tried under gun collecting board w/ no luck so will check here. picked up one of these. didn't know offhand what it was; was marked caliber unknown and $75. what i saw was an FN 98, obviously 30-06 (cut on back of rcvr ring) and good action to convert. what i found in olsen's book is this was made for belgian gov't and was born a 30-06 (crown over "B" and 1952 date), all matching, bore not mint but decent, good sound stock. can't find in blue book (not saying it isn't there; just can't find it) and am curious as to value. but i'm going w/ assumption i do NOT want to butcher this one for the action?

roger

a photo would help

If it is that early you may have a receiver with only a single cut inside the ring, i.e., a C ring FN. Take a look you may have lucked out.

I have one in .270 stamped 1952, and it does not have the "C" ring. My 1949 30-06 does. I'd guess they changed over sometime between 1949 and 1952. (I know, ovbious as hell.) Seriously, I've never seen any handicap between the "C" ring versions and the ones cut on both sides. All my belgian FNs have worked just fine, "C" ring or not.
Regardless, for $75, you stole it. Hell, I'd give $75 for every one I could find at that price.
Paul B.

actually, i didn't even really give $75 for it. was at cabelas and i had $17 in points i didn't know about. tax and all i ended up with it for $63. yeah, i figured i stole it.

the left lug raceway is broached all the way thru. granted this is a cheapening mfg shortcut but doesn't really bother me that much. structurally, with the rh side cut thru it doesn't make much difference what else you do to it. like cutting a chain link halfway thru. after that you can cut as many links as you like halfway thru and not make it any worse.

would post a pic but is not really a question of identification as i know exactly what it is. just wondered if should be maintained as original (no import mark, decent shape, all matching and original). sure is a nice action to build on tho.

roger

HI

WAS THIS RIFLE SPORTERISED? THERE WAS A GOB OF MAUSERS THAT CAME TO THE STATES IN THE 50'S AND 60'S WERE SPORTERISED AND SOLD BY MONTGOMERY WARDS AND SEARS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO SCRIBING ON THEM THAT SAYS ANY COMPANY NAME. SOME HAD BISHOP STOCKS ALMOST WEATHERBY STYLE.

EVERY ONE I SEEN WAS A SHOOTER.

no, this one is completely original with no import mark. i bought it w/ intent to use for the action. but that's my basic question: are these scarce enough that it should be left alone and something else butchered. original condition and configuration mausers are not that easy to come by these days.

Is it a carbine / short rifle? I think those are quite valuable as far as Mausers go, maybe in the $300 range or more if not messed with. Try asking on the military mauser forum of gunboards.com.

Todd

thanks; will check there. yeah is a "short rifle". in fact, other than sling swivels, et, markings, and the rcvr ring cut for 30-06 is a dead ringer for a vz-24. which is what it thought it was when i saw it in the rack. then after seeing "fabrique nationale etc" and $75 i didn't even CARE what it was till i got it home.

I cannot imagine Cabellas selling a FN for $75.00, however it appears that is what you have and if so, then you got dandy deal...

BTW an FN is an FN, not a Mod. 98 Mauser, not a Mauser of any kind, they are too different actions, guns, whatever....Jack Belk ragged on me for days for calling a rifle an FN Mauser, never made that mistake again.....

well, yeah, but that's really splitting semantic hairs. not only was it only $75, it was marked "CALIBER: ?" . they didn't even know what it was. all one had to see was the halfmoon cut in the back of the rcvr ring to figure that out. our local cabelas does not have some of the sharpest gun people you'll find. some other mauser they had couple months ago also had the wrong caliber marked. couple guys looking at it, commented on the caliber, and i pointed out was marked wrong and was in fact whatever it really was (i think was a brazilian m1908 in 7x57 and they had tagged 8x57) but they didn't believe me. after all what did i know compared to the dealer.

roger