need help identifying rifle - mauser?

[rockinpgh]

Hi everyone!

I was hoping someone with some knowledge of military firearms history could help me identify this rifle. I think it is a mauser of some sort (which shows how little i know if i only think its a mauser ). I cant find amy markings on it anywhere to indicate caliber or maker. Just the serial #'s which seem to match. I am assuming someone put the sporter fajen stock on aftermarket but may be wrong there.

Can you guys offer any insight to the rifle or links that may help me?

Below are some pics.

thanks so much in advance!

Rock

 

[chromerunner]

Spanish 1916/fr7 Mauser?

 

[headoftheholler]

Appears to be a Spanish to me.

 

[Jim Watson]

Agreed, it is a Spanish or other Latin Mauser that has been restocked.
I don't see any point in trying to pick out the fine details of which make and model it used to be, any collector or milsurp interest is long gone.

It is probably a 7mm, might be a conversion to 7.62. Once you have figured that out, you will know all that there is to reasonably be known about it.

 

[WardenWolf]

Odd that there's no marks on it. There has to be something somewhere. Can you give us a closeup of the top of the receiver?

 

[rockinpgh]

Odd that there's no marks on it. There has to be something somewhere. Can you give us a closeup of the top of the receiver?

I agree its funny that there are no marks, bascially whatsoever. I will take a pic of the top of the receiver. I think there may be 1 hard to read character on it.

thanks very much for the input everyone!

 

[rockinpgh]

Agreed, it is a Spanish or other Latin Mauser that has been restocked.
I don't see any point in trying to pick out the fine details of which make and model it used to be, any collector or milsurp interest is long gone.

It is probably a 7mm, might be a conversion to 7.62. Once you have figured that out, you will know all that there is to reasonably be known about it.

How would I know if its converted to 7.62?

Also when you say 'long gone' would there be any trade value here at all? I probably wont shoot this so was thinking of trading it for/towards something of more interest to me.

 

[waidmann]

Try sticking a .308 (.30-06, .30-30) in the muzzle. If it stops just shy of the case.......... ditto with a 7mm. If it swallows both 7.65X53 is possible. A small ring Mauser of that ilk is usually 7X57.

I agree with the notion that it smells Spanish.

 

[rcmodel]

Also when you say 'long gone' would there be any trade value here at all?

Less then none!

Your best bet is to advertise it in the Trading Post / Thrifty Nickle paper and try sell it outright for what you got in it, or maybe a little more.

Or, figure out what it shoots, which is very likely 7mm Mauser.

Then Choot'em Lizabet! Choot'em!

rc.

 

[WardenWolf]

If the bore is in good condition, it should be a good shooter. Given that the historical value is already long-gone, you may consider installing scope mounts and keeping it as a hunting rifle. That would actually increase its value. As it sits, it's a sporterized military firearm that's been scrubbed of virtually all markings, and cannot even accept a scope that would make it a good hunting rifle. If you have scope mounts installed, it will at least have value there.

 

[Jim K]

The main identification marking was probably on the receiver ring and was removed by whoever restocked and reblued the gun. Most Latin American Mausers were made in Germany and have a deeply stamped manufacturers mark on the left side of the receiver. Mausers made in Spain, though, have a shallow marking on the receiver ring, which is why I think that rifle is Spanish.

Those guns were imported into the U.S. in the late 1950's and early 1960's literally by the shipload, and sold for $20 or so. They continually turn up on the used gun racks for $100-150 depending on how much has been done to them.

Jim

 

[Numeric]

It's a Spanish M1916 2nd pattern short rifle with an aftermarket sporter stock. If the bottom of the bolt face is squared off, then it is definitely a Spanish Mauser. Large numbers of the short rifles (including mine) were made without any crest stampings, possibly due to the Spanish Civil War. The metal appears to be in original condition and retains the original sights; the barrel has not been shortened either.

All it would need is the proper stock, barrel bands, and handguard and you could have yourself an intact milsurp rifle for your collection. As it is, reverting this gun back to its original military specs is simple, and requires no gunsmithing. I think scoping this rifle would be a serious mistake, since it would ruin its potential value as a historical piece, and certainly wouldn't add to the value of the gun.

 

[Mauser lover]

You could get a stock and bands and make it a military surplus rifle again, but it is a firearm that isn't worth a whole lot, more than a Mosin, but still not much, and scoping it wouldn't be very beneficial, unless you are really lucky with the quality of the bore. Chances are, it won't group any better with a scope than with the existing irons. If someday these guns were rare, it would be better to not put a scope on it, but you would have to get a stock.


You could re-barrel it to .45 ACP, and stick a block in the magazine so it would accept those stubby rounds and keep it as a plinker/close range hog gun...