Hi
I want to buy a couple of surplus Mauser rifles, to customize. But I don't know which one to look for. Does anyone have a sugestion and what is a fair price.
Dr B

in terms of availibiliy
vz24
k98
1909
1908
1910 (mex)
1936 (mex)

In terms of desiribility
1909
1936
1908 (these first three are really "1" choice, just what you can get)
1910
vz24
k98

in terms of cost
vz24 - ~125
1908 - ~200-300
1909 -200-350
1910 -250 and up
1936 -300 and up
k98 - every price point you can think of


jeffe

Dr. B.

Just curious about what kind of "customizing" you plan to do with your surplus mausers. Calibers and such?

Find a 1950s-1960s vintage commercial Belgian FN Deluxe or Supreme Mauser, IMO the finest 98 Mauser ever made, relatively common & inexpensive, requires the least amount of gunsmithing.




If I were taking the time and spending the big bucks to build a custom military Mauser, I would select a 1910 or 1936 Mexican, 1909 Peruvian, 1933 "post office" Oberndorf, 1935 Chilean or Brazilian. There are other fine military 98s too, particularly contract rifles not manufactured during wartime, including various DWMs, FNs & Czechs.

I totally agree, for a Mauser type sporting rifle, the FN actions from 1947-about mid '60s are a far better choice than customizing an older military Mauser. They are just great as they come from the factory, can be found for not much more than 1909 Argys and work like dambusters. I prefer these, Brno ZG and 21 actions and HVA 4100/steel btm metal actions for ALL of my hunting rifles and have sold off my mint Oberndorf 1933 action as there is no benefit to spending bux to make it a sporter.

Jeffeosso,

WHile I agree that your mexicaan actions are nice, I would caution that these actions are for advanced mauser builders only. Parts are a bitch and if you need any parts associated with the bolts these are problematic. Not impossible just not a project for a beginner, on a first mauser action build.

They are sweet when complete though.

A couple of military actions not listed are:

G33/40- tied for 1st place
Brno Persian- available currently for about $180

fla3006 hit the nail on the head though, the commercial FN's are the path of least resistance.

Other non military actions are original Mauser banners, off of type A or B mauser rifles, these are the absolute best but post WWI pre WWII, circa mid to late 1930's, before the war production stopped all commercial production. THese are my favorites, pricey and hard to find but my #1 are these commercial banner mausers.

Another action worth fiddling with is the commercial version of the VZ-24. THese were in production last I saw, Alf is the resident AR expert on these and he can give you all the complicated and confusing history of the BRNO/CZ connection. THe company was in bankrupcy proceedings I know they had a website and these are still available as complete rifles. I don't see many custom built on these but they have all the right stuff, and are esentially just a commercial VZ-24

Dr B-

If you haven't already, get a copy of "The Mauser Bolt Actions" by Jerry Kuhnhausen.

flaco

getting back to the caliber question, what is the largest cartridge you could safely fire in one of those? Taking into consideration that all of those mil rifles are more or less "30/06"(actually 8mm or 7mm Mauser I guess) length actions, right? But I could be wrong, enlighten me...

quote:

gixxer: what is the largest cartridge you could safely fire in one of those?

495 A-Square (570 grain bullet @ 2420fps)
550 Express (650 grain bullet @ 2250fps)
585 Nyati (750 grains @ 2250fps)

Enough power?

Jeffe,

Do you have a similar list for the commercials?

I am thinking of the Mauser type rifles sold in the US under labels such as Western Field and Sears?

thanks...jim

quote:

HunterJim: Mauser type rifles sold in the US under labels such as Western Field and Sears?

I'm not Jeffe but Sears M50s & 51s and certain Monkey Wards rifles utilized Fabrique Nationale actions made in Belgium, same as Browning Safaris, factory FN Deluxe Sporting rifles like the one pictured above, also Colt, Sako, Weatherby, Marlin, HVA, and other house-brands used FN actions to build rifles.

Other commercial Mauser 98s included Santa Barbara, Herters J-9, Zastava Mark X (Interarms, Daly), FW Heym, Brno 21/22, ZG-47, BSA, Husqvarna, etc.

Get copies of "Mauser Bolt Rifles" (Ludwig Olson) and "Bolt Action Rifles" (Frank De Haas).

A local shop has a G33/40 actioned rifle for sale. Price is $675 and is has a Redfield type 1 piece scope base on it. No rust and a deep blue. Chambered for 6mm. Not sure if bottom metal is factory or not. Stock is a wood sporter but nothing I would keep. So for 675, is this a fair price for this action?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by kutenay:
I totally agree, for a Mauser type sporting rifle, the FN actions from 1947-about mid '60s are a far better choice than customizing an older military Mauser. They are just great as they come from the factory, can be found for not much more than 1909 Argys and work like dambusters. QUOTE]

Absolutely correct

I bought a complete J C Higgens (FN action sears rifle) in .30-06 a few months back and it's a very fine rifle indeed.....and it wasn't at all expensive.

If you really want a Project gun I'd recommend the VZ-24 rifles in the years of 1935-1940. I know where there's several of these for $100-$120 and they're extremely fine and smooth actions.

quote:

Originally posted by Prewar70:
A local shop has a G33/40 actioned rifle for sale. Price is $675 and is has a Redfield type 1 piece scope base on it. No rust and a deep blue. Chambered for 6mm. Not sure if bottom metal is factory or not. Stock is a wood sporter but nothing I would keep. So for 675, is this a fair price for this action?

What else has been done to the action. And what barrel is on the action.

Not sure if anything else has been done to the action except the scope base. Barrel is a 24" light sporter weight of custom origin, but don't know the maker.

quote:

Originally posted by kutenay:
I totally agree, for a Mauser type sporting rifle, the FN actions from 1947-about mid '60s are a far better choice than customizing an older military Mauser. They are just great as they come from the factory, can be found for not much more than 1909 Argys and work like dambusters. I prefer these, Brno ZG and 21 actions and HVA 4100/steel btm metal actions for ALL of my hunting rifles and have sold off my mint Oberndorf 1933 action as there is no benefit to spending bux to make it a sporter.

How does one know the date of manuf. of these rifles. What are wrong with the actions made later than the 60s.

Thanks
crl

quote:

Originally posted by Prewar70:
Not sure if anything else has been done to the action except the scope base. Barrel is a 24" light sporter weight of custom origin, but don't know the maker.

I would snap it up at that price!!! Let me know where it is if you aren't going to buy it.

Don't forget the Steyr M1912 Mauser. It's often another good buy. Just find one in nice shape.

LLS

As far as I know, FN stopped production of the Supreme 400 action sometime in the '60s; they "replaced" it with this abortion with, shudder, "pushfeed" and I wouldn't have such a travesty of rifle design in my gunsafe. I know that Dumoulin still made rifles, but, I don't know if they were on Belgian FN long extractor actions, I have heard disturbing rumours about Chinamen making their actions????

Anyway, look for an early C-ring FN Deluxe action and build on that, there is nothing really any better and almost nothing as good. I own fancy Mauser sporters on Oberndorfs, FNs, Brno 21s and ZG-47s and various derivatives and the FN does the job and at a price most can afford.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:

quote:

HunterJim: Mauser type rifles sold in the US under labels such as Western Field and Sears?

I'm not Jeffe but Sears M50s & 51s and certain Monkey Wards rifles utilized Fabrique Nationale actions made in Belgium, same as Browning Safaris, factory FN Deluxe Sporting rifles like the one pictured above, also Colt, Sako, Weatherby, Marlin, HVA, and other house-brands used FN actions to build rifles.

Other commercial Mauser 98s included Santa Barbara, Herters J-9, Zastava Mark X (Interarms, Daly), FW Heym, Brno 21/22, ZG-47, BSA, Husqvarna, etc.

Get copies of "Mauser Bolt Rifles" (Ludwig Olson) and "Bolt Action Rifles" (Frank De Haas).

Fla3006,

Thanks for the reply. I do have de Haas' book, and the Olson is on my Wish List.

I bought a Western Field M720 (intermediate length action made by Heym for Monkey Wards) from Weagle, and it has me infected with Mauser fever it seems.

I want to add at least one standard length action for another .280. Would you nominate one action as Numero Uno?

thanks...jim

For a .280, try to find a Brno 21/22 series smallring action, especially one with the integral flattops for the scope bases. This is a fabulous action and with a new trigger, safety and I prefer new bottom metal, the perfect choice for the .280, .270 or .06. I have three of these, one is a minty 7 Mauser with the nicest wood i have ever seen on any Brno, one is stripped to an action and one is a roundbolt version re-chamered to .280 and it shoots superbly.

These are NOT cheap and are hard to find, but, they are about the nicest Mauser type action for standard cartridges ever made, IMHO.

BTW, I still have two Brno barrels and some other parts which I will sell if anyone can get them into the USA. I will price them fairly, but, I will not risk losing them to BATF or whomever, so, the correct paperwork must be done, too bad.

quote:

Find a 1950s-1960s vintage commercial Belgian FN Deluxe or Supreme Mauser, IMO the finest 98 Mauser ever made, relatively common & inexpensive, requires the least amount of gunsmithing.

Anybody have one of these FNs or other desirable Mauser actions FOR SALE?

Kutenay,

I found a BRNO 21 8X57 on gunsamerica.com. It is an integral base action, and looks very nice in the photos. The seller is asking about $1,500.

jim

quote:

Originally posted by interboat:

quote:

Find a 1950s-1960s vintage commercial Belgian FN Deluxe or Supreme Mauser, IMO the finest 98 Mauser ever made, relatively common & inexpensive, requires the least amount of gunsmithing.

Anybody have one of these FNs or other desirable Mauser actions FOR SALE?

I bought mine right here on the classifieds of AR...

It's a place to look but look every day.....

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:

quote:

HunterJim: Mauser type rifles sold in the US under labels such as Western Field and Sears?

I'm not Jeffe but Sears M50s & 51s and certain Monkey Wards rifles utilized Fabrique Nationale actions made in Belgium, same as Browning Safaris, factory FN Deluxe Sporting rifles like the one pictured above, also Colt, Sako, Weatherby, Marlin, HVA, and other house-brands used FN actions to build rifles.

Other commercial Mauser 98s included Santa Barbara, Herters J-9, Zastava Mark X (Interarms, Daly), FW Heym, Brno 21/22, ZG-47, BSA, Husqvarna, etc.

Get copies of "Mauser Bolt Rifles" (Ludwig Olson) and "Bolt Action Rifles" (Frank De Haas).

what forrest said

he knows the commericals FAR better than i do... though i hope to catch up one day

jeffe

What about Parker Hale model 1200 rifles, I belive thes actions were used for a sniper rifle in the 80s.

quote:

What about Parker Hale model 1200 rifles

The PH 1200 were spanish manufactured mauser actions. Almost identical to a Santa Barbra action, and may have been built at the same plant. THese have the FN improvements, safety, no thumb cut etc.

I believe they are investment cast, but I could not verify that one way or the other. They can be a little rough but can be cleaned up by a smith. THe bottom metal is kind of cheesy also but that can be replaced and has no bearing on the action.

quote:

HunterJim: Fla3006, Thanks for the reply....Would you nominate one action as Numero Uno? thanks...jim

Jim, among commercial Mausers, my personal favorites include the FN Deluxe, Brno ZG-47 and Brno 21/22. I'd go with the FN if I were to build a 280 (something I've considered doing too).

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:

quote:

HunterJim: Fla3006, Thanks for the reply....Would you nominate one action as Numero Uno? thanks...jim

Jim, among commercial Mausers, my personal favorites include the FN Deluxe, Brno ZG-47 and Brno 21/22. I'd go with the FN if I were to build a 280 (something I've considered doing too).

Fla'06,

Thanks for responding, I see FN rifles from time to time and they have been uniformly attractive -- even when I was not looking for one. The last one I inspected was a 7 mm Mag, and was really pretty.

thanks again...jim

Asking what Mauser to sporterize is like asking what female to mate with.

It looks like you got allot of answers like, "I suggest you mate with Sharon Stone, Angelina Jolie, or Winona Ryder."

That is allot like telling someone to sporterize a 1909, Chilean 1895, or Mexican Mauser.
Where are you going to find one?
At Sotheby's?

If you look at the Mausers that are NOW available on the primary market, that is they are being sold for the first time in the US and were just imported, you can have:
Swedes
Persians
93 Turks
03 Turks
38 Turks
VZ24s
M24/47s
Bosnian M48
German K98

That is a list of the girls that will return your calls.


If you drive an old pick up, call the 03 Turk.
If you drive a new compact pick up, get a VZ24
If you drive a new full sized pick up, get a Persian.