I obtained a 1896 Mauser following the death of the grandson of a soldier who had brought it back from RSA. On the butt was carved
"JJ LABUSCHANE
RODE WALSHOECK 1900"
Trying to find out more about the rifle, last week I sent an email to the Anglo-Boer museum in RSA.
Got the following reply:
"Rifle belonged to Mr Jan Johannes Labuschagne from the farm Rooiwalshoek (Rode Walshoeck), Lyndenburgh. He was captured on his farm on 26/04/1901 and sent to India on board the SS Aurania".
The museum is a very informative source for any of you who collect Boer equipment.

Awesome,

I was born in Lydenburg. Grew up in Dullstroom area. There is lots of war graves in the area.

Gerhard

While in South Africa I had the opportunity to view and get drunk with a guy who undoubtedly has the world's greatest private collection of Boer War memorabilia. I have no idea what it would be worth over there but if it was US civil war stuff I'd say millions easily. At any rate, the neatest piece to me was not necessarily the rarest but an 1895 (I believe from memory) 7x57 Mauser that had carved on one side the bearer's name, birthday (December 21, 1871 if memory serves) and home on on the other side carefully filled out were six rows of 5 with one not filled in British battle flags, so he claimed 29 British deaths with that rifle. One of the memorable quotes from that evening was from my Phs great uncle, "The bravest and stupidist thing I ever saw was a British lancer charging me and my Mauser behind a rock."

quote:

7x57 Mauser that had carved on one side the bearer's name, birthday (December 21, 1871 if memory serves) and home on on the other side carefully filled out were six rows of 5 with one not filled in British battle flags,

I would love to see a photo of that rifle.

D:

Unfortunately I didn't take one. I'm not a picture nut. However, the owner is well known in the area, indeed, is or was what amounts to the State District Attorney. While he and I are not big buddies (my Ph was a good friend and I was along for the ride, so to speak) I'm sure a pic could be arranged. He also went out and bought, had transported to his place, and reconstructed what is surely one of the few, if not the only one left, original British blockhouses from the Boer War, what amounts to a circular galvanized enclosure with shooting vents. Every year he puts on local mini-festival where using original Boer war weapons and wearing period uniforms the participants shoot at various targets (more or less like our steel silhouettes) and have a high old time. I'm sure this is enough to identify him to someone who lives in RSA but I wouldn't feel comfortable naming his name without his permission.