Old .22 Rifle

C

Cald

Inactive
Hello all,

I've recently acquired a couple of old rifles that my dad inherited when my grandmother passed away. They have been sitting in a box in his basement in Missouri for the last 18 years and one looks to be in pretty bad condition (rust everywhere). Since I know virtually nada about guns (but have a strong desire to change that), I was hoping to learn more about the workings and maintenance of firearms by cleaning and attempting to restore the rifles. However, I'm having difficulties identifying the make and model of one of them. I'd really appreciate any help at all in figuring it out.

attachment.php

attachment.php

attachment.php


The serial "B2940" is inscribed twice along the barrel on the left side, while "6625" is inscribed twice in front of the trigger guard on the bottom of the rifle. I will provide pictures in a following post.

I also have a nice 30-06 Remington rifle that was with this one and it seems to be almost completely rust free and is in very good condition. I was hoping to learn more with the .22 before tinkering with the 30-06.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

Attachments

  • leftside.jpg
    leftside.jpg
    236.6 KB · Views: 385
  • rightsidesm.jpg
    rightsidesm.jpg
    183.9 KB · Views: 399
  • top.jpg
    top.jpg
    224.9 KB · Views: 391
Serial Images

Here are a few images of the serial numbers found on the rifle.

attachment.php

attachment.php

attachment.php


Sorry for some of the text, I thought the numbers would be harder to read.
 

Attachments

  • underserials.jpg
    underserials.jpg
    184.5 KB · Views: 406
  • leftserials.jpg
    leftserials.jpg
    242.6 KB · Views: 383
  • markii.jpg
    markii.jpg
    84.7 KB · Views: 390
Last edited:
Sporterized Spanish 1916 M93 pattern Oviedo Mauser. I am not sure why you think it is a 22 rifle. Would a 22 trainer have a rifle sized action and magazine box?
 
I'd want to make sure of the chambering on this one before anything else; it has all the characteristics of a Spanish Mauser (with an aftermarket safety), and the fact that it's had work done on it means the rifle could easily have been rebarreled/rechambered; the original manufacturer and date would now be under the scope mount. If you take the bolt out (lift the handle, then pull the little lever on the left side out, and pull the bolt all the way to the rear), a shot of the bolt face will definitely tell you if this rifle is centrefire or rimfire.
 
You show a 1916 Spanish Mauser military surplus rifle that has been inexpensively sporterized with scope bases, scope clearance safety, bent bolt handle, and cut down military stock. (A NICE sporterizing job would have removed the GI sights and fitted a real sporting stock.)

It was originally 7mm Mauser (7x57 in European terms.)
And I suspect it still is.
What leads you to think it is a .22?

It would be a huge gunsmithing job to convert one to .22 and I would have to see pictures of the muzzle, chamber, and bolt face to be convinced it had been.
 
As far as the rust goes, some gentle rubbing with 0000 (4 zero) steel wool and some light oil will improve things greatly. Go slow and apply fresh oil frequently.

As far as the rifle itself goes, it sure looks like a centerfire Mauser. The floorplate and the trigger guard match each other, but not the receiver and barrel. The Mark II is the model of the aftermarket safety.

Pictures of the muzzle, chamber and bolt face would help.
 
Boy I don't know the third picture in the first post looks to big to be a .22.
Looks more like 7 or 8 mm.:confused:
 
You should see the Germans

That's beautiful rifle on Gunbroker.
Click to expand...
They surely are and your should see some of the German trainers. A few years back, Davidson's was selling a bunch of these and as they say; New-In-box. They great shooters and well made. .... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Thanks for all the responses, guys. The reason I assumed (that being the key word) that it was a .22 is because that is what I was told when I received the rifles, and, as I said before, I'm currently starting to learn about firearms. My follow up question is would it be possible (without heavy financial investment) to restore this rifle to a point where I can safely shoot with it? I'll follow up with some more detailed pictures. I realize that my best bet would be to physically take it to someone knowledgeable and have them give it a look over.
 
I see nothing that would make the rifle unsafe to shoot as it is. I would clean the barrel, using a cleaning rod and patches, available at any gun shop or sporting goods store. If there is any question about the caliber, have the gun checked by a gunsmith but, like Jim Watson, I suspect it still is in 7mm Mauser. Ammunition might be hard to get today, but it can be found.

Jim
 
Agreed.
There is nothing visibly wrong with it.
Clean and enjoy.

Ammunition may be a problem.
You need 7mm Mauser, also known as 7x57. You do NOT need 7mm Magnum or any of half a dozen other cartridges with 7mm bullets.

Grafs.com shows Federal brand in stock but it is still over a dollar and a half a shot, $32.99 a box of 20. Ouch.

Midwayusa.com only has one brand, Nosler, the most expensive, in stock. $52 a box. BAD Ouch.

When they get some Privi Partizan back in, it is "only" $16 a box.

There will be noticeable recoil. It isn't like a .22. This is, or was, a military rifle meant to put an enemy down as far as you could see him. It is a very good medium game gun, suitable for about any animal in North America except the big bears.
 
Before you buy any ammunition, you need to verify the chambering. If it isn't engraved on the barrel, I'd recommend having a gunsmith do a chamber cast to get the dimensions. It isn't a bad idea, anyway. Regardless of what it should be, it could have been rechambered or modified in any number of ways that won't be apparent to anyone on the internet.
And, while you're at it, the gunsmith can give the rifle a once-over to make sure it's still serviceable.
 
They sure did !!!

Mauser made some full size 22 LR 98s for training guns.
Click to expand...
They sure did and right down to many details, like a false cleaning rod and rain-caps. They are real beauties. ..... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Bolt face and chamber pictures

attachment.php

attachment.php

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • boltface.jpg
    boltface.jpg
    99.8 KB · Views: 263
  • chamber1.jpg
    chamber1.jpg
    243.4 KB · Views: 250
  • chamber2.jpg
    chamber2.jpg
    222.4 KB · Views: 252
Not so fast !!

That's definitely center fire.
Click to expand...
That may be so but the jury is still out on this. You may have fallen into a common trap. The German .22 Trainers that I have seen were deliberately made this way; again, to match the actual 98's. If you have never seen one, you will be impressed when you do. ...... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top