I have a 7 mm mauser, dont know the origin. My grandfather was an avid gun collector and this rifle was handed down to me. It has "1895 LOWEN BERLIN" stamped on the side. Just above or on the side of the bolt near the safety appears to be some sort siscle stamp (excuse my spelling, it resembles the old soviet symbol). It has iron sights with an elevation slide. It has a huinter stock on it my father put on because the original stock was lost but would like to find a replacement. You guys have any clues?
value of a mauser
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Gordon
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sounds like a South American mauser, need more info!
You have a 1895 Mauser- made about that time (Loewe bought out other companies around 1898 and subsequent Mausers were called DWM) Is there a crest on the receiver ring? Does it say anything more on the side? The 1895's were sold to many countries. Close up photo's of the top and sides of the receiver would be very helpful, and of other markings or crests.
ok, left side of the reciever serial number ( i think) F4508, then it says " MAUSER CHILENO MODELO 1895" below that it says "MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN". In between the reciever and the rear sight it also has the serial number stamped. Below the rear sight it looks like two hammers crossed. On the aft part of the bolt under the thumb safety the same hammers crossed with a 97 next to them. its deffenently is 7mm, it had a full military stock i can see the marks on the barrel were it rested. On the under side forward of the trigger guard and the beely spring plate its stamped with "c5450". I'll try and get some pics on here in the morning. My father could never tell me anything about it and my grandfather passed some time ago. When ever I google the rifle I get so many hits that I cant tell whats what. Thanks
jimmyraythomason
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Float Pilot
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yeap
Chilean contract 1895 mauser in 7x57mm "AKA 7mm Mauser." Do not shoot hot loaded 7mm Mauser loads in this rifle since the 95 actions were not as strong as the later 1898 Mauser actions.
Too bad about the stock. I would love to run across a 1895 from the Boer War contract guns.
Chilean contract 1895 mauser in 7x57mm "AKA 7mm Mauser." Do not shoot hot loaded 7mm Mauser loads in this rifle since the 95 actions were not as strong as the later 1898 Mauser actions.
Too bad about the stock. I would love to run across a 1895 from the Boer War contract guns.
Gator
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As far as value goes, I'm afraid there isn't much good news. Chilean Mausers, while very nice rifles, don't go for much; $100-175 for usual examples. More of course for a minty one or a Boer War marked rifle. Also, the lack of a proper stock and the mis-matched numbers seriously decrease its value.
jimmyraythomason
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Gator,weren't the Mausers in the Boer War actually in 7mm kort(short)?y
Gator
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No, they were 7x57. There was an article in American Rifleman? several years ago about a mysterious short 7mm Mauser round used by the Boers, but they concluded they were a defective batch, or maybe some odd, but very close to 7x57 spec brass, was being used up; no rifle was ever chambered for it. The Boers had a hard time getting anything so they used it up, but the vast majority of the 7mm rounds were 7x57 Mauser.
Boer Mausers were either marked Z.A.R. (South African Republic) or O.F.S. (Orange Free State).
jimmyraythomason
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Yeah,that American Rifleman article is where I got that idea. Here is a good reference site for Boer Mausers. http://library.thinkquest.org/26852/logistics/mauser.htm
And a few Boer Mausers were unmarked at all, only known from serial numbers. There was a shipment of 1893 Mausers, serial numbers C-1 to C-4000, sent to South Africa in 1899, intercepted by the British navel blockade in Portuguese E.Africa , returned to Germany, and stamped with the Chilean crest to be sent as part of a Chilean order. These rifles can be identified by the serial # and the fact they are 1893's with a bent bolt and square bottom bolt. Those rifles have seen some traveling!
As far as value goes, for a sporterized mis-match, maybe $100-150. If it is in good shape. A matched # rifle in good shape maybe $250. A minty all matching rifle could bring $300-500. A c-series 93 in excellent shape maybe $600.
There were a lot more of these around just a few years ago. And the build quality of these rifles is way, way out of line with the relatively low prices they command. The Loewe 1895's are among the finest fit rifles ever made.
As far as value goes, for a sporterized mis-match, maybe $100-150. If it is in good shape. A matched # rifle in good shape maybe $250. A minty all matching rifle could bring $300-500. A c-series 93 in excellent shape maybe $600.
There were a lot more of these around just a few years ago. And the build quality of these rifles is way, way out of line with the relatively low prices they command. The Loewe 1895's are among the finest fit rifles ever made.
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