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Tentman
.300 member

Reged: 13/06/10
Posts: 128
Loc: Southland, New Zealand

When were actions numbered ?
#210408 - 08/06/12 06:37 AM

Hello Folks

I'm looking at a catalogue description of a rifle (its not possible to get photos or view untill the auction which is a very expensive flight away) and trying to rationalise if it is as it says it is.

The serial number 66xx dates it to 1903 by my reading of Speed. However the calalogue says the action is "dated" 1917. The action "should" be a slanted magazine box type. Is it possible that they used an action lying around since the "Rigby contract" to make a rifle in 1917 ?

Could this action be from the Siamese contract ? In which case its probably not a "mauser sporter" but one made up by a gunsmith's shop.

Thanks

--------------------
Southland, New Zealand

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Igorrock
.400 member

Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1650
Loc: Finland

Re: When were actions numbered ? [Re: Tentman]
#210440 - 08/06/12 02:10 PM

This four digits serial number could be Rigby´s own too. I´m quite sure those miltary serial numbers would be some digits longer.

By the way, what´s the auction ?

--------------------
http://promaakari.wordpress.com/

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500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: When were actions numbered ? [Re: Igorrock]
#210442 - 08/06/12 02:26 PM

tentman

Quite a few guns exist (English guns) that were serial numbered earlier than the cartridge they were chambered for
or the style or gun they are was actually available.

Have seen it when checking up on DR's more than bolts
but it did seem to occur.

The war also stuffed things up in terms of guns ordered before the war, not made or partially made when the war
broke out and / or not collected so made into something
else.

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kuduae
.400 member

Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1792
Loc: middle of Germany

Re: When were actions numbered ? [Re: 500Nitro]
#210463 - 09/06/12 02:24 AM

As the description says it is a "Mauser" action dated "1917" with a four digit serial number, I suspect it to be an ex-military Gew98 action from WW1. German military rifles then were numbered like this: On top of the receiver ring the factory "Mauser", then year "1917". Each maker and year started over with number "1" and continued to "9999". then a letter was added, "1 A" to "9999 A" and so on.

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Tentman
.300 member

Reged: 13/06/10
Posts: 128
Loc: Southland, New Zealand

Re: When were actions numbered ? [Re: kuduae]
#210480 - 09/06/12 06:48 AM

Thanks Gentlemen. I see I didn't mention it was in .303

The auction is at the Wellington (NZ) Antique Arms Assn - catalog here: http://www.nzaaawgtn.org.nz/a12lots.asp

The lot I'm considering is #1550

As the lots are generally well described I don't think it is a rifle that passed through an english makers hands - they would have stamped it.

I do suspect that it is a sporterized military action as Kudue points out.

--------------------
Southland, New Zealand

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500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: When were actions numbered ? [Re: Tentman]
#210483 - 09/06/12 06:52 AM

"I don't think it is a rifle that passed through an english makers hands - they would have stamped it."

If it went to England, it probably would have been proofed
as well.

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Rolf
.333 member

Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 402
Loc: Germany, Bavaria

Re: When were actions numbered ? [Re: 500Nitro]
#213483 - 26/07/12 08:45 PM

Gentlemen,

additional information from a collector in Germany:

there existed DWM systems intended for the use in argentino "mausers" which were NEVER proofed and bear no serial numbers whatever. They are therefore still in "mint" condition and have never been assembled.

So I assume that in the manufacturings of large military contracts there have been always some excess systems in spare, which were (if not needed) stored and then the number would have been added the time the rifle was assembled/finished.

best regards
Rolf

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