Not too long ago I put in a lowball offer for a Ludwig Loewe 1895 Mauser rebarreled to 7mm-08 on GunBroker. I had a Gunsmith look at it, and they told me it appears safe to fire. However the action is very rough and I don’t see any amount of cleaning making it smooth. The stock it came with is useless as well...Literally the worst stock I have ever seen.

I didn’t pay a ton for it (~$300) but also figure resale value is pretty minimal. I expect I would have to dump at least $300 into it to maybe turn it into a decent rifle. Given that the resale probably wouldn’t increase much, and it most likely would underwhelm for $600 it seems like the best decision would be to cut my losses.

Curious to hear about any similar experiences, thoughts, advice, etc. Any success stories out there?

TIA

It happens brother, you will buy money pits every now and then. It happens to all of us, cut your losses and move on. It stings, but thats how you learn.

Pics would help us to make a better assessment. Rough> How exactly? Finish? Operation?

If you have any question about safety, I'd put it on a shelf or bury it in the back yard.

It is really easy to dump more money into a military Mauser build a little bit at a time such that you don't really notice it until you realize that it will never be worth what you have into it, the opposite of synergy. I call them "stone soup builds" and have a half dozen or so of them.

Operation, it requires a LOT of force to cycle. I will put pics up when I pick it back up. I’m not sure pictures can capture how embarrassing the stock on this thing is, it’s almost like a stock on a toy rifle. I thought from the GB pics that it might be similar to the Ruger American Predator stock.

As far as safety, there are now 2 separate gunsmiths that have stayed it is safe. I’m still not 100% convinced based on reading (I believe on here) about a rebarreled m95 that ended up with the shooter being evacuated by ambulance. Not really much detail on how significant his injuries were, but still makes you wonder. Also sounds like he was using handloads which I wouldn’t do.

I agree. If you don't trust it, drill holes in the barrel and sell it as a project.

Life is too short...

If the smiths say it is safe then strap it to a tire and fire a few.
If it shoots reasonably well, put another stock on it and paint it.
Sounds like it would be a good loaner, truck gun, cabin, barn gun.
Go here for a stock navigate down to the bargain list they have a stock for $79
http://rifle-stocks.com/bargain_list.htm

charlee

I wonder what is making it rough/hard to cycle? I have seen a few 1895s, and owned one at one time in original trim (which I've regretted selling), and they were beautifully finished.

The design is very similar to the Swede, and about as well-made, though the Swedes have a better reputation, probably due at least in part to the quality of the iron ore they used. As long as it is in good nick and loaded conservatively it should be strong enough, but it would not be at at all hard to run up far more than it is worth to turn it into a sporter.

Ive been looking at one locally. Theres nothing rough on this 95 Mauser. The thing is clean and all original in full original condition. Beautiful rifle and super slick.

If it's rough to cycle, I'd be worried about lug set-back, especially with a higher pressure round compared to its original.

I'm sure your gunsmith is better qualified than I am, but it's the first thing I thought of.

Cycle could mean anything. OP, ought to give a little more detailed explanation if he wants anything resembling useful advice.

Hard to open after firing? Hard to feed a cartridge out of the magazine into the chamber?

I'm guessing the later and if so, would suspect that the 7mm-08 is causing feeding issues. Why someone would covert from 7x57 to 7mm-08 is beyond me but it happens. Could have been a shot out barrel.

Put it back on GB as a penny auction, you'll get what you get. Eat the the rest. Lesson learned, just don't let it happen again.

Wish I could say that the biggest firearm related mistake I ever made was less than $300.00.

The 1895 Mausers cock on close, bet that’s why the gun seems to require a LOT of force to cycle.

I have never seen or handled a Loewe rifle that wasn't beautifully made, Loewe was the main player in German Armaments industry, but when Jews began to fall into disfavor, the son of Ludwig Loewe masterminded a number of mergers that eventually ended up with the name DWM. There are gunsmiths...and there are Mauser knowledgeable gunsmiths, I suggest the latter for an informed opinion before you trash it.

+1, I have a sporterized 1895 Chilean 7X57 that came out of Paul Jaeger’s shop, one of my favorite guns.

SAAMI for the 7x57 is 51,000 psi while SAAMI for the 7mm-08 is 61,000 psi. The 1895 Mauser is a low pressure action that is not designed for loads generating over 55,000 psi. Modern commercial 7X57 ammunition is loaded for use in the ‘weakest’ Mauser actions as the manufacturers know it is very likely to be used in these guns. Not so with the .7mm-08. Personally, wouldn’t be comfortable shooting the op’s gun.
Metallurgy in the late 19th Century was a far cry from what it is today.

This is just pure opinion, But Loewe, as a prime contractor...he bought out the Mauser Bros in 1887, and took over production, with Paul Mauser staying on as technical expert...I cannot imagine any loss of quality with Paul Mauser in that company. Historically, when a country used a Mauser patent, but insisted on building the rifles in the customer's country...machinery and a technical team set up the operation and production. Some of the finest examples of Mausers were built outside of Germany, but under German supervision.

Winnah!

Agreed, that it could be either set back locking lugs or the cock on closing feature. Shooters that have never shot a cock on closing Mauser are usually surprised at the additional force required to close the bolt.

Also agreed on the 95 Lowe Mausers quality and currently have a couple. One is a beater I've shot a lot for at least 30 years with low pressure handloads and it's still working fine. The other's an all matching #s one that doesn't look to have ever been used in the field it looks, functions and shoots as good as any milsurp I've seen. I know the Swedes are supposed to be the best of the small ring Mausers both for quality and accuracy. I like them too, have owned a couple of 96s & #38s and will get another but I haven't seen much if any overall difference in either aspect with rifles in equal condition.

No gunsmith here! But years, make that decades, experience with DWM branded rifles. Now owning more than several. No such experience relating to "rough" cycling. I agree with most responses posted here, but particularly z1r referencing more specific information needed for possible diagnosis. Also particularly concurring with Pocono concerning pressures. Doesn't sound like any kind of safe or necessary conversion to me! I buy into the idea of the "tire" test, but perhaps moving status to 'permanent fixture' in firing the rifle! Very long string too!

I'd add the question of "matching bolt? Wondering if you have another mfg bolt (Spanish-?) in the rifle. Some good photos, as noted, would likely help. For most of us, you can even skip the "Contents Disturbing" cautionary warning. We've seen and possibly own, such "closet queens" of our own!

Best & Stay Safe!
John

I had a Spanish Mauser that had been arsenal converted to 308.
It had a very pitted barrel, so I had it converted to 243 - it worked exceptionally well, clear up 'til it was stolen in a truck break-in.

I handled one at the LGS today and it was also a POS with the same rough cycle. I remembered the issue with mine, as this one I handled had it even worse.

The bolt gets hung up on the internal magazine, mine at least does clear it with enough force (the one at the LGS I had to manually depress), and then it requires another burst of force to complete the cock on close.

I appreciate all of the wisdom.

Gunsmiths familiar with military Mauser actions routinely alter the magazine follower by ramping the back edge so the bolt can ride over it without having to be manually pushed down.
The original configuration is not an impediment with a loaded magazine as the cartridges keep the bolt from contacting the follower until the ammunition is expended.
The hang up you describe was a design feature that alerted the operator that the magazine was empty and needed to be charged. Better than closing the bolt on an empty chamber in the heat of battle.

Lol.

I used one with a short cartridge mag.to shoot a wildcat in.

My wife's Cousin knurled the bolt knob and if you shoot many shots at varmints the palm of your hand gets sore.

I have softened it up a little at a time but it still gets to you.

I'm thinking that a 95 is not safe with a 7-08 in the chamber. Early, not as advanced gas system if a primer ruptures and no third locking lug like a 98. If you insist on making that one work - pull the barrel and sell it to someone with a Turk or Mex 98. Get a 7x57 barrel and install it. Turn the stock into kindling and put a Boyd's on it.

I have a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Grendal, that uses a standard AR mag, even tho it is a bolt action...its a year old..

when the AR mag is empty, the bolt won't close without immediately hitting the mag.. and I have several mags for that rifle, both factory and aftermarket...

I have several Enfields 1917s, that are cock on closing and they do the same with no ammo in the chamber.. so that is standard factory feature with the spring in the mag,
letting a shooter in military service know the mag is empty....these were loaded in combat or in the field, with stripper clips...

action being rough...its a 100 year old rifle... it may have had a lot of rough use and put away wet in its 100 year service life...
something like that can still be cleaned up.. I've done it with a couple of 1917 Enfields over the years...

barrels can always be replaced... and being a handloader, its not much to load something at lower pressure, and not giving up a lot of velocity, to include the 7/08...

people always seem to think they need the last fps out of each round that they shoot...a little prudence at the reloading bench, can make brass and everything else a lot less stressed and increase service life dramatically.... I load a lot of ammo I use into the pressure range that many older Mausers like used...giving up a 100 to 150 fps Max velocity...

Lots of people who don’t know better think Mauser actions are rough. The long extractor and the magazine follower bearing on the bolt body (even when the back is ground down) means that the bolt will seldom just fall open like a modern push feed bolt action. Then there is the matter of the slop inherent in the design at the end of the cycle. That isn’t slack of a worn out rifle or poor tolerances in manufacture, that is part of the design to allow the bolt to function in less than idea body positions with dirt or mud in the action.

Guy GAVE me a Spanish Mauser, an 1893. It was NOT a collector. The stock had been 'customized' and the bolt handle bubba-ed so that it was almost unusable. Was a 7 x 57.

Showed it to a friend who had sporterized several Mausers and he told me:

1. You could make a pretty good deer rifle with that.
2. You will never get all your money back.
3. Leave it as a 7 x 57. It is a fine cartridge for deer hunting.
4. that action is not made for hot loads, even though its had gas ports drilled in the receiver ring and the bolt.
5. Get a new barrel, trigger, and stock. If you do this decently it will be a good rifle for the hunting you do around here [ meaning EC Minnesota in some brush country ]
6. Even someone with your limited mechanical skills can do most this yourself.
-----------------------------------------------------------
End results:
1. Had the rifle tested at a gun smithing school near here. Was fine.
2. Did a lot of reading and viewing stuff on internet.
3. Installed a new barrel, added a Boyd trigger and a Boyd stock.
4. Did all the work myself except barrel change, chamber reaming, and metal finishing.
5. put a Redfield 2 x 7 scope on it.
6. By now have run some 300 shots thru the barrel. The barrel has 'matured' enough.

Because i had some IMR4320 powder sitting there [used it in my 300 Savage] I started using that in my reloads. the Spaniard will put 140 gr Sierra ProHunters into about 2.5 inch groups.

To finish the above......

the Spaniard will put 165 gr Remington RN bullets into 3 inch groups...
will group 150 gr Remington spire pt[?] into 1.5 inch groups.
will group 150 gr Partitions into ~ 1 inch groups regularly.

We chrony-ed the 150 gr loads and they are about duplicates of a medium 150 gr 300 Savage load.
I had a good time doing this..... even with my limited mechanical skills. :-)

I truly appreciate all of the feedback here and will be posting it in the classifieds in the near future.

I finally listed this rifle for sale.

Anybody have anything concrete on whether or not the action is capable of handling factory 7mm-08 ammo?

I handload... I wouldn't personally run factory 7/08 ammo thru it.... but I could produce handloads for it all day long...

Don't know if that is what you want to hear... but if it fell in my lap, that is how I'd use it...

Hang it on the wall then..

I've had a 95 and a 96 pass through my hands over the years. Fired them a bunch and my opinion is that I personally don't trust them. The 96 developed a headspace issue firing factor 6.5x55 ammo. The 95 had a few issues with some 7x57 military surplus.

They make a nice wall hanger unless you want to make up some light handloads to shoot. It's 98 Mausers for me.

Dan

As a Ludwig & Lowe it was made prior to 1898 and is considered and antique. When you sell it, you can ship it to the customers door, no FFL is needed.

There is virtue in simplicity. My "catch" of decades ago. That empty feeling, prospect of walking back to the car emptyhanded! 'Her', looking bit prettier as Sunday evening & Gun Show closing time. As I recall about $ forty something with couple boxes of Rem 7x57 ammo. Matching receiver, barrel and bolt (custom bent); action slick! Shot just fine, considering era short stock! Working for me & my 'give a gun a home' program!

Spanish 1893 Model / 1894 dated Ludwig Lowe Berlin

Best!
John

Nothing wrong with that.