Mauser 98 left hand safety to right hand safety

[MW3840]

I recently bought a Mauser 98 .30 Ackley #1 Short Magnum that has a left handed safety on it. I bought a low profile right handed safety to replace it and wanted some help from the learned members on how to this.

Many thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[Jim K]

I would like to see pictures. There are/were Mausers with left handed safeties (e.g., Peruvian), but they are rare since the bolt sleeve has to be reversed also. But if the safety is truly left hand (to 9 o'clock for safe, 3 o'clock for fire), then the normal low scope safeties won't work and can't be made to work except by first replacing the bolt sleeve and original safety.

Jim

 

[Mobuck]

There are some older replacement "sporter" safeties that sit on the left side of the cocking piece which are meant to be used by right handed shooters. W/o pictures, it's not possible to determine what you have.

 

[fguffey]

Left hand safety: You have a or part of a Peruvian Mauser, the thinking? An Instructor thought getting close to the rear of the receiver improved accuracy, problem, the safety cut the nose and or the face. The solution was to move the safety to the right side to fire. Belgium made the rifles for Peru.



When the right hand safety is installed in the left hand Mauser bolt there is nothing to hold the safety in when in the fire position.



Everyone I know changed the bolt firing pin assemble.



F. Guffey



http://www.google.com/imgres?q=peru...4DgBg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=140&page=7&tbnh=128&

 

[Jim K]

Some Peruvian folks of native ancestry have rather large noses, a fact that could have a bearing on Peru having those safeties reversed. And not only in Peru; the reverse safety was an option on Springfield match rifles in the Model 1903 era for those who wanted to protect a prominent proboscis.

Jim

 

[MW3840]

Thanks to all who have responded. I should add that the rifle has a scope on it. I really don't know how to post pictures, so to the following people,

Jim K. - My safety is 9 o'clock for safety, and around 11 o'clock for fire

Mobuck - This indeed might be a 'sporter' safety, as the metal on the wing that juts out on the left side is thinner and ribbed. But why were some safeties placed on the left side for right handed shooters?

fguffey - the hyper-link you sent shows the safety I have, like the one on the right hand side, with the exception that my safety is thinner, black and ribbed.

 

[fguffey]

NW3840, help me out, what clock are you using, I have what is believed to be a left hand clock, it runs counter clock-wise, I know that makes no sense to anyone but it was designed to be used for those working with a clock behind them,, all they had to do was look into a mirror. On the front of the safety is a bevel/ramp, the bevel cams the cocking piece back, many years ago a friend built one magnificent 30/06 using a Peruvian Mauser. the proud owner returned the rifle with problems, my friend is no longer able to the work so he asked me to look at it. The safety configuration was as described in another thread/question on removing a bolt from a receiver that does not allow the safety to hold the cocking piece back far enough to unscrew the firing pin assemble. Long story.

When finished I took the rifle to the range, most impressive accuracy.

F. Guffey

 

[MW3840]

Mr. Guffey,

I am using a clock that runs clockwise. The other messages now make sense to me after your explaination. Thanks for helping out.

Mike

 

[dirtyjim]

Fn commercial mausers were available with left hand safeties. Looks like the dayton traiser only
reversed.i think numrich still sells a knock-off.
You'll need a new bolt shroud & possibly a new cocking piece.
let me know what brand of safety you bought & I'll walk you through installing it

 

[MW3840]

Jim,

Thank you so much for the kind offer. I looked for the safety today and couldn't find it. I know it is lurking in the dark recesses of my reoading/gun room. I will continue the search.

Mike