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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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ctw,
I've been lurking on this thread because I'm interested in learning more about Mausers. I don't have any knowledge to offer, except to say the value of your rifle could rapidly be approaching scarey proportions.
Nononsense gave you great advice, find a Mauser expert you can trust. Don't do anything in a hurry - you might have a gem.
Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. Robert Frost
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OP
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my rifle has a 26 inch bbl as well but is not nearly that nice. so what you are saying is not to drill and tap it? i do not know any mauser experts. no bbl bands just a loop that the screw runs threw that hols on the front swivel. the eagles look like natzi markings i know i have seen them before. how do i tell when it was made? under the two eagles on the bbl thier are a few numbers what do they mean? thanks chris
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Joined: May 2004
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 68 |
Edger Keiss was a gunmaker in Suhl and is listed as working 1935-39 era, may have worked before or after. There might be a three or four number digit on the bottom of the barrel for the proof date such as 334 for March-1934. looks like a typical sporter of this era with a Greener safety.
Michael Petrov / Alaska
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ctw,
I say definitely do NOT drill and tap this gun. It would seriously detract from it's value, and the stock is not designed for scope use. To see through a scope on this rifle would be very awkward indeed.
Stated another way: if you drill and tap this gun I might not survive the shock. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Pretty please don't.
Live well
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Chris,
There isn't much more that I can help with unless you have more and better photographs of the additional numbers and proof marks. What you would be looking for are maybe the letters B, U, G, N with crowns over the tops of each and the serial number. These were used between 1924 and 1934 with some carrying on through the later years. B = rifle proofed in assembled form. U = final inspection proof. G = sporting firearm with rifled barrel. N = indicates Nitro proofing. (from 1933-1939) Also used on military contract rifles for export.
Non-exported receivers had a serial number on the left side of the receiver above the stock line. Exported receivers had the serial number on the bottom of the receiver so that the maker could assign their number to the side.
The caliber could have been placed on the left side of the barrel or underneath on the barrel. Along with this number underneath was the caliber markings: land and groove size (mm) as well as the twist rate (mm) and possibly even the steel maker's name.
The ballistics established by the Mauser factory for the 6.5x68S was:
Spitzer bullet weight 127 gr. 3,130 FPS. at the muzzle. 2,795 Ft/lbs. at the muzzle. 56,000 PSI. chamber pressure.
If you want to get a thorough grounding in Mausers, I would suggest buying the Ludwig Olson book and the Jon Speed book on Mauser sporting rifles.
I don't recommend tapping the rifle anywhere on it as it will ruin the potential value. As has been pointed out, the stock is not suitable for scope mounts, anyway. It was done but the cheek weld was non-existent.
If you can take the rifle outside and photograph the numbers and proof marks, I might be able to help more. If not, I think that this is the best that I can do.
Best of luck with a wonderful rifle!
Last edited by nononsense; 12/11/04.
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hi 2mp wondering where you found info on edgar? looking to investigate further. thanks chris
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Chris, the reference was from �Old German Target Arms� Alte Scheibenwaffen by Thompson et.al. You have the complete listing, this information was gathered from old phone books and city directories. I have a good selection of books on German gunmakers and none list anything on Keiss. You can write the gunmakers museum in Suhl, but they know little about the makers of Suhl. Suhl is a town that for a few hundred years has been in the arms making business, but sadly not much has been written about the small makers, of which there were many.
Last edited by 2mp; 12/11/04.
Michael Petrov / Alaska
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hi nononsense well i took the rifle down again to try and get picts. the resolution i can post here does not show them so i will describe the best i can. edgar kiess suhl and caliber is stampted. the serrial #. beside that 87. the eagle with an n under it below that the eagle witha J under it below that 840 (wich acourding to 2mp should mean august 1940) below that an upside down heart with some lines in it. beside them are two fancy r's inside of a simple scroll. on the receiver ring right side anothe eagle with no letters under it right side serial # under the bolt handle inside the tight curve another plain eagle. no crowns i can see. hopefully this will help. if you would like me to send some better picts of the markings please email me at mmw@gtlakes.com thanks chris
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thanks i found a 840 if it means the same augest 1940? thanks again chris
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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All: Krupp laufstahl is not coarse steel but means barrel steel. Lauf is the German word for barrel. The latch on the side is a Greener side safety - common on drillings and combination guns but uncommon on bolt action rifles.
The African model that Speed refers to is an original Mauser factory sporting rifle model. The original Mauser African Model is very rare. Your rifle, on the other hand, was built by an individual gunmaker and is perhaps even rarer than the Mauser offering but will not command anywhere near the price that a Mauser African Model would command. Still, it is a very nice piece that should be quite desirable among Mauser buffs.
The rifle appears to be a wonderful example of a pre-war product of a fine custom maker in Germany.
Tom
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Campfire Greenhorn
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thanks i found a 840 if it means the same augest 1940? thanks again chris Yes!
Michael Petrov / Alaska
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