Help me identify/value a Mauser?

[ScramasaxDurango]

This is the other gun my grandfather gave me (see my other post on the Stevens gun, I need help there too). I know it's a Mauser-type gun, produced in Liege, Belgium. It has been sporterized from an earlier gun (evidenced by the the fact that the Belgian proof mark was half-covered by the stock) and has an absolutely gorgeous finish to it. It accepts 7x57 (7mm Mauser) ammunition, and has a five-round internal magazine. The finish of the weapon is incredibly good, as it sat in the old man's attic for ten years before he gave it to me, and shows no signs of rusting. My grandfather and my father both used it in the sixties and seventies in Alaska on various game, and while the stock has a few scratches, it's still in great shape despite all the mistreatment and use it has seen.

The guys at the gun shop thought it might have been made in the 1930's as a Belgian army sniper rifle and sporterized after the war. It sounds about right to me, but they didn't tell me how much it was worth, just offered to buy it.

Basic info:

--caliber: 7x57mm

--Belgian proof mark, but it doesn't seem to fit with the rifle: it's the "ELG" in an oval, with a crown and a star, which I thought was only applied to blackpowder guns...

--Probably a sporterized army rifle

--has the initials "JH" or something close to that on it in ornate letters as a maker's mark

--serial number is also in very ornate lettering

--Dunno if this helps, but the finish of the metal looks almost red under certain lights (not rust)

--Shoots extremely well, but is very loud

--classic Mauser bolt-action


Anyway, if there is anything else I can tell you about the gun that would help you identify it, please let me know. I could use some help with identifying how much this gun is worth, and I'd really like to know more of the history behind it.

Thanks!

 

[KodiakBeer]

One picture would be worth 1000 words.

7X57 makes me think it's a Mauser 93 or 95 - is it a small or large ring Mauser? Belgium sporterized a lot of surplus rifles. I'd guess (without pictures) that it's a German made 93 or 95 that was sporterized in Belgium.

 

[ScramasaxDurango]

Here are a couple of pics.

I guess you might have to follow the hyperlinks... <sigh>

http://s800.photobucket.com/albums/yy285/Hyperion1776/?action=view&current=DSC00773.jpg

http://s800.photobucket.com/albums/yy285/Hyperion1776/?action=view&current=DSC00774.jpg

 

[KodiakBeer]

I had almost forgotten I have a copy of the Ludwig Olson Mauser book. FN did produce Mausers (Large Ring) in 7x57 known as the Model 22, Model 24, Model 30 and Model 35. They produced these for a number of countries. There should be a coat of arms on the receiver which would indicate which country it was made for.

If there is no coat of arms on the receiver, it may be a post WWII commercial sporter.

 

[KodiakBeer]

You'd have to remove the scope mount to see what coat of arms lies on the receiver ring underneath. Just beneath the coat of arms you should see 22, 24, 30 or 35 if it was originally a military rifle.

 

[dougw47]

Sporterized Mausers with cheap scopes sell for $250-300 here in East Texas.

 

[ScramasaxDurango]

So I'd absolutely have to remove the scope mounts? <grumble> Okay...

 

[dirtyjim]

thats a spanish 93 small ring. the pushbutton hinged triggergaurd gives it away.
i would value it at around $175-250 but i hope it has enough sentimental value to keep it or pass it on to another family menber in the future.

with a little work it could be made into a very nice classic style sporter. rasp the hump out of the comb, sweep the grip back about 1/2", shorten the forearm about 2" & add a ebony tip, swap the big scope out for a weaver K4 or K2.5 then add some iron sights as a back up

 

[otcconan]

FWIW, though it does generally decrease the collector's value, sporterized Mausers make excellent hunting rifles. My old man left me a Chilean 1895 rechambered for .30-06 that is an absolute tack driver. My only complaint with the rifle is the scope is not raised up high enough. In the safe position, the safety lever actually contacts the scope. I'd re-scope it but I'm lazy and the entire rig has sentimental value. I took my first deer with it with my old man at my side.

 

[ScramasaxDurango]

Yeah I'm not intending to get rid of it anytime soon. Both my grandfather and my father used this gun, and it's interesting to think about the military history behind it. You have to wonder how many people were killed with this thing-- it is, as you put it, Conan, a "tack driver"