Argentine Mauser carbine

[Daniel T]

The unenviable task of sorting and selling my late grandfather's gun collection has fallen to me. While I would obviously prefer to not sell any of his collection, I have only two choices: sell them myself or have them sold en masse to some random dealer. It's not really a choice.

None of the firearms I need to sell have any family history or meaning beyond just being in my grandfather's possession (which is enough for me, but I don't get a say). All of the guns that he had that were passed down to him or that have a personal connection to him have good homes now, so this isn't as bad a situation as it could be. I'm not being asked to sell the 1911A1 he brought back from his WW2 service, or the .410 he got for Christmas at age 8, or anything like that. Those are safe. The guns I'm being asked to sell were ones that he probably meant to sell himself...at some point. He even put prices on most of them (having been a FFL, pre-Clinton), but those prices are fairly outdated now.

About half of his collection has been fairly easy to price, but the other half is a bit stickier. Custom rifles, antique revolvers, etc. This is the first of probably several posts I'm going to make asking the good folks here at THR to assist me in finding fair values for some of these guns.

I've been searching for what the value of this rifle might be, but I've had a hard time. It's a "Mauser Modelo Argentino 1891, Manufactura Loewe Berlin" carbine with an intact crest, but with non-matching serials on the bolt, magazine, and stock. It's in amazing shape, with virtually no finish wear, and no indication of refinishing. The serial number on the receiver and barrel is A93xx.

Close-up up the crest:

So, anyone feel like taking a crack at its value? I can take more pics if needed.

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I bought a full length Argentine Mauser last year from a guy hard up for cash. He was asking $250 but all I had in my wallet was $173, which he took. Mine is in superb shape but has the crest ground off like most of them do. I suspect yours, being a carbine with an intact crest is worth more than the $250 the guy I bought mine from was asking.

If you had of caught me a year ago and had been asking $300 I would have snapped it up. If you'd caught me on payday I might have paid more.

 

[Daniel T]

Thanks Harry.

Does anyone else have any input? I know it's an antique and not one of them high-speed, low-drag semi-autos we love so much, but it's a nice rifle just the same.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

I would guess $300 range, maybe more if you advertise it in the right places.

Does anyone else have any input? I know it's an antique and not one of them high-speed, low-drag semi-autos we love so much, but it's a nice rifle just the same.

F&%$ high speed low drag, I'd prefer that over an AR anyday!!!!

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Dang, seeing that makes me regret giving away a big box of bright, shiny newish 7.65 Argy rounds. I always did like the carbines, but never owned one.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[nicholst55]

If I was tasked with selling it, I would post it on GunBroker.com with a $300 reserve, and a $350 'Buy It Now' price. Emphasize the fact that the crest is intact, which is pretty much unheard of on 91 Argies. In fact, if I wasn't in a big hurry to sell it, I'd put a $350 reserve on it and a $375 'BIN' price. If it doesn't sell at that price after about 3-4 weeks, I'd reduce the price to $300/375, and mark it 'reduced for quick sale!'

 

[Jspy]

I also have one of these little carbines I picked up a couple years back. The other thing which may make it stand out is the lack of an importer stamped on it somewhere.

 

[koja48]

No clue in today's market, but I have one my Dad bought for me back in the 50's. He paid $19.95 for it ('cuz I remember working that amount off).

 

[Blackfork]

Nice Carbine.

Looks like a nice one. I have owned five of them, have two now, paid between 150 -275.00 for them. I see them go by on Gunbroker all the time now for 250-350.

There are two variants, an engineer carbine and a cav carbine. The Cav carbine has front and read swivels. I think you have an engineer. They are usually found in pretty good shape since the engineers....engineered. I think the Cav guys actually got out and rode around.

Great gun, with handloads. I shot a nice buck with my Cav Carbine a few years back. Still take them out and shoot them.

What do you want for it?

 

[Coreyk]

Welll...

I sold one of those last spring. First production run Ludwig Loewe cavalry carbine, intact crest, 75-80% blue, 80-90% barrel, CAI import marks, all matching numbers. I paid $195 in 1998. I got $600 for it. Knocked me over with surprise.

Do your homework! A good '91 Carbine is a well-loved thing, and should fetch a nice bit for you. Less for the infantry stock and the non-matching numbers, but still...does your have a bayonet lug? removed saddle ring mount behind the trigger guard?
You can search the completed auctions on Gunbroker.com, just like Ebay.

Good luck, that's a beauty.

CK

CK

 

[Daniel T]

Wow, that's great Corey, thanks. Welcome to THR.

This rifle has no import markings and I would say the finish and barrel are 99%+.

Nope, doesn't look like there's anywhere to hang a bayonet on it, but it does have a plate behind the trigger guard where a sling mount point might have been. In fact, the only place you could attach a sling is on the side of the rifle near the butt, as seen in the image.

After much searching, I found a few online auctions that sold rifles similar to this one for about $600 and Gunbroker auctions for around $400-$500. I'd think this rifle would probably be in that range.

 

[Cosmoline]

I think $300 reserve is too low, but to know for certain you need to get an EXACT ID on it! There were several different types of '91 carbines, and to complicate matters there are a lot of fakes and rearsenals where one type was changed to another. It looks like a cavalry carbine to me, since it appears the barrel does not extend beyond the end of the stock, but it's hard to say if it's an original cavalry. It does not appear to have been retrofitted to take a bayonet, which should increase its value. I'd suggest taking your photos and details over to this forum on military mauser rifles:

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=6