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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Mauser Discussion Forum
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herbertnb
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Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (More pics)
      #217080 - 22/09/12 08:32 AM

I have this old Mauser that has no caliber markings. Any help about this gun/caliber will be appreciated?

My smith is suggesting re-barrelling this gun to a more useful caliber as he could not help with the caliber and it could be an obsolete caliber.


















thanks

Edited by CptCurl (02/12/12 01:28 AM)

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taw1126
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: herbertnb]
      #217085 - 22/09/12 09:36 AM

Might be time to look for more gunsmiths...I thought all of them would be able to Cerro cast the chamber and determine the cartridge & caliber. If he can't do it you could probably buy some Cerro-safe and do it yourself. But I definitely wouldn't start off with re-barreling.

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500Nitro
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: taw1126]
      #217086 - 22/09/12 10:01 AM

Agree

I would have thought with all that information on the gun - proof, year etc etc - and even if you don't cerosafe the chamber, you must know what the bore is, you can have a damn good guess at the calibre.

Have a look in the Mauser books.

Secondly, that gun looks is fairly good condition with all it's bits - and possibly even matching serial numbers.

It would be a shame to take it apart as so few originals are left. If you want a custom barrel, buy an old Mauser 98, plenty of those around.

Just my HO.

Edited by 500Nitro (22/09/12 10:48 AM)

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Huvius
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: 500Nitro]
      #217088 - 22/09/12 10:37 AM

Please, DO NOT dismantle this gun!
It is a type B from 1912 and from the looks of it, unaltered and in good nick.
My bet is it is an 8X57 but any gunsmith worth his salt can do a chamber cast to be certain.
This is a rare and very nice gun well worth preserving.

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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dons
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: herbertnb]
      #217089 - 22/09/12 10:40 AM

What I see is a very nice pre-war commercial Type B Mauser in 8x57J (.318 bore) with matching numbers built in 1912. To rebarrel or otherwise modify this very collectable rifle is punishable by death. BTW, find a new gunsmith.

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500Nitro
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: dons]
      #217091 - 22/09/12 10:50 AM


Yes, I forgot to put, get a new gunsmith as well.

With all the info available nowadays - internet, books as well as the CEROSAFE mentioned by someone above he should be able to work out the calibre.

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taw1126
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: 500Nitro]
      #217092 - 22/09/12 11:20 AM

Now that I'm looking at this on the computer instead of my phone I believe I see a "7,85" in the markings under the barrel. That's your bore size (7.85mm or 0.309"). The Mauser I had with a 7,85 bore was also marked "8,2" for the groove diameter (which would be 0.323").

According to folks on this board smarter than me, the "156,14" is a gauge diameter indicating a 7.87mm bore at the time of proof (though that gauge number is not intended to be exact).

So I think you have an 8x57IS.

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Caprivi
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: taw1126]
      #217093 - 22/09/12 11:58 AM

Definitely a nice Type B, definitely (unless re-chamber sometime in life) a 8x57
And definitely do not entrust your "smith" to anything harder than mounting a Tasco on a Axis

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To live life as it is handed to me from God

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pjaln
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: Caprivi]
      #217098 - 22/09/12 12:43 PM

thats probably one of the nicest earliest commercial sporters around ,,i second dons opinion!!....paul

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Igorrock
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: pjaln]
      #217102 - 22/09/12 02:54 PM

In Jon Speed book you could find BU-proofed Mauser B Type number 55995 (year 1912), marked as Taucher US Imports, caliber .30-06. So the chamfer casting from yours would be very usefull.
This same book tells that your rifle is Mod B`s pattern No.80 (single trigger, round 24" barrel, tangent curve sight up to 1000 meters).

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Edited by Igorrock (22/09/12 03:08 PM)

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SAHUNT
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: Igorrock]
      #217107 - 22/09/12 06:06 PM

I agree with previous comments, make a cast, change your gunsmith and don't change the barrel. It is a fine collectors piece. By the looks of it, it will be easy to refurbish the rifle. I will get rid of the varnish, take out large marking by steaming (if any), clean up the checkering and oil the stock. Rust blue the rifle and add a recoil pad, then go and shoot and enjoy it.

--------------------
Life is how you pass the time between hunting trips.
Sometimes I do not express myself properly in the English language, please forgive me, I am just a boertjie.
Jaco Human
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Igorrock
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: SAHUNT]
      #217108 - 22/09/12 06:41 PM

Quote:

I will get rid of the varnish, take out large marking by steaming (if any), clean up the checkering and oil the stock. Rust blue the rifle and add a recoil pad, then go and shoot and enjoy it.

Why do such a works ? This rifle is old and in good original condition. But IMHO not too good to using it for hunting.

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justcurious
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: Igorrock]
      #217109 - 22/09/12 06:53 PM

The caliber / cartridge is 8x57 I (.318).
The 7.85 represents the .318 diameter , whereas the .323 diameter was marked 7.9 .

A nice find and it would be a shame to bubba it.

Edited by justcurious (22/09/12 06:54 PM)

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SAHUNT
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (Pics) [Re: Igorrock]
      #217113 - 22/09/12 08:49 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I will get rid of the varnish, take out large marking by steaming (if any), clean up the checkering and oil the stock. Rust blue the rifle and add a recoil pad, then go and shoot and enjoy it.

Why do such a works ? This rifle is old and in good original condition. But IMHO not too good to using it for hunting.


The only reason I suggest getting rid of the varnish is that it hides the true caracter of the wood. I personally hates any kind of varnish. When you remove the varnish you must clean the checkering to get all the varnish out. By re-blueing it you prevent rust. Just my own opinion.

And I will most definately go hunt with it, you cannot leave such a beautiful piece at home.

--------------------
Life is how you pass the time between hunting trips.
Sometimes I do not express myself properly in the English language, please forgive me, I am just a boertjie.
Jaco Human
jacohu@mweb.co.za
SA Hunting Experience

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herbertnb
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: SAHUNT]
      #217120 - 23/09/12 12:44 AM

Thanks everyone for all the info, really appreciate all for you taking the time provide all this valuable input. I am adding some pics of the serial#'s as there was a few reference to the serial#.

To be fair to my smith, he is not a Mauser expert and was strictly making the suggestion from a hunting convenience point of view as it will be quite difficult to get .318 bore ammo(he assumed a European caliber) . I am sure he must have thought that this is a military converted sporter.

I am just going to add a Mauser butt plate to the rifle and leave it alone. I will also try to source some .318 ammo. Will also try to get chamber cast.













Edited by CptCurl (02/12/12 01:29 AM)

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mckinney
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: herbertnb]
      #217123 - 23/09/12 02:19 AM

Excellent decision. I wouldn't even think about doing anything to this gun other than a chamber cast to confirm the caliber assuming the barrel is not shot out. I wouldn't add a buttplate either, unless it's obvious there was a buttplate there before (screwholes, etc.). There are some good reproductions available. The rifle looks great just the way it is.

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herbertnb
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: mckinney]
      #217125 - 23/09/12 02:32 AM

The barrel is in very good condition, crisp rifling and very nice bore with no marks whatsoever.

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DarylS
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: herbertnb]
      #217128 - 23/09/12 03:37 AM

Quote:

The barrel is in very good condition, crisp rifling and very nice bore with no marks whatsoever.



8x57 RP and WW factory ammo is quite safe to shoot in your rifle.

It is loaded with a .321", 170gr. bullets at VERY low pressure just to be safe in these and M88 actioned rifles with .318" groove diameters.

If the ctg. easily chambers ammo loaded with .323" bullets, it will also be safe to shoot with those. Some .318" bores have too-tight necks for this and should not be fired with .323" bullets.

One easy method to see if this is the situation with this rifle, is to fire a RP or Ww factgory load, then try to push a .323" (8mm) bullet into the empty case.

If the .323" bullet will enter the neck of the fired case easily, you can shoot normal 8x57 ammo form Europe, IE: Norma which is actually loaded to the pressure that an 8x57 should be loaded to.

This test shows the chamber neck is large enough to allow the cae to expand and properly release the larger, .323"("S" type) bullet. If the larger bullet will not enter the fired case neck, under no circumstances shoot anything but WW or RP ammo, or handloads, loaded with .318" bullets.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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rgg_7
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: DarylS]
      #217131 - 23/09/12 11:45 AM

Why not sell the rifle and get something in a calibre you can use. I've got a couple of these .318 bores and just won't shoot them with an factory ammo. Ron (Canada)

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dons
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: herbertnb]
      #217148 - 24/09/12 02:24 AM

Herbertnb: Could you post a photo of the buttplate. The correct one will NOT be the "Mauser" banner, instead it will be the intertwined initials "WM" within a shield used before WW1. I suspect the present buttplate may be correct. Lets be sure before you change it.

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herbertnb
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: dons]
      #217149 - 24/09/12 03:11 AM

Dons: The gun did not have a buttplate, it has holes for the plate and is unfinished & curved. I looked around for mauser buttplates and the only ones I found were the ones with the Mauser banner and the 6 point star around the screw holes. Is there any where I can get the buttplate with intertwined initials "WM" within a shield.

Thanks

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kuduae
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: herbertnb]
      #217150 - 24/09/12 03:51 AM

You may get a correct reproduction buttplate from Larry Schuknecht
http://www.dutchmanwoodworks.com/buttplat.htm
Go down his list to "Mauser (Early Sporter)".

--------------------
German foresters: We like sustainability! For merely 300 years by 2013.

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herbertnb
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Re: Mauser Help - No Caliber Markings (more pics if serial#) [Re: kuduae]
      #217154 - 24/09/12 07:42 AM

Thanks Kundae, really appreciate the help. I will order one tomorrow.

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