Trying to identify my rifle
- Thread starter kennedy
- Start date
mapsjanhere
New member
Definitely a Mauser 98 type. Straight handle indicates pre 98k. Need markings and dimensions for more detail.
The only 98 Mausers I have seen in that bad condition have been of Chinese origin and I suspect that is where that rifle came from. The lack of markings (or light markings that wore off) is typical. While some of those Chinese-made 98's are of reasonable quality, others are poorly made of questionable material. If it is Chinese, it is probably in 8mm Mauser (8x57js) caliber.
It is, to be blunt, of little value; I strongly suggest you consider it a wall hanger and not spend any money trying to "restore" it.
Jim
It is, to be blunt, of little value; I strongly suggest you consider it a wall hanger and not spend any money trying to "restore" it.
Jim
That is a standard configuration M98 short rifle. It is the one-size-fits-all rifle for developing nations in the early 20th Century, being one of the best and most heavily marketed pieces of military hardware ever made. You will find them in 7X57, 7.65X53, 8X57, and converted in the 1950 and 1960 to 7.62X51 NATO. Country of origin is hard to determine without a crest or armory markings. It could be Spanish, Brazilian, Uruguayan, Bolivian, South African, Belgian, you name it. Militarizing nations bought rifles from Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Serbia, whoever was offering rifles for sale at the right delivery time and price. Many also procured tooling from Germany, Belgium, or Czechoslovakia and made their own M98 rifles from local steel, so quality can often be somewhat sketchy. And, of course, there were many copies made without the benefit of engineering input from Europe.
Your rifle looks like it needs a good scrubbing, but may actually be in fair condition. Find out the chambering, it can tell you a lot sometimes.
Your rifle looks like it needs a good scrubbing, but may actually be in fair condition. Find out the chambering, it can tell you a lot sometimes.
There is an article in American Rifleman recently about Chinese rifles, including Chinese Mausers. The complete lack of markings except for an apparent serial number is odd. European makers generally had plenty of markings, like maker, a national crest, perhaps, and model. That almost looks sterilised of markings. But even the Chinese rifles had some sort of cryptic markings indicating factory of mfr. and somtimes faked Mauser marks. I cannot see any harm in cleaning off the loose rust. It is not like an antique Colt, where removing the brown "patina" will affect value any!
mapsjanhere
New member
I agree, this is a great little restoration project, mainly because there's very little you can do wrong. Take it out of the stock, and check for markings underneath, you might get lucky and find a proof mark or similar to give us an idea where it's from.
m.p.driver
New member
Have to agree with the others that while Mausers in that condition are not rare, give it a good cleaning and check the bore.You dont know it might have a worthwhile barrel on it and thats the whole game.If it looks like it has a sewer pipe on it than hang it on the wall,if it looks decent then get it checked for the chambering and go wild.Hell bead blast it and duracoat and you have a pick-up rifle.
A little more info
Hello all,
I started cleaning it up and found that the bolt release also has a "C" on it. Underneath the barrel is an "M" stamped in. Behind the barrel where the bolt enters before the release is the number 1 stamped in. Under the rear sight there is a C stamped in as well. The magazine plate has a C stamped in and the part that is set in the stock shares the same number A 126. There is an imprint in the stock but I can't make it out. Im going to give it some time to dry and then I will try to see what else I can find. Hope that helps and thanks for the info.
Hello all,
I started cleaning it up and found that the bolt release also has a "C" on it. Underneath the barrel is an "M" stamped in. Behind the barrel where the bolt enters before the release is the number 1 stamped in. Under the rear sight there is a C stamped in as well. The magazine plate has a C stamped in and the part that is set in the stock shares the same number A 126. There is an imprint in the stock but I can't make it out. Im going to give it some time to dry and then I will try to see what else I can find. Hope that helps and thanks for the info.
still a few more
OK, almost done.
At the end of the stock there was what looked like a "U" since it was facing a different direction but it would be a C.
Here is the bottom of the stock which has the serial in it.
This last pic makes me worry a little about the rifle as there is some pitting going on.....
OK, almost done.
At the end of the stock there was what looked like a "U" since it was facing a different direction but it would be a C.
Here is the bottom of the stock which has the serial in it.
This last pic makes me worry a little about the rifle as there is some pitting going on.....
Attachments
mapsjanhere
New member
Well, the one part you didn't show (assuming because there was nothing to see) was the barrel. Any "reputable" military Mauser from Germany, Belgium, Czech etc would have proof marks on the barrel. The "Chinese Connection" sounds more and more likely, especially looking at the poor condition of the wood-covered parts. Looks like it got seriously wet at some point, and no one bothered to take it out of the wet wood. But even so the metal quality seems low.