Turkish Mauser-1893

[The Deer Hunter]

I was looking through the Sportsman Guide catalog yesterday and saw this:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=317510

Its a model 1893 Turkish Mauser, re-chambered to 8mm Mauser in the 30's. They are pre 1898 so there is no federal restrictions on it which I thought was pretty cool. But what interested me the most were the receiver markings. The price is $299, which seeing basically everything else in the catalog was a ripoff I decided to investigate.

I found some on Gunbroker.com, they were basically the same thing except no receiver markings and around $150. Also, Suprlus rifle said that they go for around $75-$150. I was wondering if there was another place that sells them cheaper, with the receiver markings.


I also have some questions about the rifle. I searched THR(first step before making any thread )and I saw someone mention that they are NOT the K98 model. I was thinking if I got one I could re-blue it and put a nice sporter stock on it and maybe put a turned down bolt on it, so I was also wondering if there is a wide variety of parts+accesories for the 1893 Mauser? What are the options when it comes to mounting a scope?

I think its just so cool that its over 100 years old.

And btw, does anyone notice the Sportsman Guide has cheesy stories like "we found these in an old shabby shack, what a find!" for all their old(mil-surp etc...) stuff?

 

[nwilliams]

I see Turks in original caliber for a less than $299 once in awhile, although its more common to find Turkish 1903/38's, I have one that I paid $79 for and was in very good condition when I bought ita few years ago. I see them at most guns stores in my area and Big 5 Sporting Goods usually sells them at budget prices. As for Mauser 1893's they are not quite as common but not rare, I certainly woulnd't pay $299 for one! I would look for a slightly later model that you can find parts to more easily.

If you want a good source of 1893 parts I would check out Numrich or Brownells.

www.e-gunparts.com/

www.brownells.com

No these are not k98's, thats a different type of Mauser. There were many Mauser variations made by many different countries over the years. The actions remained pretty much the same but the overall styles became more refined. The k98 is pretty much the peak of Mauser rifle design, but its still holds many of the characteristics of the earlier ones.

As for sporterising them, you'll find them pretty easy to work with and there are places to buy decent sporter stocks. Just make sure that if you buy a small ring Mauser like the 1893 that you buy a small ring sporter stock, which are bit harder to find. Sporter stocks for large ring mausers very common, so if you want to put a synthetic stock on a Mauser youre better off looking for a later model such as K-98s, Czech VZ-24s, Yugo 24/47s, Yugo 48/48As, Turkish 1903/1937/1938/1946s, etc. Having a rifle that is over 100 years old is pretty cool, but if you want to sporterize it and make it into a decent range rifle with sporter stock and scope, I would consider one of the above models mentioned.

here's a link with lots of good infor that may help you decide on what yo look for

www.surplusrifle.com

Good luck with your search, I don't think it will take you long to find one in decent condition for a lot less money.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Sportsmans Guide gets a lot more for those rifles than most other places, but if they have them and you can't find one elsewhere ...

Definitely not M98s or K98s. These are an older design with only two locking lugs on the bolt, not three like the M98/K98. Perhaps more important, the bolt also has no gas relief, so if a round pops the primer or the case splits ... the shooter gets a face full of sooty, hot gas. I was looking into those awhile back, and a Mauser collector with whom I exchanged correspondence advised against shooting modern mil-surp ammo through them because of the lack of a gas vent. He felt the mil-surp ammo is too "hot," especially (oddly enough) Turkish and Ecuadorian. I have since read that 8mm ammo from a couple of Eastern bloc countries (Yugo, for example) isn't loaded as hot and would be better suited for those old rifles. Or current production commercial ammo, of course, but that gets expensive.

The other caveat is that many other sources include the bayonet and accessories. I know SGC doesn't include the bayonet, and I don't recall about the other accessories (sling, ammo pouch, cleaning kit, etc.)

 

[zedheadmc]

This Isn't much help but www.turkishmauser.com has some really neat info on... well Turkish Mausers. Too include what some of the markings mean. To find a Model of 1893 I'd suggest a google search or start here:
ph-wholesale.com/military/military.html

http://www.aimsurplus.com/
http://www.allans-armory.com/
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/
http://www.centuryarms.com/Century/home.htm
http://www.classicarms.us/
http://www.coledistributing.com/
http://www.empirearms.com/
http://www.germansales.com/
http://www.gunsnstuff.net/
http://www.floridagunworks.com/
http://members.tripod.com/greatsouthernarms/index1.html
http://www.interordnance.com/
http://www.samcoglobal.com/
http://www.southernohiogun.com/
http://www.jgsales.com/
http://www.dealerease.net/catalog/su...&ret_id=140211
http://www.sarcoinc.com/
http://www.simpsonltd.com/
http://buymilsurp.com/store/

 

[rbernie]

You can find a lot of post-'98 Turkish Mausers in 8x57 for around a Franklin. The reason that these are mo' expensive is because they're paperless, e.g. pre-'1898 and therefore can be shipped to your door with no paperwork and no FFL. There are folks that will pay a premium to have a firearm that is truely paperless.

Three bills for a paperless '93 Turk is not a terrible deal - pretty middlin'.

 

[Niner]

These old Turks could have been bought for $50 a few years ago. I bought one like you are interested in for that price in 1999 complete with bayonet. It's a fine old war horse worth shooting once in a while.

It would make a poor rifle for a "sporter". The bolt cocks on going forward even, unlike the later models, just as it is a regular long rifle in configuration and has a straight bolt handle. I would suggest you pick another rifle. What if it had been used at Gallipoli, would you want to do a bubba job on it? Why not go to a local pawn shop and buy a regular modern rifle already made for hunting?

 

[jrfoxx]

I got this one (1895) for $150 off Gunbroker a few months ago.It has all the Arabic markings the OP referred to.They can be found at decent prices with the markings, all matching, pre-98, etc....you just have to watch and be patient.The Bayo (nt in picture yet) was given to me for the cost of shipping from one of our own VERY generous members here (I love this place).Found the sling on Ebay.Neat guns.

 

[Vaarok]

The Turkish 1893s are the earlier '93 type actions, same as Spanish mausers, some Chilean Mausers, and Swedes. Two bolt lugs, cock on closing, and not so good at diverting gas from your face in the event of a whoopsie where a case or primer lets go.




Three hundred dollars for a Turkish 1893/35 is robbery, they're readily available for a hundred dollars, give or take. It also makes the baby jesus sad that you want to turn one into a deer rifle, when they already make deer rifles better suited to that purpose.

I paid I think $165 for this particular example. I think I've got two or three all told.

 

[rbernie]

Three hundred dollars for a Turkish 1893/35 is robbery, they're readily available for a hundred dollars, give or take.

Where?

 

[oldfart]

Look here:

www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=26179

 

[rbernie]

Thanks, but as best I can tell that thread contains a mod to the bolt shroud; did I miss the link to the hundred dollar '93 Turks?

 

[zedheadmc]

Hey The Deer Hunter, I just PM'ed you.

 

[oldfart]

Just as 7.62X39 ammo has climbed from $80/M to $180, the hundred-dollar Turk '93 has progressed also. There may be a few places that rarely see the sun or news from the outside world that have a $100 Turk, but those places are few and far between. I don't think I'd pay $300 for one - yet! In another few years though that might seem like a bargain.
Whatever you get and however much you pay for it the modification to the shroud is a good thing. The cock-on-closing feature is a bit unhandy at first but the fact that 700 Spanish soldiers inflicted over 1400 casualties on U.S. forces at San Juan Hill indicates it can be overcome.

 

[zedheadmc]

Sent you another PM The Deer Hunter.