old Mauser ser# 933, hidden treasure or junk?

[Dallas4rceMarine]

After my grandfather passed away an old Mauser he brought back from WWII made it's way into my safe. I knew it was old but thats about it. I decided to take a closer look at it to see if there was anything special about it and all I could find was matching serial numbers 933 on the bolt and barrel. Knowing that there are people on here who either specialize in this stuff, and or are just extremely knowledgeable in this area, I am turning to you for you input.

I know it needs a good cleaning, depending how much it's worth will determine how good I clean it!

 

[Tango down]

Dallas4rceMarine
Food for thoughts.
Maybe you could give it a real good cleaning, just because it was your Grand Father's rifle and he made the effort of bringing it back home. Maybe your Grand Father would have liked his Grand Son to clean his rifle. Eventually, you will find out the value.
Not telling you what to do, this is only my .2 cents.
Thanks for your service.
Ombre noire

 

[SABuzzard]

I just bought my first old Mauser about a month ago so I'm anything but an expert in this area, but here are some of the things I found when trying to figure out what to buy. There is a wealth of info on these old guns online. Figure out what kind of rifle you have, start googling the markings and see where it takes you. These rifles have amazing history. Once you know what you have use gunbroker.com to help you figure out an rough value. Typically a higher value is placed on rifles in their original form (military issue) than the ones that have been sporterized like the one you have, but that doesn't mean its not a great rifle. I'd clean it up, have a gun smith give it a quick once over and test drive it. You may be surprised at how it shoots. IMHO the real value of this rifle is the history. Grand dad serving in WWII, the story of the rifle itself and then having it in your family. Hang onto it.

I ended up with a 1912 Swedish Mauser and am having fun shooting it. Great rifles.

 

[Comber]

I`m not to sure what you actually have and I`m not a Mauser specialist, but there are some nice details on the gun, such as the set triggers and the clawmount.

If the gun are the same state as your Grandfather brought it back as, I would make a calculated guess that it started it life as a somewhat up-market pre-war hunting gun. You really ought to give it a serious cleaning.

 

[wilecoyote]

I think that the book about that can be " MAUSER: Original Oberndorf Sporting Rifles" by Jon Speed , Walter Schmidt and Reiner Herrmann_Collector Grade Publications Inc.,1997,ISBN 0-889835-230-5_ better pictures of the action of this seemingly pre-war '98 hunting rifle could help to have better answers,with special attention about proofmarks, caliber stampings,etc._ Not an expert, but puzzled by the seemingly single scope mount..._ a cleaning won't hurt, anyway_ maybe I'm wrong,but I would bet that you won't find any military inspection's stamp on your rifle(as Weimar or Swastika/Eagle/inspector's number)_ Too much civilian features to think to a demilitarized one,anyway_( I wish you to find the civvy "Mauser banner" logo on his top )_

 

[Quarter Horse]

I don't know how to post links. Google German Arms Collectors. These are the guys that know.

Google German roof marks. Disassemble your rifle and look for proof marks on the barrel and action. The marks change over time and will allow you to establish a date range. As already stated, it looks like a well made sporting rifle. The multiple leaf rear sight, full top rib, claw mounts and double set trigger are all indicators. Take it to a good 'smith and have him vet it for you. A chamber cast will assure you know the correct cartridge.

Germans often separated the rifle and scope in the hope of retaining at least part of their rifle. Break action guns were often disassembled into action, forend and barrels hoping an incomplete firearm would not be of interest. I doubt the serial no. is from the action manufacturer. In all likelihood it is from the builder.

I imagine the rifle is relatively light and would make a great stalking rifle. You can have new claw mounts made but it will be somewhat costly. It is well worth preserving and was probably made by an accomplished craftsman.

 

[Dallas4rceMarine]

I will give it a cleaning when I get home. I got the rifle soon before departing for Afghanistan and those pictures were taken by my girlfriend this morning after a lunchtime conversation led to old rifles bring up the one pictured. Getting her to find those numbers while trying to describe what parts to look at was hard enough. The internet (for me anyway) isn't much help as there is way to much info that points in all sorts of directions I just don't have the time to track down. I guess I will just wait till I get home and take a better look at it myself.
thanks for all the help, I promise I will clean it when I get home..

 

[roggom]

Nice sporter. The most important pic to take would be the top of the receiver. If there is a crest or not.

 

[2Shots]

I'm pretty sure it's an old 98 mauser probably made in that period between WWI and WWII, I have one very similar to that that is a GI bring home.
When a town was liberated the GI's were allowed to bring home a trophy, the Germans left piles of confiscated guns. The european hunters in those days could pick up old 98 mausers for little to nothing and have them sporterized for hunting. They would slim the stock, put in set triggers, express sights just like what you see. Mine still has the german stamps on it. Some of these old sporters are very collectible, the hand craftsmanship can be very nice, but they weren't handled very well when thrown into piles, mine has a chunk of wood missing on the fore end. But I love the history of the gun. I bought mine from the guy who brought it back at an auction probably 15 years ago and paid 350 bucks and though it was a bargain. I'm sure somebody will chime in and know more than I do. Nice gun, don't sell it, piece of family and world history.

 

[jbell]

If the action has a serial number the numbers on the barrel and bolt may be the last 3 digits. You will likely find them on the stock, trigger, bottom metal as well. Very nice rifle none the less!

 

[BasraBoy]

I'm pretty sure it's an old 98 mauser probably made in that period between WWI and WWII, I have one very similar to that that is a GI bring home.
When a town was liberated the GI's were allowed to bring home a trophy, the Germans left piles of confiscated guns.

I don't think this is a military rifle that has been sporterized - there don't appear to be any WAA marks in your photos. But yes, all rifles were confiscated or destroyed....not just military issue weapons.

It looks more like an original Mauser hunting rifle to me (set triggers, express sights).

What calibre is it?

It looks in the picture like it has the original claw mount for a scope? Is there a matching mount point on the receiver ring? If not, does the ring have a Mauser banner or any other marking on it?

I'd agree with getting hold of a copy of the "Mauser Sporting Rifles" book and checking it out......or have a look on Simpson's website as they usually have a good selection of old Mauser sporters advertised and the pics they post can be easily magnified to get a good look at for comparisons.

Keep it as is and see if you can't pick up a nice prewar Zeiss or Ajack hunting scope and claw mount for it.

 

[rgg_7]

Your Mauser is a sporter built on a 98 Mauser action. This one has double set triggers, claw mounts, sporter stock and a full rib. It's well worth having it professionally cleaned. Value will depend on calibre. Could be 7x57, 8x57, 9.3x 62, etc....these were done in many calibres. Markings are on the underside of the barrel showing proof, calibre and maybe assembly date. There may be a makers name on the rib. Get a little more info....do you have the scope?

 

[Dallas4rceMarine]

No scope, not sure how much I want to have my girlfriend mess with it while I'm gone but when I get home I will clean it and take off the stock to check the underside of the barrel and action for markings. One website I saw said this serial number meant it was made in 1900, just not sure if that meant by a certain manufacturer or how many there were back then. There is definitely a lot more to these rifles than I originally expected.

 

[rgg_7]

Careful on cleaning. You do not want to destroy finish ...metal or wood. I suspect the "933" is the builders control number not the serial number. All the info is below the stock line....I'm very familiar with these...you've got a good one. Any idea of calibre?

 

[Dallas4rceMarine]

not yet, my uncle thought it was the 8mm one but I will not know for sure unless i mold the chamber, or would that info be below the stock line as well?

 

[RTH1800]

It may be a very good rifle. What does it say on the left side of the receiver? If it says Oberndorf, which I think is quite likely, it is the best commercial Mauser made. It should also have the entire sn there.

 

[Fallschirmjaeger]

Like rgg_7 said, it's a sporting rifle built off of a 98 large ring mauser action. My best guess would be that it's pre-WWII based on what looks to be the nitro proof marks on the top of the bolt handle. My guess is that on the left hand side of the receiver ring, you'll find something like "St. m. G." and below it, some numbers. That could potentially tell you what it was originally chambered for as well, given the lower numbers would indicate the weight of the bullet used. Directly underneath the barrel and in front of the receiver ring is where I would look for the proof marks from Zella Mehlis if this was a commercial barrel/receiver. The thing that throws me off is the hole in the trigger guard, which would indicate that it's a Gewehr 98. Then again, it could just have been a replacement for the original, which could have been broken or damaged. The really neat thing about these old rifles, is that they are a mystery unto themselves, but one thing you can be sure of, is that they were handmade by skilled artisans the like today you'd pay thousands for. The scope mounts are "claw mounts" meaning that the scope can be removed and reattached with very little deviation in zero....again, handmade. Finding rings for it is an expensive venture to say the least. As far as the serial number, those are usually a number designated by the rifle builder himself. I find it highly doubtful that any internet search will provide you with any kind of information regarding age or anything else for that matter. It's possible that the markings on the underside of the barrel can provide you with a general date as to when it was proofed at Zella Mehlis. As far as anything more than that, I'm not an expert, but can only provide you with this one piece of advice: be very careful cleaning it. If you'd ever be interested in selling it, shoot me a message as I collect them. Best of luck.

~Jaeger