Help Identifying Oberndorf Sporter

B

Bigfatts

New member
Another pawn shop find! It was simply marked "Mauser 8mm." Price wasn't offensive and it's a good looker so I brought it home. No actual caliber designation- I don't speak proof marks. Any info you can give is greatly appreciated.

ETA: See my post below (#6) to see what info I've come up with so far.







 
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What is the lever on the magazine floorplate do? Is that the floorplate release?

Most have a recess that requires inserting a pointed object like say a round to push it. Then all the cartridges fall out.

I'm having hard time figuring out any other purpose for that lever, can't say I would like it if that is indeed what it does.
 
156.14 is the GAUGE of the barrel, very old standard. Corresponds to a BORE diameter of 7.87mm, close enough to the 7.85 stamp.
8.15 is apparently the GROOVE diameter of .321" although I would have thought the "S" indicated a .323" groove. But I don't know how close the proof house actually measured barrels.

The "360" mystifies me. There is such a thing as an 8x57R360 but it is a rimmed cartridge normally found in drillings, not at all related to 8x57 Mauser or even 8x57R. Based on British .360 Express.
Very unlikely to be chambered in a bolt action so mostly I don't really know.

Sounds like another chamber cast n bore slug job, but I might just see if an 8x57 would chamber.

ETA Found another with the 8,0 N mark.

Ricklin, the lever floorplate release is a mark of a nice Mauser sporter, none of that military bullet nose junk.
 
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As Jim Watson says, the lever is the release for the floor plate. Hinged floor plate at that. Previous owner left his mark, but I don't mind.



Is there any chance at dating the rifle based on the serial number?

Also, I've never slugged a bore. Or cast a chamber. I'll do some research.
 
Talk about a tease! Just enough pictures to get us interested, but not enough to appreciate the whole rifle. I don't know enough on Mausers to help identify the action, but from what I can tell it's a very nice sporting rifle. The jeweled bolt, butter knife bolt handle and set triggers are a nice touch.

Watch a few videos on YouTube on how to slug a bore, it's pretty straight forward. I've never chamber cast a rifle, as I've never bought one I was unsure on the cartridge it shot. If I bought something I was unsure of, I'd probably just take it to a gunsmith and have them figure it out.
 
Ok, so combing the internet in an only slightly obsessive way I find that it looks like a variation of an early factory sporter- almost a dead ringer for a Type A or B. The description of the early B fits it almost exactly. Minor differences, but I'm seeing slight variations weren't uncommon within models. See link.

http://sportsmansvintagepress.com/read-free/mauser-rifles-pistols-table-of-contents/mauser-sporter/

As for the stamps, following the info JimWatson started me with, I have found that "8,0 N" is the caliber and translates to "8mm Normal" which referred to the 8x57 J, .318 loads. It also displays the "S" on the bottom of the barrel, indicating the updated .323 chamber throat size- which should make it safe with the .323 loads; taking that with a grain of salt and will probably stick to the .318's. The other markings are land/groove measurements that confirm 8x57J. The only marking I can't place is the ".360", which I have only seen referring to 9.3x62- which can't be right. Could just be a stamp the meaning of which has been lost to the ages.
 
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A couple more photos, just because. Also, the only thing missing on the rifle is the front sight post. Any recommendations for a replacement and what height I should use?



 
Call Williams Gunsight Company for a front sight, they can probably help you. You might have to try a few to match the sights to your ammo when you figure that out. That's a pretty nice rifle, really old school. Only thing I'd change is the poor fitting recoil pad for a nicer grind to fit pad like a Pachmayr.
 
The recoil pad is second on the list, right after the front sight. Doubt I'll find an original Mauser pad, but something clean and tasteful.
 
I really doubt it originally had a recoil pad, more than likely it had a butt plate of some sort. Google and read about "Cigarette Rifles", thats what your rifle reminds me of. I'm not saying it is one, it's done in the style of one that is for sure.

I clicked into your Photobucket account when I posted previously about a butter knife bolt handle. I didn't realize I was looking at a bolt from a different rifle, you have a lot of nicely done sporters in there. This one should be a great addition to your collection.
 
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Brownells has a tall Mauser blade meant to bring military sights down to hunting and plinking ranges. File to suit. But did they use the same dovetail on sporters? I dunno.
 
Sure looks nice

Very nice. Not sure I would like the lever release for the floor plate. As long as it has a good detent to prevent it being accidentally opened I would be good with it. That or requiring a long stroke of the lever would be OK too.
 
No, the operation of the floor plate lever is to move the lever , which opens the
floor plate and the ammo then can be found under the gun in the snow ! :rolleyes:
 
I really doubt it originally had a recoil pad, more than likely it had a butt plate of some sort.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I misspoke. Most specs I've come across mention a steel or horn butt plate. My other Oberndorf has a plate made out of I don't know what that says "Mauser" on it. Something similar possibly.
 
I clicked into your Photobucket account when I posted previously about a butter knife bolt handle. I didn't realize I was looking at a bolt from a different rifle, you have a lot of nicely done sporters in there. This one should be a great addition to hour collection.
Click to expand...

Check the Smithy subforum for the painfully sad tale of that butter knife bolt handle. Damn near broke my heart.
 
That's beautiful, Bigfatts. I've been looking for an original B Sporter like that for a long time. Got close a couple of times, but I have never actually scored one. I'm jealous!
 
Thanks, Scorch. I feel lucky to have happened across it. Prices on them seem steep, but I don't think the shop knew anything about it- not that I did at the time. This one and the one with the busted recoil lug I posted about in the Smithy came from the same owner. Someone's father passed and his guns got pawned. I don't know who he was, but the man had fine taste in rifles. There may be a couple more yet to hit the shelf, I will definitely be checking back.
 
You might seriously consider a chamber cast before you you shoot it. According to my copy of Mauser Rifles and pistols, the type B was chambered in the following cartridges.

7x57MM, 8x60MM, 9.3x62MM and 10.75x68MM

Shooting a cartridge 3MM too short would be a serious headspace problem. The book also stated a .315" bore so slugging the barrel might not be a bad idea.

The 8x60 was Germany's way of getting around the ban on them making rifles and ammo in 8x57 after the end of World War one. As your pictures show what looks like the original barrel, I'm thinking it's an 8x60, not 8x57.

IIRC, all they did was lengthen the case to get past the ban and chamber accordingly. The 30-06 case is 62 or 63MM so you should be able make 8x60 brass for that rifle should it be necessary. Brass for the .270 and .280 are IIRC about one millimeter longer so those should work as well. Might be easier than chasing down brass from Europe like Norma, Lapua or RWS.
Paul B.
 
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