Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3604
Loc: Colorado
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Some photos of a recently acquired Mauser.
It is a single square bridge TypeB made in 1904.
The scope mounts are Rigby style which use a single rear facing hook for the rear and a notched pin for the front.
I believe that this is actually an early Mauser system which was adopted by Rigby for their house style scope mounting.
The rear sight is a 1000m tangent with windage adjustment which was an optional upgrade to the factory standard TypeB. This sight is standard on the Special Range Rifles.
One non-original feature is the floorplate and release.
I am thinking that the military style button release was changed out for a lever style and a different floorplate was utilized as the floorplate on the rifle is the only part with a non-matching number.
The grip cap is horn and I think the stock is from another Mauser as there is a filled gap at the front of the bottom metal ahead of the front action screw. Hardly noticeable though.
Perhaps the most unusual thing about this rifle is that it is chambered in the 8X51 Mauser cartridge.
The 8X51 was offered in the Kurz actioned rifles but I haven't seen that chambering in a standard length action. It had some popularity before WW1 so I suppose a buyer could have requested such a rifle.
Of course, it was sold as an 8X60 which I knew would not have been original for a 1904 rifle and assumed that it could have been rechambered to 8X60 from 8X57.
The rifle has a .311" bore measured with pin gauges and has four groove rifling. The bore condition is excellent.
This rifle is set up almost identically to the unique SSB large ring Kurz rifle on pages 115-117 of John Speed's wonderful Mauser book.
Interestingly, the B U proofs on the action are below the wood line and there is no stamping of the chambering on the rifle!
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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93x64mm
.416 member
Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4351
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
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Never heard of the 8x51mm - virtually an 8-08!
Nice piece of kit regardless of calibre.
Keep us up to date with the reloading mate, sounds like it will do rather well if the bore is pristine.
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PatagonHunter
.333 member
Reged: 20/01/06
Posts: 255
Loc: Bariloche, Patagonia Argentina
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Hello Huvius,
Nice and extremely well preserved rifle!! Seems to by the original bluing, by the way. Nice!!
PH
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sbs470
.333 member
Reged: 15/04/04
Posts: 378
Loc: Sheffield Tasmania
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Wow. very nice
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kuduae
.400 member
Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1801
Loc: middle of Germany
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An interesting rifle! The lever-detachable magazine floorplate is a modification often found on pre-WW1 Suhl made Mauser action rifles. It probably gave Mauser the idea for the hinged, lever opening floorplate.
The stock is definitely of Mauser post-1912 shape, more likely even 1920s – 30s. Is there a serial number stamped in the barrel channel? Does the buttplate show the earlier WFM logo or the post-1926 MAUSER banner?
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Rothhammer1
.400 member
Reged: 06/01/17
Posts: 1857
Loc: The Redwoods of California
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Quote:
Never heard of the 8x51mm - virtually an 8-08!
DWM 366L
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Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3604
Loc: Colorado
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It is much like an 8mm/08 in fact, I had a Kurz Mauser and used 308 brass for the 8mm.
Unfortunately, I think I sent the dies with the rifle when I sold it thinking I wouldn't have another...
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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ColoradoMatt1
.300 member
Reged: 01/01/14
Posts: 129
Loc: Northern Colorado
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I use to own a very similar rifle with an identical action from 1906. The top of the front ring had the same flattened and knurled spot. However, it had a full octogan barrel chambered in 8x57. Very nice rifle you got there!
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paradox_
.375 member
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 645
Loc: Australia
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i would have expected the stock to have a rounded grip, with the slender for end with " reinforced" side panels.
The number in the channel if non matching will indicate a stock swap during its life.
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Walk softly and carry a big stick
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paradox_
.375 member
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 645
Loc: Australia
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Opps, delete the reference to side panels
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Walk softly and carry a big stick
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