I Have This Old Gun

[SA Shooter]

The family had the sad duty of clearing out a recently deceased aunt's home this week.

My cousin, her oldest son, handed me this and said to take it home if I wanted it. I'm not sure what I have here.

It's a bit rusty in spots but the action is clean and it works pretty slick. The safety rotates left to right, horizontal to vertical, with the safety engaged in the vertical position. Internal magazine, follower blocks bolt from closing when it's empty.

None of the numbers I can find match except for the action and safety tab numbers. It looks as if the bolt handle was heated at one time. I suspect this was done to turn the handle down.

Can anyone identify it?

Read More

 

[SA Shooter]

More pics...note the firing pin configuration at the back of the bolt. It extends when cocked, recedes back into the bolt cylinder when decocked.











Thanks for any insight you folks can provide.

 

[Retired Guy]

Looks like a sporterized M98 Mauser. Perhaps a WWII rifle.

 

[SA Shooter]

I wondered about that. I'm not up on Mauser actions but that possibility occurred to me.

So I went looking at 98 action pics and stumbled across a Spanish 95 action. Same tab safety arrangement and same extension of the firing pin when cocked.

I'm going to pull the bolt and look at the lugs.

 

[MountainBear]

Small ring Mauser, sporterized. 93 or 95 configuration. If the bottom of the bolt face is squared off, then it's a 93, otherwise it's a 95-style.
I'm guessing Spanish, but with receiver views, I'm not sure. If it's original barrel, I would assume 7x57 Mauser.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Second vote for a Spanish Mauser...
Many of these were converted from 7x57mm to .308.
Andy

 

[SA Shooter]

Thanks for the input gents.

 

[SA Shooter]

Bolt face:



Doesn't look like whoever fired it last cleaned it.

So...how do I determine caliber?

 

[MountainBear]

93 Spanish. Any markings on the receiver? Only way to truly determine chambering is to have a gunsmith cast the chamber.
Originally it would have been in 7x57, but a lot were converted to 7.62 Cetme (basically .308). It could have been rechambered to other things as well. I would not shoot one of these that has been blown out to 7.62, the recoil lugs have a tendency to set back.

 

[Ura-Ki]

Spaniard 93! Possable Franco, need to see markings!

 

[justcuz]

Spanmauhome

knock your socks off as the article state, difficult to tell birth year w/three different numbers on it.

best modality is, folk are correct, look half way down and read up on the Spanish long rifles and correlate on other internet sites. there is a whole gaggle of info where kind folk have posted their research on these olde long guns.

good find, and silently thank your departed aunt for the gift!

 

[gunsmithkinks]

Also seen Chilean Mausers of same style.

Here is a wealth of information on model 93 and 95s

Spanmauhome

 

[SA Shooter]

I'm just wondering at this point should I save it, destroy it or leave it as is. As noted, none of the numbers match so I don't believe making a sporter, re-barreling or doing other mods to this piece will jeopardize a singularly valuable firearm here.

 

[MountainBear]

If you aren't into it, sell it. Depending on the receiver markings, then it's at least got value as parts.

 

[gunsmithkinks]

I'm just wondering at this point should I save it, destroy it or leave it as is. As noted, none of the numbers match so I don't believe making a sporter, re-barreling or doing other mods to this piece will jeopardize a singularly valuable firearm here.

Well I certainly wouldn't destroy it. Get it all checked out and go from there. Id start with cleaning the whole thing up. Take off all the wood and give the metal a good cleaning with solvent, and then I would lightly oil it. Have a chamber cast made to determine exact caliber. The worst mistake many people make who do not handle guns a lot is, is they get wayyy to hasty in thinking they have to do something quick instead of taking thier time looking up information and going from there. It's like cutting wood, measure twice cut once. Once you cut or mess something up many times too much damage has been done to repair it correctly, especially when the damage didn't need to be done to start with. Non matching numbers doesn't necessarily mean that it's unsafe to shoot. That's mostly determinal by head spacing. If in wonder, take the rifle to a good knowledgeable gunsmith to have him check it all out, and check the headspacing, and have him do a cast of the chamber as the other member previously said.

 

[SA Shooter]

Thanks for the advice. I'll consult with a gunsmith on this one.

 

[SIG34]

Spanish Mauser 93 !
My best guess look

(Show us the marking after the rear sight and on left side of the receiver) thanks

 

[SIG34]

Bolt face:

View attachment 443163

Doesn't look like whoever fired it last cleaned it.

So...how do I determine caliber?

Not worth getting hurt ! I'd say wall hanger

 

[gunsmithkinks]

By the way about the non matching numbers.
Sometimes military arsenals put manyyyy different parts from the same model of rifle together to complete or fix their guns when they are needed to be pressed into service. Also many military surplus companies who import guns make many up from various parts to make complete guns fir sale. The headspacing may OR may not be safe and correct, so that definitely needs checked before firing the gun regardless of knowing what the caliber of said gun is.
Failure to do so, may result in bad situation of parts flying apart from the gun causing you or others around you serious damage.

 

[Mikej]

There's likely to be a bunch of other stamps under the stock too.

I hope it's serviceable and you can clean it up and shoot it eventually.