1. What makes the 1935 Chilean M98 so desirable for custom guns, but not the 1935 Brazilian? Aren't they both banner marked Standard Modell's? What is the difference?

2 . How desireable are the VZ-24 actions? I see the complete guns available for $82ea. on one of the Milsurp dealer sites. Are they worth putting away for future use?

3. I thought M96 Swedes were only good for lower pressure chamberings. SARCO is selling Carl Gustavs M96 sporters in 30.06.
What kind of chamberings can these be safely changed to?

Thanks, Rob

i may be mistaken,but the chilean action is a short action,where the brazilian is a long action.i think that would account for the desireability factor.

Burke,
Your talking about two different Chile actions...

the much sought after Chilean is a 98 Mauser action....as is the Brizilean..both good actions as is the VZ-24...

Also the 96 has always been a better action than it gets credit for...

Here's a link to a picture of my LR '35 Chilean Oberndorf "Mauser" bannered action (bottom action)...Sure is a sweet little action!
'35 Chilean (bottom)

I don't believe this is marked "Standard Modell". Haven't looked at it in a month and the other picts that I have don't show the right sides...hmmm???

Jeff P

Was searching the web recently and found this Mauser site... Carbines for Collectors link

Thought it to be pretty informative. Could use more pictures but that is where the JonSpeed and other books comes in. Looks like my '35 Chilean is the police carbine variant??? There were three variants according to the above link:

"Circa 1934-35 Steyr Model 1929 Mauser short rifles were purchased in small numbers in 7x57mm. It is believed these were called Modelo 1935, but this is not a certainty. Chilean Crest on Ring.

In 1935, large numbers of Mauser Standard Modell short rifles and carbines were purchased from Mauser Werke. The only difference was carbines had turned down bolt handles and the short rifles had horizontal bolts. These were in 7x57mm and were issued to the Army, Navy and National Police ( "Carbineros" ). Army rifles had Chilean Crest, Navy rifles had "Rope & Anchor" Crest, Police had "Crossed Cannon" crest. At least some long rifles were purchased"

I know where there is/was a 1908 Brazilian "star-crested" action but not too sure of the condition. However I don't remember it being as clean and sharp-crested as my '35 Chilean. The 1908 Brazilian actions were mostly DWM. From the above link:

"In 1908, 7x57mm Modelo 1908 was adopted on a large scale as standard. It was made as a long rifle and as a 21" carbine which had a smaller rear sight with scaled down range on the tangent sight leaf. These Mauser were marked as being made by DWM on the side rail, but will be found with two different addresses. Most common is Berlin where the DWM plant was located in a suburb. Oberndorf is the other address, far less commonly found, indicating that these were made by Mauser which was also part of the Ludwig Loewe controlled Mauser Rifle Cartel. Other members were Steyr and FN at this point in time. Loewe controlled the patents and owned DWM as well as Mauser Oberndorf, but licensed the other two members to produce Mausers for the large export market under an allocation system." ...

"In 1935, new long rifles were purchased from Mauser Werke in Oberndorf as the Modelo 1935 in 7x57mm. Reports that about 15,000 of this type, which is essentially similar to the Modelo 1908, were acquired. Some Standard Model 7x57mm carbines were also purchased at this time, also said to be called Modelo 1935."

Another 1908 FS here:
1908 Brazilian

Like I said earlier, my '35 Chilean has the "Mauser" banner on the rear bridge - Is this also true for the '35 Brazilian Oberndorf actions?

Regards,
Jeff P

[ 06-26-2003, 20:16: Message edited by: Pfeifer ]

Recoil Bob,
most everyone who posts here knows more than I do about which old Mauser action is best, but I know what is available to me now.

Of those available, I have chosen the VZ24.

I put an extra 10 of them in storage for future use, besides the ones taken appart for current projects.

I paid $76 with tax at BIG5 Sprorting Goods Store. I got to choose which ones I wanted. After a while, I stopped looking at the bores and started looking for a good bolt face. JBelk, who knows more than me, has commented that one should look to see if the extractor keeper ring slot in the bolt is sharp and has not had the corner buffed until rounded.

[ 06-26-2003, 18:33: Message edited by: Clark ]

Thanks for the tip Clark. One of the milsurp houses has a bunch of VZ24's for $69 (good cond. broken stock) to $89 (vg cond.) but i'm kind of leery of not being able to pick them myself. If anyone knows of a good milsurp dealer in the NY/ CT area I'd like to know.
Can you describe an extractor keeper ring slot
a bit so I know what to look for?

Jeff, this is from Sarco.
Braz. Mauser

The have them for sale and there's the banner.

Rob

[ 06-27-2003, 08:52: Message edited by: Recoil Rob ]

Recoil Rob - To really inspect the bolt body, the extractor and "collar" should be removed. This "ring" or collar is a band that attaches the extractor to the bolt body but allows the bolt to rotate while the extractor remains stationary in the right raceway. The collar is shaped like the greek letter "omega". A shallow, flat groove is machined in the bolt body for this collar. It is the edges of this groove that should be crisp and sharp. If the edges are rounded, the bolt has been buffed. Hope this helps.

Got it Glen, thanks.
My 1935 Chilean is nice and sharp.

What is the problem with a bolt that has been buffed?

Rob

Recoil Rob,
Thanks for the link! Those are very nice looking actions - very similar to the '35 Chilean. I'd don't see any advantage of one over the other. Brazilian maybe even has a nicer crest if one is going to leave that intact. You got me thinking now :-)

Regards,
Jeff P