can't identify world war 1 rifle(serial#OT-30665)

[sidenotch]

hello at high roads...can anyone PLEASE help me...i recently purchased a rifle that seems to be hard to identify. I know enough about guns to know this gun is quite old...probably world war one. Problem is there isn't any MAJOR identifying mark on the rifle except for the serial numbers that ALLLL match which are on the underplate of the bullet chamber and on the bolt handle and on the upper part of the large end of the barrel. The serial number is OT-30665..I'm not exactly sure that the O(letter) is actually a letter, or a number, so it could be 0(zero)T-30665. I have researched quite a few websites and found that it seems to have characteristics of a Mauser, becuase it has the side stock harness mounts(non familiar to Lee-Enfield and Springfield models. It does have a "tangent range site" on it, and there is visually a difference from any mauser i have seen online or any other types of weapons used in world war one, as this fine rifle has an obvious double piece stock which semi-covers the tangent site which is staggered about two inches forward from where normal mauser sites are located. The site has numbers on it and there are no other visual marks that show a "R" for the royal seal(british), nor does it have the "griffon" from the normal mauser mark, and it definately is in good enough condition to be able to see any marks which might be present. As i said before, the only serial numbers it has are OT-30665, it has the lower extended "stem" bayonet mount and the end of the barrel seems to be quite a bit shorter than the mausers and any other world war two guns when i researched it online. I think that's enough info for you to perhaps get back to me, if there's anyone out there who can help, or is interested in buying my gun i purchased at an auction just a week ago...little bit of rust, but EVERYTHING on it is original and in working order...it's a BEAUTY....thnx for any coments i can get to help me out....best regards..SIDENOTCH

 

[mike724]

Pictures?

 

[1 old 0311]

If you can't post pics, go to www.gunbroker.com and compare.

 

[Cosmoline]

There's no mark on the receiver at all? No stamps or letters even under the wood? Your description is too vague. You need to be specific. Is the bolt bent? Straight? What kind of magazine does it have? Does it have a blade front sight? How many bands on the barrel?

Or just post some pics.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sights, stocks, bayonets, markings, sling attachments, etc., are subject to change without notice; there are a LOT of minor variants that the milsurp collectors get all hot and bothered over.
You must be able to identify the action. There are a lot fewer types because they are a lot harder to change.

PICTURES

 

[BEARMAN]

Because a lot of First World War rifles were from the 1890 era and european , goto this site and follow the steps . http://www.militaryrifles.com/IDWizard/IDWizard.htm