I had the opportunity to heft one very unique rifle today and the opportunity exist for me to shoot the monster if I can come up with some cartridges. Any one know anything about this?

It has the standard Mauser Banner across the top of the action, weighs in at 41 lbs and shoots something like a 50 cal cartridge. It is a single shot and the bolt travel has to be 7 or 8 inches. It has a field tripod attachment at the end of the action as I am told required a 4 man team to operate in the field. I am told 2 shots per man in a rotating order was required.
I can't wait to try it out

Anyone?
Frank

13x92SR cartridges run 75-125 each, when you can find them.

It was the German WW-1 Anti Tank rifle, and the only ammo for it was made in the last half of 1918.

quote:

It has a field tripod attachment at the end of the action as I am told required a 4 man team to operate in the field. I am told 2 shots per man in a rotating order was required.

should be a bipod, many were cobbled up from another weapon, or piece of equipment; first I heard of a four man team (and there's lots of things I've never heard of)- Ball cites in "Mauser Military Rifles of the World" a stipulation that the rifle could only be fired prone, but that's all he mentions.

saw one auction for around 12,000 dollars recently.

from photos I have seen, I'm curious as to whether the rifle had four locking lugs, two front, two rear- anyone?

quote:

Originally posted by tin can:
...and there's lots of things I've never heard of

what an awesome statement.. I may add this to my signature!

found this on wikipedia.... pretty interesting::German
13mm anti-tank rifle
History
Development of this weapon and its cartridge started at the
end of November 1917 in response to the British use of tanks.
The first of these rifles rolled off the production line 3 months
later.
The Mauser anti-tank rifle was not a weapon that could be
carried easily. The short version weighted 18.6 kg with the
original cast-iron bipod (17.6 kg, with the mg 08/15 bipod).
The “short version†was 158 cm long while the standard
version was 168 cm long.
Each German infantry regiment was issued two of them,
one for the front lines and one for training. The rifle was
nicknamed the “elephant rifle†by Mauser and the troops.
Its powerful recoil broke the shoulders of some untrained
shooters.
It had a two man crew. The first crew member (and shooter)
carried a bag with 12 13 mm Mauser cartridges and the rifle.
The second crew member carried two canvas bags with 20
cartridges each, the bipod, and a crate with 72 cartridges.
The crew normally alternated when shooting, since after 2
or 3 shots, since most of them complained about headache
and dizziness.
1918 Production figures
All T-Gewehrs were produced at Mauser Oberndorf. The first
of these anti-tank rifles came off the assembly line in January
of 1918. This rifle had a total production run of 15,800 units.
Chamber Markings
The chamber marks on T-Gewehr are limited to the
Mauser Logo and 1918.
Robert W.D. Ball in “Mauser Military Rifles of the
World†(2nd edition, pg 119) published a picture of
a T-Gewehr with a date only receiver.
Proof Strings
You will find German proof marks on the right side of the
receiver ring and the barrel. Typically, reading from left to
right they will indicate hardness testing, assembly testing
and final fit.

Frank, I have a round for the Mauser AT rifle in my collection that I will sell. Let me know if you want it.

Keith

Thanks Guys. I am hoping to get a few photographs this next week and will post. It is definitely a piece of history. I understand it will go up for sale shortly.
Frank

If I'm remembering right, there is a Gun Digest article from years ago about this gun. Bob

I had the opportunity to work on one of these actions that had been rebarreled to .50bmg. Just a big scaled up M98 actually. Two locking lugs, same firing mechanism etc. pretty cool gun and shot quite well with its new barrel. -Rob