Hello All - up to two weeks ago, in the previous 40 years I had only seen one Afrika model Mauser - and have lusted after one ever since.

Two weeks back I missed one in 7x57 (half octagon 28" barrel) by 2 hours.

This morning I examined the third one.

Date of Manufacture: 1936 - 37

Stock: 3/4 length with cheekpiece, horn buttplate with mauser logo and a few wormholes, steel cap on pistol grip, nice piece of wood with minimal dings in it.

Action: Std K98 with thumb cutout, magazine floorplate with unlocking lever, bolt may have been blued from the factory - the wear in the blueing is consistent with long useage, single trigger, claw mount on front receiver ring and a possible non-original rear mounting screw (the slot is too wide)

Barrel: calibre 8x57, 28" tapered octagon, folding leaf sights 200, 300, 400, 500, minor pitting externally, bore looks dusty ??, foresight cover missing, additional front scope mount onto barrel just ahead of the receiver ring (beautifully done - almost sculpted to the rifle - factory job?)

Scope: Nickel 6 x 56 (?)

Can the brains trust can come up with some idea of it's value - thanks edi

edi malinaric,

Hi,
It's hard to guess. Is the scope mount a "Suhler einhaksmontage" -German claw mount and is the scope the original scope???

If it is I would say that the price in Sweden for a Mauser model A in 8x57 would be in the region of 8000 - 12000 Sekr (1Rand ~ 1Sekr. If the caliber was 9,3x62 or 64 or 10,75x68 the price would be in the upper end.

A very nice original Mauser 98 made by Brenneke in 9,3x64 was recently sold here for 10 000 Sekr.

/Husky

I saw one thirty years ago, owned by a military collector buddy of mine. He bought several 98's from an old Gent and the Afrika model was included. At the time I couldn't appreciate the rifle as I was young and dumb and all wound up over Rem 700's and Weatherby's. I do recall it being a well done rifle, other than the LONG barrel.
He also had a Camel Corp model too. Ever see one of those?? Short stock and barrel, with a big saddle ring on one side.

FN in MT

You want it bad (lusted after one for 40 years)
The price must be close to reasonable (or else you wouldn't ask)
Unless your buying for resale, get it and enjoy it.

Hello Husky, Frank

The Afrika Model differs from the Type A in that the stock extends further up the barrel and ends in the merest suggestion of a schnabel.

The scope mount on the front receiver ring has two rectangular slots - but these are not used.
I gather that the rifle was sent back to the factory to have the Nickel scope fitted. The objective lens is a massive 56mm and in order to mount it as low as possible the scope is fairly far forward.

I will probably drive the 60 kms and take another look on Monday, take some photos and record some details of the scope. I can then contact Gerhardt Optik and see if they can date the scope.

The rifle feels to be muzzle heavy compared to all my other rifles but does remain steady on target - rather like a 50m single shot pistol. My two Ross rifles both have 28" barrels but have a much better balance between your hands.

Thanks for the indication of price - it makes it a bit easier ... Would you possibly have a value for the scope? Anything with a 56mm objective must be costly.

Yes I have seen that Camel Corps model - in Windhoek! Some of the sons of son of sons of those camels are still doing duty at Askham in the Northern Cape Province - seen those too.

cheers edi

Hi Tailgunner - now why didn't I check the incoming before posting my reply to Husky and Frank - could have killed three birds ....

The price is at the upper end of reasonable - I have a Sauer 80 in 8x68 which is a better rifle in every respect so I guess that the attraction is more historical than anything else. I've got to the stage where I'm now "the old man" on any hunt so I thought it's time to start acting the part and pitch up with matching hardware. I'm busy fitting a scope to one of my Ross' for this years hunt. Next year the Mauser? Maybe.

The lusting was really for the 7x57 model - it had a half octagon barrel that was far slimmer and lighter than the one on the 8x57. My memory says that it handled well too.

cheers edi

Dear Edi,

You wrote: "-The scope mount on the front receiver ring has two rectangular slots - but these are not used."

This is the forward end of a "Suhler einhaksmontage", the rifle should also have a similar mount on the rear ring.

So the scope must have been fitted later. That's make the rifle not so valualbe by a collector but maybe better for the hunter...?

I would by Swedish measure give the seller an offer in the region of 5000 - 6000 rand (if you really whant the rifle and think that the caliber is the right for you etc etc.)

You can see on the following link what "nearly" similar rifles are sold for in Sweden:

http://www.mamut.com/homepages/Sweden/1/18/vapenstallet/subdet13.htm

As i said before the Rand is 1/1 with the Swedish Krona.

I bought a very nice Miller & Val. Greiss Mauser 98 in the rare caliber 9,3x63 for two year ago. The rifle is as new (nearly 100 year old, with original Voightl�nder scope in Suhler einhaksmotage. The price was very modest.

I use to visit Cape Town a couple of times per year -it would be nice to meet you and see the rifle if you buys it!

Best regards
Husky

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Fate is telling you to buy this rifle NOW. Pay the man what he wants and don't look back. In a few months, the memory of the price tag will fade and you will have the African Model Mauser it took you 40 years to find.

Enjoy your new rifle, Okie John.

Hi there Okie John,

I see that you have been there many times too.

I noticed a new problem that occured last August as I was preparing for the hunt - I changed my mind at least four times as to which rifle I was going to take!

So there you have it - indecision is catching up with me.

Mind you I almost took two just to be sure - but then since I was only wanting to bring home 1 Springbok....

So if I buy it, that will settle my problem of which rifle to take hunting - except that the Ross is getting nearer to being ready ...

Damn it, maybe I'll take both - oh hell ...

cheers edi

edi malinaric,

That is very pleasant problems!
At least you don't have to travel 90 degrees on the earth (Stockholm North 58, Cape Town South 30)when youre going to get your Springbok!

My problem is: Shall i bring with me my Husqvarna 1600 9,3x62 or my Miller & Greiss 9,3x63 or my Brno ZG 47 .404 Jeffery on my next hunt in RSA...

Buy The Mauser model Africa! You will regret it if you don't!!!

/Husky

I really love those Mauser sporting rifles, with one reservation!! Of course, the 8X57 was never intended to be aa dangerous game rifle, but those lever-opening magazine release arrangements have an embarrassing tendency to unlock, open up, and dump your magazine-full of cartridges at the most inopportune moments....

Hello Husky - Mmmmm? - I have my eye on a ZG47 in 30-06 that has only fired about 5 rounds! The owner also has a Boer war 7x57 Mauser. Mmmmm? - and his son had absolutely no interest in the firearms.

I've always wondered why the 0.404 Jeffrey case was made with that 15mm long neck. Did Miller and Greis move the shoulder forward when they made their 9.5?

When is your next trip this way?

Tomorrow I going to have a second look at the Afrika. I want to push a brush and patch through the bore - maybe even take the action out of the stock. My luck is that there have been no other interested parties at all. May make an offer.

cheers edi

Hello eldeguello - once had that happen to me too.

It must have looked like a vaudeville turn - me vainly grabbing at and trying juggle the cartridges in an attempt to keep them from falling into the dirt. Missed the lot. Luckily I had some bog-roll in my jacket so I just sat down in an patch of shade and painstakingly wiped and cleaned them all before recharging the magazine.

Memories - cheers edi

edi malinaric,

I think that I will come to RSA (Cape Town and Centurion)in late april or May!

If I will learn how to post a photo here i could show you how a 9,5 Miller & Greiss looks like. Remington has recently invented that cartridge again -the .375 RUM, interesting to see all the things the american boys can invent

I like Brno ZG 47 very much! But the Mauser African is a better choise than a 30-06 ZG 47! Brno made some .358 Norma Magnum on the ZG 47 action, and I would very much like to have one of these, especially with an original 4x Zeiss Jena with Brno.s old nuclear bomb safe mounts!

/Husky

Hello Husky - keep in touch on that visit of yours.

About re-discovering things, when you page through COTW it really comes home to you just how little new development there is. Blow out a 1905 Ross case and neck it up and down and you have the 8x68 and the 6.5x68. Actually there I am cheating again - I resize 8x68 cases to form Ross cases.

I went to have another look at the Afrika Mauser this morning. Took a cleaning rod, brushes and stuff. The bore looks clean - it was only dust. Good.

The Gerhardt Optik Nickel scope is a "4-10x E/D/S". The objective lens is ~46mm diameter and it dates from 1963 -67. So it certainly can't be an original scope. Does anyone know what the letters indicate? I have e-mailed the factory - hopefully they will come good.

Did I mention that I thought that the rifle was muzzle heavy? Well if you remove the scope it becomes a completely different beast - balances beautifully and just flows into position. Even more interesting is that I can actually see the front bead quite clearly. Are the eyes getting younger - or does that extra couple of inches really makes a difference? Maybe the fact that all three einhaksmontage have a longitudinal groove machined along the top (to allow use of the iron sights when the scope is off the rifle) helps get everything lined up quicker and clearer.

Guess I'm going to take it - picked up the licence application forms this afternoon. Now just to haggle over the price.

cheers edi

I wouldn't give much for it if the pitting is even light, unless it can be surface ground and polished and the bore is excellent...I will say, based on your description without seeing the gun, that the value would be somewhere in the ballpark of $400 to $500. in the USA...A very nice one in 8x57 will fetch $600 to $1000, and condition is everything...In 9.3 or 404 you can add another $1500 or more to that price regardless of condition within reason.....

Well - the temptation was just too much. I'll put in the necessary paperwork on Monday and, with luck, I'll get the licence before the end of March. Then range time, reloading bench time and planning a trip to Gemsbok land - the Kalahari.

Thanks to all for your help - I'll report back once I have it.

edi,

Congratulations!

/Husky

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