mortablunt
Member
It's not actually too bad.
I know it is a travesty...
- Thread starter Mustang51
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Mustang51
Member
If it shoots, it will be perfect for my purposes. It is just a shame that what must have been a pristine Persian Mauser was drilled and tapped, and as a consequence lost any of its collector's value.
In reality, a much less pristine example with a good bore would also have served my purpose.
In reality, a much less pristine example with a good bore would also have served my purpose.
bachekermooni
Member
Watching that scope mount on such a perfect condition Persian Mauser brings tears to my eyes - sort of like that Crown Royal commercial 
caribou
Member
Persia scoped their own rifles with several types of commercial scopes purchased in europe.
I really like it!! Its a fine job, done by a craftsman, if it were an armory job, the bolt handle would have had the serial number restamped.
by the way.....
Roughly 17 million MosinNagants have been made ,if all nations who made them are counted. For the Russians alone, 2 world wars , a revolution and several small spats and giveaways reduced that number significantly.
If a fella has any foresite at all, he'd see what happend to the millions of Mausers, Enfeilds, and springfeilds went. My grandpa Frank, after WW2 ,bought 10 or so Springfield '03's for 20$ each, as well as a new "star" marked barrel and a wood blank for 20$ more and did his thing, makeing hisself a personal Hunting rifle. The other Springfeilds he had he sold for well over 600$ each.
I bought K98k's in the 80's for 50$-100$ and other than 3 excellent ones Ive kept, I have gotten at least 450$+ on each of the rest.
As well, in the late 80's and early 90's I was buying Mosins from Finnland for 20$ each (100$ for 5 in a wire bundle) to 50$ each for excellent specimins....M-27's and M-28's for 60$ get 350$ to 500$ today , depending on condition and markings (same as any military rifle)
M-44 referbs have gone from 60$ each to 200$ easy, in just 3 or so years.
You keep hacking them allrighty, your making mine worth more but for sure, it aint gonna be long before your 89$ M-91/30 with accessories in the box will be a 350$ "wish I had bought alot more" rifle.......~~LOL!!~~
I really like it!! Its a fine job, done by a craftsman, if it were an armory job, the bolt handle would have had the serial number restamped.
by the way.....
Roughly 17 million MosinNagants have been made ,if all nations who made them are counted. For the Russians alone, 2 world wars , a revolution and several small spats and giveaways reduced that number significantly.
If a fella has any foresite at all, he'd see what happend to the millions of Mausers, Enfeilds, and springfeilds went. My grandpa Frank, after WW2 ,bought 10 or so Springfield '03's for 20$ each, as well as a new "star" marked barrel and a wood blank for 20$ more and did his thing, makeing hisself a personal Hunting rifle. The other Springfeilds he had he sold for well over 600$ each.
I bought K98k's in the 80's for 50$-100$ and other than 3 excellent ones Ive kept, I have gotten at least 450$+ on each of the rest.
As well, in the late 80's and early 90's I was buying Mosins from Finnland for 20$ each (100$ for 5 in a wire bundle) to 50$ each for excellent specimins....M-27's and M-28's for 60$ get 350$ to 500$ today , depending on condition and markings (same as any military rifle)
M-44 referbs have gone from 60$ each to 200$ easy, in just 3 or so years.
You keep hacking them allrighty, your making mine worth more
but for sure, it aint gonna be long before your 89$ M-91/30 with accessories in the box will be a 350$ "wish I had bought alot more" rifle.......~~LOL!!~~sayak
Member
Almost makes you want to cry? Good God man, it's a rifle not a person. Shoot it. Enjoy it. Someone already did the hard work for you.
sixgunner455
Member
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Nice job on a beautiful rifle, that you will enjoy shooting for the rest of your life.
Money well spent.
Caribou, I bought a decent M44 for $50.00 about ten years ago. I got $100.00 for it a few years later, and thought I'd done well. They aren't much more than that now, if you get them on sale. I got a K31 for $80.00 after I sold the M44. That K31 has really gone up in value, and I like it, to boot! Not selling it, either.
Money well spent.
Caribou, I bought a decent M44 for $50.00 about ten years ago. I got $100.00 for it a few years later, and thought I'd done well. They aren't much more than that now, if you get them on sale. I got a K31 for $80.00 after I sold the M44. That K31 has really gone up in value, and I like it, to boot!
Not selling it, either.
theotherwaldo
Member
The perfect arrangement: you get the solid, shoot-able, scope-able rifle that you wanted, while Bubba gets all of the bad karma.
FMJMIKE
Member
I think it is beautiful like it is !!! Enjoy it.............
Mustang51
Member
Thanks guys.
I've yet to mount a scope on it, but will send pics and a range report when I do.
Steve
I've yet to mount a scope on it, but will send pics and a range report when I do.
Steve
It would be fun to mount an Unertl scope on it. Something that matches the interesting look of the rifle. You can't undo the drilling and tapping and the mount is there, so put in the scope and enjoy the rifle.
It is probably a little heavy. Put on a nice sling and deal with the weight. It is not THAT heavy.
It is probably a little heavy. Put on a nice sling and deal with the weight. It is not THAT heavy.
Mustang51
Member
Finally mounted a scope and took it to the range.
Put 5 "regular " Prvi rounds into a target at 50 yards
And then put 7 "Match" Prvi rounds into a target at 100 yards
First one went low, second one went high, then 5 in the middle.
I think that Reloading will help shrink the group, as will some kind of cheek rest. I had more of a "chin weld" than a "cheek weld"
Put 5 "regular " Prvi rounds into a target at 50 yards
And then put 7 "Match" Prvi rounds into a target at 100 yards
First one went low, second one went high, then 5 in the middle.
I think that Reloading will help shrink the group, as will some kind of cheek rest. I had more of a "chin weld" than a "cheek weld"
Gtimothy
Member
Wow, If it is sacrilege to mount a scope on an old surplus Mauser then I guess I'm just plain going to Hell for what I'm planning to do with my old Brazilian Mauser! I paid $65.00 at K-Mart for it, almost 20 years ago. When I got it home and cleaned all the grease out of it, I found the barrel was HEAVILY pitted. I don't trust it so I'm going to have it re barreled and put it into a synthetic stock. I also plan to have it drilled and tapped for a scope mount....OH NO!
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I agree 100%! Some folks are more than a little silly about such things. It's a military surplus rifle, not Colt SAA serial number 1. They made millions of them, plenty enough for everyone who wants one to have one and do what they want with it.
Elkins45
Member
My thought as well. I'll be sure to never let you see what's in the back of my gun safe because I'm afraid you'll have a seizure
In my defense, one of my Bubba'd Mausers was bought as a bare action from CIA in the early 90's so its only value was as a shooter. The other was a rifle my Dad managed to acquire sometime before I was born. The stock had already been cut down and the bore was so badly pitted that it wouldn't extract a fired round without a hammer. It's currently wearing a 1967 israeli surplus .308 barrel and is functional again. I won't own a gun that won't shoot, unless it's one that has personal or family history.Now that this gun has a scope mounted it appears to not have a working safety. I assume it a range gun only? My totally unsolicited advice is to invest the $20 in a low scope safety lever for your gun. It would be a shame if there was some sort of accident and you ended up on the legal hook for it because the safety can't be engaged with a scope installed.
That may be the best looking bore I've ever seen on a surplus rifle!
420Stainless
Member
No travesty. If I could buy one like that for the price you did I would do so. I keep most of my guns as is from the factory, but I also like to buy them when they're in fine shape, still very utilitarian, and discounted for the modifications. I got good deals on a couple of colt double action revolvers that were slightly modified and they are my favorites.
Your's is a beauty.
Your's is a beauty.
Mustang51
Member
Thanks, Stainless
Well, I'm not saying these rifles are rare or expensive...but many of us feel they are collectible. With so many around that have been reblued, banged around, etc, it was a bit of a shame that the prior owner chose one that was so nice (considering it is 80 years old) and original to drill and tap.
On the other hand, because he did, I got a very nice rifle for much less than it would have cost in original condition. And it was exactly what I was looking for.
You make a good point about the safety. I'll get one of those timney or other low safeties and install it. Not sure how difficult that will be, but it needs to be done, for exactly the reason that you mentioned.
Thanks for the comments about the bore. I doubt this was fired much in its lifetime. Evrey once in a while I run across a military rifle that has a great bore, which always amazes me considering their age.
Recently I glommed a Rock Island M1903 that had a Sedgley barrel and a bore that is as nice as this one.
Well, I'm not saying these rifles are rare or expensive...but many of us feel they are collectible. With so many around that have been reblued, banged around, etc, it was a bit of a shame that the prior owner chose one that was so nice (considering it is 80 years old) and original to drill and tap.
On the other hand, because he did, I got a very nice rifle for much less than it would have cost in original condition. And it was exactly what I was looking for.
You make a good point about the safety. I'll get one of those timney or other low safeties and install it. Not sure how difficult that will be, but it needs to be done, for exactly the reason that you mentioned.
Thanks for the comments about the bore. I doubt this was fired much in its lifetime. Evrey once in a while I run across a military rifle that has a great bore, which always amazes me considering their age.
Recently I glommed a Rock Island M1903 that had a Sedgley barrel and a bore that is as nice as this one.
tahoe2
Member
Mustang
Wow! That's too bad ! Now you will have to scope it and see how accurate that
beautiful Persian shoots. I know you will be tickled with, show us some targets when you shoot it !
Wow! That's too bad ! Now you will have to scope it and see how accurate that
beautiful Persian shoots. I know you will be tickled with, show us some targets when you shoot it !
Elkins45
Member
There's one version that requires you to cut a slot in the bolt shroud, but most versions are just drop in--or at least as "drop in" as a part can be for a gun that was made in so many variations in so many factories. You might need to do a bit of filing or stoning on the safety (or the cocking piece in the worst case) to get it to work. If you get lucky all you'll have to do is take the bolt apart and swap the parts. That's for the bolt mounted ones. If you install a new trigger with a safety then you'll have some stock inletting you'll need to do.
That 1903 has me drooling!
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
See, this is where I have to take issue with collectors. I tire of the attitude that "nice" guns should be collected. While we shooters should be relegated to the leftovers. Rest assured, if I ever get around to tastefully sporterizing an old milsurp rifle (Krag, Mauser or 1903), I will begin with the nicest example I can afford. I'll be sure and post pics for all the sensitive collectors to cry over the "travesty".
Mustang51
Member
I shoot all of the guns I collect. Your separation of "shooters" and "collectors" doesn't apply to me...I'm both. Perhaps you didn't notice the targets that I posted above.
Nor would I ever tell anyone what they should do with their own weapons...please feel free to buy a nice milsurp rifle, spent some money tastefully sporterizing it and ending up with a rifle worth half what you paid for it.
Believe me, just like my Persian Mauser, I'll be there to buy it if you tire of it.
As for being "tired of the attitude"...you seem to be the only one around here with an attitude, Craig
Nor would I ever tell anyone what they should do with their own weapons...please feel free to buy a nice milsurp rifle, spent some money tastefully sporterizing it and ending up with a rifle worth half what you paid for it.
Believe me, just like my Persian Mauser, I'll be there to buy it if you tire of it.
As for being "tired of the attitude"...you seem to be the only one around here with an attitude, Craig
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Nobody builds a custom gun to save or make money. Rest assured, when completed, it will be worth a hell of a lot more than what I paid for it. The BS people repeat about the resale value of custom guns is just that.
Mustang51
Member
And this is based on ...what experience with "sporterized" milsurp rifles, exactly? You just got done telling us that you don't have any sporterized military rifles.
Take the Persian Mauser that is the subject of this post. Got it for $260, plus a 13% "buyer's premium". There were 5 other Persian Mausers at this auction, all of which were in original condition, and all of which went for much more. And that doesn't include all the gunsmithing that went into sporterizing this one.
Same with the Rock Island 1903. Paid about the same as for the Persian Mauser. Less than half what it would have been worth un-sported. And that doesn't include the gunsmithing and Redfield peep sights that were included.
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Mustang51
Member
Thanks, velnar.
What amazes me is that this thing is essentially as it left the factory 80-odd years ago, except for the glass and the bolt -turn down. It is like it was in some time capsule. The wood has a few dents and dings, but doesn't appear to have warped and the rifle is amazingly accurate. I think with some load development and a cheek rest, I can get this down to a true MOA.
My sons and I shoot them in several different matches...a "vintage military silhouette match" which involves shooting chicken, pig, turkey and ram silhouettes at ranges of 220 yards (chickens), 330 yards (pigs), 420 yds (turkeys) and rams (550) yards. Rifles are 50 year old "as issued" rifles, shot prone off a soft front rest (sand bag or backpack). Here's a picture of the silhouette range at my club:
We also shoot these same rifles in a " long range" vintage military match. This is a match shot at paper bullseye targets at 300, 500, 600, and 800 yards.
This match is shot at the 1000 yard range at the top of this satellite picture
http://mapq.st/uQUg0e
Both matches have an "open class" for scoped military rifles. I've been looking for a rifle for "open class" shooting and it looks like I found it.
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CmdrSlander
Member
Travesty? Its an improvement! Well sporterized military rifles have an elegance and robustness all their own. Now, you must find an old, well figured walnut stock with a white line recoil pad to complete the package.
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