I picked up a really nice condition 1909 today that the previous owner had " sporterized" by removing the top wood, barrel band and the wood in front of it.
But the gun still has a stepped barrel with military sights, the barrel has the same serial number as the receiver & bolt, and the the left side of the front ring has a very small CAL 30.06 stamped on it.

The top of the barrel breech, directly in front of the Argentine crest, is stamped with a script M and B woven together.

I can't imagine someone would try to save money by sporterizing this rifle and then pay to have it rebored.

Were they ever rebarreled in an arsenal?

Also, the bolt release has an extension that covers the left side of the charging slot, never seen this before.


Thanks, Rob

The importer that brought them in had them rechambered to 30/06 by running said reamer through the 7.65x53 chamber. I had a couple of them and one was very rough in the shoulder area where they "hogged" the reamer. Even with the bore being oversized @.313, it shot very well with 220 gr. Hornady .308 bullets. These are fairly common, I picked both of mine up in pawn shops twenty years ago.

The Argies were rechambered occasionally to 30-06 as were the Columbians....both very good actions.

The Columbians has a small radiused cut in the front ring to allow longer shells to be fed thru the charger slot.

I've owned several just like it. As mentioned above, the conversion was done by simply running a 30.06 chamber reamer in. Since the original 7.65 bore is oversizd for the .308 bullets, accuracy is usually iffy.

The good news is that the bottom metal is usually worth more than what the entire gun costs.

Weagle

The Argentine has most likely simply been rechambered to .30-06. Most Columbians that are .30-06 were rebarreled in a government arsenal during the 1930's.

I have one exactly like it right now. Rechambered 7.65 argentine barrel with a very small 30-06 stamp on it.

OK I bought it for the action, won't feel bad about it since it's already Bubba'd.


Thanks, Rob

Rob,
What is the going price for one like this?

I paid $225, maybe too much but I must reiterate the condition of the action is excellent. No pitting at all, the bolt is clean, the extractor cut is sharp, no buffing, markings are sharp. The bottom metal is very nice.

I'll strip it and sell the barrel & stock and maybe get down to $175. That may be too much now but 5 years down the line I have a feeling it'll be OK. I may end up stocking it in one of blanks I got from you!

I know I can get ready to go actions for less $ but something about an 1909 Mauser sporter appeals to me.

Someday I'll tell you about the $6K BLNE I just got stocked. Closest I'll ever come to a bespoke shotgun, it was a money pit, but it's mine and stocked to my numbers.

Nobody ever said this had to make sense.

Rob

quote:

Someday I'll tell you about the $6K BLNE I just got stocked. Closest I'll ever come to a bespoke shotgun, it was a money pit, but it's mine and stocked to my numbers.

Nobody ever said this had to make sense.

think what the cost would be if you waited another ten years- when I was kid Lugers with mismatched magazines were $39.00... "Ye Olde Hunter", as I recollect.

I have seen them go higher. I think you did well!

In fact look at this one.

I have a pretty pristine 1909 that someone altered the bolt on and put a Redfield Jr. scope mount base on. However, it was left in 7.65X53mm. This rifle really shoots well with handloads using .308" bullets-much better than it shoots with any military ball that has the "correct" size bullets!