My 1940 Turk 8mm Mauser

[stageman]

Finally took my 1940 Turkish Mauser to the Clark Bros. range in Opal, Virginia. I put 15 rounds of funky eastern European ammo through. No misfires. At 50 yards, I was very happy with my performance with the iron sites (I haven't fired a rifle in over 40 years). Thanks to Don (Range Officer at Clark Bros) for his help in sighting in my shots.

 

[Numeric]

Built on a Turkish M1893 I see. The Turks sure had a great supply of walnut for stocks.

 

[stageman]

Thanks for the info. Can you tell me more about it? I picked up this one back in the '90's for $50 to use as a stage prop. I eventually spent 3 days cleaning out the old cosmoline and was surprised to find out how good it turned out. I hope some more surplus ammo comes on the market, soon.

 

[303tom]

Good looking old Turk, everybody needs one of em, here is one of mine................

 

[stageman]

Nice!

 

[wrench]

The Turks used what they had, and rebuilt lots of old Commission '88s, 1893 and 1903 Mausers, GEW 98s, and their own 'home built' KKale mausers.
Nothing wrong with the 1893s, but they do not have the gas handling abilities that the newer models have.
Some people say they do not shoot surplus through the '93 Turks, sticking with US commercial 8mm, or handloads.
At the very least, be sure you wear safety glasses. If you pierce a primer or split a case, you'll get a faceful of hot gas and particles.
Pretty rifle, I love these things.

 

[stageman]

Thanks, Wrench. I'll watch what I feed through it. Commercial ammo is pricey, though.

 

[Numeric]

The Turks had a fondness for every new rifle developed in Germany. They had already bought 280,000 M1890 rifles chambered in 7.65x53mm Belgian. When Spain adopted the M1893, the Turks decided they wanted in on the action, and purchased 200,000 M1893 rifles chambered in 7.65x53mm. These rifles came with a magazine cutoff on the right-hand side of the receiver; the only production Mauser to have such a feature. In 1933 the Turkish Army standardized on the 7.9x57mm cartridge, and converted as many rifles as they could to accept it, including M1888s, M1893s, M1903s and even captured SMLEs (google "enfauser"). The Mausers so converted were universally referred to as M1938, regardless of the action type.

Most of the Turkish M1890s wound up in Belgium as war reparations.

 

[WardenWolf]

Ah, Turks. Beautiful rifles, with some of the nicest wood of any military rifle ever made. And they can often be had in great condition.

Here's my 1943 K. Kale:

 

[stageman]

Great info , Numeric. Thanks.
WardenWolf- Nice K.Kale!

 

[BadWool]

Here is my 1944 K Kale. Bought it 10 years or so ago for $50. Deal also included a New England Firearms single shot 12 gauge shotgun and a two rifle hard case.

 

[stageman]

These rifles do have nice stocks, one and all.