Turkish Mauser

[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

IN my local gunstore they have for sale what I at first thought was a Turkish m38 but is actually stamped ANKARA and K. KALE then 1943. They are asking $180 for it. It is non-matching of course. The bore is dark but the rifliing appears good. The stock is beautiful and there is no rust anywhere. What do y'all think?

 

[Todd A]

It is what is called a M38, made by the Turks at K'Kale. Mine is a '42 K'Kale.

$180 is a bit steep unless you want one real bad. Can you talk them down to under $150?

 

[highorder]

Dunhams sells these for a little less than that, when they have them. I bought one to strip and build into something else...

like a .358 Winchester scout rifle that loads from stripper clips!

 

[Jim K]

The Turks never made Mauser receivers, but they reworked a lot of them. They removed the original (usually German) markings and put on their own.

Jim

 

[highorder]

it appears the Turks made at least some actions...

http://www.turkmauser.com/1938/

 

[mike724]

My favorite Turk.

I made several lamps from these.

 

[mike724]

Another try.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, Highorder,

I don't think so. The so-called Model 38 was just an effort to try to bring all the earlier mishmash of models up to a standard rifle, at least in appearance, for training and a uniform look to ranks of troops. The "small ring" rifles were actually German 98a carbines, acquired by Turkey after WWI.

Jim

 

[highorder]

the source I posted is certainly NOT definative. I am always willing to soak up more information.

 

[fluffy]

I paid $69 at fleet farm a few years ago for a m38 turk.

 

[esmith]

Just bought one for 65 bucks at a gun show. Wood was good but the bore was dark. No blueing but most turkish mausers are weak on that side. 180 is too much you will be able to find a better deal at some point. If you are sure you are going to get one start stocking up on ammo for it.

 

[Vaarok]

Turks can be all over the board, but anything under $200 is fair. For a really nice stock, I would be all over it at that price, but that's just me and I REALLY like Turks...

Also, the Turks did indeed make their own recievers, on tooling bought from the Czechs.

 

[fatelk]

Man, I sure wish I had bought more of these back six or seven years ago when Big 5 had them for $50 (I once bought two for $90 on a Christmas special). I always picked through them and found one with a nice bore.

The so-called Model 38 was just an effort to try to bring all the earlier mishmash of models up to a standard rifle, at least in appearance, for training and a uniform look to ranks of troops. The "small ring" rifles were actually German 98a carbines, acquired by Turkey after WWI.

This I did not know. I always thought they were made in Turkey. I always wondered why many of them were different in small ways. I have four of them; two original, and two that got "Bubba'd". I figured a $50 rifle was OK to chop up.

Reminds me: I've been thinking about starting a thread titled "Confessions of a former Bubba".

Added: Vaarok- nice looking rifles!

 

[leadcounsel]

I just bought one for $100 from a private seller at a gun show - nice solid wood with nice grain, good blueing, and dark bore. I plan to clean the bore to see what I've got.

 

[Jim K]

"Also, the Turks did indeed make their own recievers, on tooling bought from the Czechs."

Sure you aren't thinking of the Iranians?

Jim

 

[22lr]

I got a Yugo Mauser for $150 and it was in good shape but I don't think id pay $180 for a Turk. Only if it was in great shape.

My local gun store has 2 of them in fair to good shape for $119 but I never gave them a second look as im not in the market for another 8mm, especially one that needs a lot of work.

 

[hwyman]

I just saw one for $125 at a local gun shop. Decent bore and alright wood.