand photo below, action is not post-1948 (or '49, I forget exactly) FN manufacture. This broaching cut was a cost-saving measure.

View attachment 957468

Lots of postwar commercial rifles were built using FN actions. Husqvarna used them until they introduced the HVA action in the 1950s. The big mailorder catalog outlets also sold them under house brands like Western Field, but those generally have additional markings on the barrel and/or receiver.

Possibly this rifle has been built by a custom shop, especially if the '44' on the receiver is the serial number.

Thank you for the information. I will be busy tomorrow digging into this some more.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Both of my Fn commercial mausers have a flat bottomed bolt handle knob with checkering, might be a good clue.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Mine does as well. Thanks.