7x57

A hard-to-find Oviedo arsenal Spanish Mauser M1893 Short Rifle dated 1898 that was sporterized.  This handy rifle is in very good condition and chambered in 7x57mm Mauser. The stock forend has been shortened. Typical for sporters, it had its stock sanded and re-stained, leaving it a dark walnut color with some residual dark marks and just a few small dings, and two large but lightly-scratched initials that should be easy to remove with some sanding.  These initials  would also be covered if you simply have the rifle camouflage dipped.  Has a 23″ M1895/16-pattern stepped Spanish military barrel with original military front sight. (So, apparently, this went back to the arsenal, at some point.) The bore condition is difficult to judge, because it was blued, but it has very distinct rifling.  It may end up fairly shiny, after shooting. The receiver has 98% of what appears to be a recent re-blue. Thankfully, the receiver was not heavily buffed, leaving a quite legible date. The triggerguard and floorplate have 80% of the arsenal black enamel finish. The buttplate is mottled and shows traces of pitting.  The receiver ring is quite clearly dated 1898, right on the receiver ring, leaving  ZERO possible confusion on its antique status, for any future contact with authorities! (See photos.)  The rear sight elevator has been replaced with a sporter rear sight. The receiver and barrel numbers match, but the bolt number is mismatched. The receiver serial number is E932X.  All-in-all, this is a nice “shooter grade” re-blued Mauser sporter with iron sights and a handy barrel length.  Also included is a modified canvas and leather sling in fair condition, as pictured. This would be a good candidate for turning into a scout rifle, with a forward scope mount, and a recoil pad. (UEL-279)

A rarely-seen original Spanish Mauser model 1893 cavalry saddle ring carbine chambered in 7x57mm Mauser. This carbine is not import marked, so it very well could be a Spanish-American War bringback. It was manufactured by Loewe in Berlin in 1894 as evidence by the very faded but still visible crest. Has all matching serial numbers except the cocking piece. The rest of the carbine is serial marked A640X. The wood is about as good as I’ve ever seen on an original cavalry carbine. The metal shows plenty of wear from use, but not abuse. The action and safety function fine, and the trigger pull is typical for a Model 1895. The bore is dark but it still has plenty of rifling and no significant pitting. (CAA-999)

A very good condition Chilean Contract Loewe Mauser M1895 Short Rifle that I’d rate as shooter grade.  This handy rifle is chambered in 7x57mm Mauser. The stock has been sanded and re-stained, leaving it a medium walnut color with some residual dark marks and just a few small dings.  The bore condition is difficult to judge, because it was blued, but it has distinct rifling.  It may end up shiny, after shooting. This rifle has 99% of what appears to be a recent re-blue. There is a small Acraglas-repaired gouge to the handguard at the frontband. (See photos.) Numbers are mismatched. Cleaning rod is absent. The serial number is C736X, indicating that it was made in late-1895.  All-in-all, this is a nice “shooter grade” re-blued Mauser with a handy barrel length.  This would be a good candidate for turning into a scout rifle. (UES-273)

A very good condition Chilean Contract Loewe Mauser M1895 Short Rifle that I’d rate as shooter grade.  This handy rifle is chambered in 7x57mm Mauser. The stock has been sanded, leaving it a blonde color with some residual dark marks and just a few small dings.  The bore condition is difficult to judge, because it was blued, but it has distinct rifling.  It may end up shiny, after shooting. This rifle has 99% of what appears to be a recent re-blue. The stock has a glue-repaired crack that extends from the buttplate screw. There is also a glue-repaired crack to the handguard and repaired gouge in thewood at the frontband. (See photos.) Numbers are mismatched. Cleaning rod is absent. The serial number is C295X, indicating that it was made in mid-to-late-1895.  All-in-all, this is a nice “shooter grade” re-blued Mauser with a handy barrel length.  This would be a good candidate for re-stocking in a modern Choate fiberglass stock and/or turning it into a scout rifle. (UPS-272)

A scarce Spanish-American war vintage M1893 Mauser from the Oviedo, Spain Arsenal, made on Mauser-supplied tooling. Receiver ring is clearly dated 1897. Has the correct Model 1893-pattern square-bottom bolt.  Chambered in 7×57 Masuer. It is difficult to find these rifles in all-original condition. This is a full-length infantry Mauser with 28″ barrel.  Serial #  B786X. It is unusually nice condition with just a few scattered stock dings. The metal finish has largely faded to an even grayish patina.  There are a few pits on the exterior of the barrel, right at the wood line. Bolt has a matching number but the stock, triggerguard, and floorplate are un-numbered.  There is one small patch of rust at the top of the buttplate. The bore is has darkened a bit, but it has good rifling and looks quite shootable.  This would make a great display piece to hang next to your Spanish-American war vintage Krag!  (APGN-165)

A rare Orange Free State (O.V.S.) Boer War contract and Chilean contract Model 1893 DWM full-length 7×57 Mauser rifle. 28″ barrel. Near excellent overall condition with 98%+ original arsenal blue–except on the butplate. Made in late 1897 or early 1898. No import mark. Bolt serial numbers mismatched to receiver—typical of early rifles that went back to the Chilean for arsenal re-build. This rifle likely started out with a straight bolt, but was retrofitted with a cavalry-syle bolt. Chilean crest is intact on receiver ring. Cleaning rod is present and number-matching! Bore is bright, with sharp rifling.  The rifle’s wood and metal show only light service wear. (See photos.) The stock shows a faint cartouche. The bolt stop and follower still show some brilliant electric blue color. A later-style russet leather sling is included. Serial number 812X. Matching number on cleaning rod, triggerguard, and floorplate, but not the bolt. The no-prefix Model 1893s were some of the first produced after Ludwig Loewe was merged into DWM in 1897. Often mistakenly called “Model 1895”, these are mechanically the Model 1893, because they have a square-bottom bolt and don’t have the Chilean Model 1895-style third locking lug. This rifle was initially slated for delivery to the Orange Free State in South Africa during the Second Boer War. But this is one of the last batch of O.V.S.-marked rifles that were intercepted by the British in 1899. They were returned to DWM, and subsequently marked with the Chilean crest for inclusion in one of the Chilean contract orders. (For some great historical background, see the video by firearms historian Ian McCollum: Boer Mausers. And this from the NRA: Boer Mauser Rifle.) The Model 1893s like this with “O.V.S.” (“Oranje Vrystaat”) Boer contract markings on the receiver are very rarely seen, and this one is in particularly good condition.(EMIL-082)