Identify a Mauser

Virmy · March 22, 2019, 10:18am

So I went to a gun show last weekend to find a good deal on a Beretta. Instead I happily pick up two historic bolt action rifles. A Japanese training rifle and a Mauser. The owner wasn’t sure which one and to be honest I’m not sure either. At first I thought it was a 98k but looking at the bolt I’m thinking it might not be. Of course the only marking not worn off is the serial number. Any ideas anybody?

Robert · March 22, 2019, 10:55am

I read, Identify as a Mauser

Chuparosa · March 22, 2019, 12:17pm

Can I identify as a Mosin then? Haw! I’ll stop.

Virmy · March 22, 2019, 1:09pm

I’ll drink to that

Grenz45 · March 22, 2019, 2:36pm

What caliber?

Grenz45 · March 22, 2019, 2:39pm

Also a pic of the sight may help

Virmy · March 22, 2019, 3:28pm

Was told it’s a 8mm haven’t verified the caliber.

Belt-Fed · March 22, 2019, 4:14pm

The two mausers I had were 7mm

Grenz45 · March 22, 2019, 6:09pm

Should have said front and rear sights

Grenz45 · March 23, 2019, 1:38am

I have 5
Two 8mm Mausers (7.92 X 57)
Two Swede Mausers (6.5 X 55)
Arisaka Type 99 (7.7 X 58) (It is a Mauser action after all Japanese style)

Regardless it is a 98 action of some type (Third Lug)
There were a god awful lot of Mausers put out in all kinds of versions.

Virmy · March 24, 2019, 2:22pm

Huh go figure. Well I guess when it’s good flood the market with it lol. Guy gave me Greek made 7.92 Mauser rounds thinking give those a try after I clean her up a bit.

Grenz45 · March 24, 2019, 4:50pm

So it is a greek contract rifle.
These were made by FN and are rather well made.
Known as the Model 30.
This is essentially a VZ-24 Mauser.
It looks like your missing the handgaurd also which are often broken.
They are available though.
Too bad they wiped all the crests and markings from it.
That would lead me to believe it was a Capture rifle from one of Greece’s many wars.
Good shooter however and have fun with it.

Grenz45 · March 24, 2019, 5:04pm

One more thing about the Arisaka.
Ammo isn’t cheap and it is hard to find as well.
Outdoorlimited had the best RECENT price. (I just got two boxes).
Cant wait to try it out.

As for the 7.92 X 57 stuff. Stay away from of the surplus Romanian ammo.
See Romanian 8mm issues?

Virmy · March 27, 2019, 12:12pm

Oh! That explains why I had a hard time identifying her. Definitely appreciate Grenz. How you find this out by the way? Not surprised with the arisaka. From what I was told this one is a training rifle that would have been sent to schools as a training aid never meant to shoot.

Grenz45 · March 27, 2019, 9:29pm

I’m good at research and have researched all my firearms.
Dates made and history with them as much as I can anyway.
Sort of a History nut case you may say.
And I am a Mauser Fan for sure.
I have 5 if you count the Arisaka.
I also have a Romanian Contract VZ-24 (1 of 5000 made).
I shoot them ALL too,
There is just something about shooting an old war horse that is just flat out COOL!!!
I let others shoot them too at the range if they like.

As for the Training Arisaka it will have a cast pot-metal receiver if it is.
But will chamber a fire a round and then blow up on you. So don’t…
Cant tell from the picture though.
There are also Last Ditch Rifles that look crude but are shootable.
The rear sight is very crude as well.
Pictures tell all though.
Need better closeups to tell.

Virmy · March 29, 2019, 1:45pm

Cool.

Grenz45 · March 30, 2019, 3:28pm

Inspector marks are difficult which is what the bolt marking is.
The post has many images that appear to not have uploaded.
VZ24 variants are chambered in several rounds when exported so you do need to verify what you have there.

Clean up that Arisaka and lets see what you got there.

Virmy · May 14, 2019, 12:32pm

Sorry it took so long. Tried the Mauser last weekend with the rounds I got with it. Two bad primers didn’t feel like testing the other 98 rounds lol. So thank God for girlfriend’s brother, got to use his 30-30 Winchester. Ahhh that feels better

Virmy · May 14, 2019, 12:34pm

Here’s the arisaka taken apart. A little cleaning other than that good wall hanger.

Grenz45 · May 15, 2019, 12:28am

The receiver looks like a sand casting.
Definitely a training only rifle.
I bet the bore is smooth as well.
Put a round it that and eat the breech.
They were designed for blanks at best, but I wouldn’t even shoot those.
It is these type rifles that gave the Arisaka a bad name after the war.
Too many GI’s tried to shoot real ammo in them and blewy.

Real Arisakas are marked like this:

And no doubt the receiver is a milled piece of steel.
I was hoping to shoot this one on Friday but we will rained out.

The weather Gods just frowned on our group this week.