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Fall 2011 Special Edition

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MauserSpecialEdition!

EARLY

MILITARY

MAUSERS

Evolutionof the

Model 98

CustomSporters

Mausers inAfrica

Fall 2011Volume 43

Special EditionISSN 0162-3593

4 Background Photo: © 2011 Ron Spomer Rifle Special Editionwww.riflemagazine.com

Sportiting FiFirearearms Joururnal al

Page 38 . . .

Page 46 . . .

Page 94 . . .

8 CFR and Other Matters Spotting Scope - Dave Scovill

12 The G33/40 Down Range - Mike Venturino

16 8x57mm Mauser Classic Cartridges - John Haviland

20 Browning High-Power Bolt-Action Rifle Mostly Long Guns - Brian Pearce

26 The Sporting Angle Mauser’s 98 in Civilain Life Terry Wieland

38 Custom Mauser Model 98 Building a One-of-a-Kind Hunting Rifle Brian Pearce

46 Early Military Mausers Models and Calibers Mike Venturino

On the cover . . .Rifle photos by Kevin Dilley.For detailed information on thecover rifle see Custom Corner(page 89). Background photoby Ron Spomer.

Background Photo: © 2011 Ron Spomer

Page 25Page 54Page 62

Rifle Special Edition6

Publisher of Rifle® is not responsible for mishaps ofany nature that might occur from use of publishedloading data or from recommendations by any mem-ber of The Staff. No part of this publication may be re-produced without written permission from thepublisher. All authors are contracted under work forhire. Publisher retains all copyrights upon paymentfor all manuscripts. Although all possible care is ex-ercised, the publisher cannot accept responsibility forlost or mutilated manuscripts.

Special Edition Fall 2011

Sportiting FiFirearearms Joururnalal

Publisher/President – Don Polacek

Publishing Consultant – Mark Harris

Editor in Chief – Dave Scovill

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Rifle® (ISSN 0162-3583) is published bimonthly with oneannual special edition by Polacek Publishing Corporation,dba Wolfe Publishing Company (Don Polacek, President),2180 Gulfstream, Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona 86301. (Alsopublisher of Handloader® magazine.) Telephone (928) 445-7810. Periodical Postage paid at Prescott, Arizona, and ad-ditional mailing offices. Subscription prices: U.S.possessions – single issue, $5.99; 7 issues, $19.97; 14 is-sues, $36. Foreign and Canada – single issue, $5.99; 7 is-sues $26; 14 issues, $48. Please allow 8-10 weeks for firstissue. Advertising rates furnished on request. All rightsreserved.

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John Haviland Ron Spomer Brian Pearce Stan TrzoniecClair Rees Mike VenturinoGil Sengel Ken Waters

Terry Wieland

Page 54 . . .

54 Evolution of the Mauser Model 98 The Sportsman’s Choice for Dependability John Haviland

62 Mausers in Africa A Top Choice – from War to Recreation Ganyana

72 Military or Commercial Action? The High Cost of Going Custom John Barsness

80 Mauser Sporters The Finer Points Phil Shoemaker

89 D’Arcy Echols & Co. Custom Corner -

94 A Whiff of Brimstone Walnut Hill - Terry Wieland

BROWNING HIGH-POWER

BOLT-ACTION RIFLE

F rom 1959 through 1975,

Browning Arms Company im-ported the High-Power bolt-actionrifle. Based on the Mauser 98 ac-tion, it was manufactured in Bel-gium by Fabrique Nationale (FN).Three grades were offered, qualityand reliability were high, and theywere chambered for the most pop-ular hunting cartridges of the pe-riod. Today, these rifles haveachieved classic status and remainpopular among hunters and col-lectors alike.

This story begins around 1897,when firearms designer John M.Browning contracted with Fab-rique Nationale d’ Armes de Guerreof Herstal, Belgium, to manufac-

ture the Model 1899 pistol. Thusbegan a long relationship betweenthe two outfits that would includetheir manufacturing of Browningpatented pistol, shotgun and rifledesigns.

Starting in 1947 FN began manu-facturing and exporting to the U.S.market a Model 98 Mauser SporterDeluxe rifle, with PresentationGrade and Supreme Magnum ver-sions appearing a few years later.These were outstanding rifles witha high-tensile steel commercial ac-tion that was held to tight toler-ances and showed fine machining.There were desirable changes thatincluded a checkered bolt handleknob, trigger changed to a singlepull (no slack or let-off), a newfloorplate latch and release, andthe thumb slot was eliminated,which helped the receiver becomenotably more rigid. Barrels wereof chrome vanadium steel, andspecial care was taken to assurethey were true and accurate.

Even the stock of the SporterDeluxe was tastefully checkeredwith a border and was of classicconfiguration with a cheekpiece.The steel hinged floorplate andtrigger guard were engraved, while

Rifle Special Edition20 www.riflemagazine.com

MOSTLY LONG GUNS by Brian Pearce • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The BrowningHigh-Power

(bottom) wasmanufactured

by FN andfeatures the

same Mauser98 action as

used in itsown line of rifles,

including this Sporter

Deluxe (top).

Left to right: FN Sporter Deluxe.30-06, Browning Safari Grade.270 Winchester and BrowningSafari Grade .22-250 Remingtonfeaturing a Sako action with FN stock.

Rifle Special Edition22 www.riflemagazine.com

the Presentation Grade and Su -preme Magnum versions had anupgrade in wood, checkering, carv-ing and engraving. The blue finishwas especially handsome and wassimilar to many vintage firearmsthat are so desirable today. Al-though the button sliding-typesafety was located on the rightside just below the bolt sleeve, itfeatured three positions, with themiddle allowing removal of a car-tridge from the chamber whilepreventing the gun from firing.These rifles were real beauties,and due to their overall quality,many custom gun builders foundfavor with the action.

Browning Arms recognized itneeded to compete in the bolt-action rifle market against theWinchester Model 70, RemingtonModels 721, 722 and 725 and therelatively new Weatherby, and con-tracted with FN to build the Model98 with the Browning name begin-ning in 1959. (By 1963 FN stoppedexporting the rifle with its name.)The new Browning High-Powerrifle had some changes that in-cluded a bolt stop with an externalspring, Monte Carlo-style stockwith a high-gloss finish, rubber re-coil pad (on most models), and abarrel-mounted folding rear sightbecame standard. (The originalFN rifles had receiver mountedaperture sights.) These new fea-tures were intended to help it appeal to the American shooter/hunter of that period. While theMonte Carlo stock design andwhite-line ventilated rubber recoilpad might seem rather gauchetoday, they were icons of that period.

The Browning High-Power riflecame in three grades, includingSafari, Medallion and Olympian.The Safari was the basic model,but its floorplate was lightly en-graved and highlighted in gold,and the walnut stock usually featured respectable figure andwas checkered. The Medalliongrade featured an upgraded selectwalnut stock with rosewood gripand forearm cap, scroll engravingand a ram’s head engraved on the

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2011 23www.riflemagazine.com

floorplate. The Olympian was theflagship of the line, and it seemsBrowning spared no expense inthe production of this rifle. Thestock was stunning high-figurewalnut that was tastefully check-ered and hand carved. The re-ceiver, including floorplate andtrigger guard, was finished in aFrench or satin silver finish. Eachwas fully engraved with appropri-ate animal scenes (depending oncaliber) and mixed with scroll en-graving. This was not limited tothe receiver, floorplate and triggerguard but included a large portion

of the barrel. The (master) engraversigned all the Olympian-grade ver-sions I have examined.

The Browning High-Power riflewas built with quality, and thus it appealed to shooters and biggame hunters from around theworld. This was the bolt-actionrifle that established such a greatreputation for that brand namethat still seems to be coastingalong today.

During the late 1960s and early1970s, our family hosted a promi-nent group of California hunters,

consisting of gentlemanly doctorsand famous Hollywood types whofrequently hunted our eastern Ore-gon ranch for antelope, mule deerand game birds. Winchester Model70s were commonly used, but sowere the Browning High-Power rifles. In studying magazines andbooks from that period, they became popular among knowl-edgeable shooters, particularlythe discriminating and affluent.

The first Browning High-Powerrifle I owned was a .300 Winches-ter Magnum that proved capableof fine accuracy, although it was a bit heavy. It accounted for a couple of elk, deer and many coy-otes. Additional calibers I have putthrough the paces have included.222 and .22-250 Remingtons (bothbuilt on the Sako action), .270 Win -chester, .30-06, .300 H&H Mag-num, .338 Winchester Magnum,.375 H&H and .458 WinchesterMagnum.

During the late 1960s, the con-trolled-round feed Mauser Model

The BrowningFN High-Powerfeatures aglossy MonteCarlo stockwith ventilatedrubber recoilpad and white-line spacers,which werepopular duringthat era.

Rifle Special Edition24 www.riflemagazine.com

98 that had been used on allBrowning High-Power (and FN)rifles began to disappear in favorof a revised FN Supreme actionthat featured a rotating extractorand plunger ejector with a coun-tersunk bolt face. The receiverwas still essentially a Mauser 98,but the new bolt assembly dic-tated a push-feed system. This ac-tion was less costly to machine,and just like the Winchester Model70 that fell under criticism in 1964when it too was changed to a push-feed system, purists denouncedthe new rifle. On today’s market,the push-feed action, sometimesreferred to as “short extractor”models, sells for considerably lessthan a Mauser 98 version in com-parable condition.

From 1963 through 1974, manyBrowning High-Power rifles werebuilt on Sako (of Finland) bar-reled actions, with stocks beingproduced by FN. These rifles hada rotating extractor and bladeejector but should not be con-fused with the FN Supreme actionfeaturing a short extractor as de-scribed above. The Sako actionswere primarily chambered for the.222 Remington and .222 Reming-ton Magnum, .22-250 Remingtonand .243 Winchester. (It shouldalso be noted that a few rifleschambered for .243 and .308 Win-chester cartridges were built onsmall-ring Mauser actions from1960 to 1963.)

Between 1966 and 1971, Brown-ing/FN used a salt-curing processto decrease curing time of thewood used to make stocks. Thiswas a poor decision, as it resultedin many firearms being badlyrusted between the wood and the

metal. Sometimes years went bybefore the damage was detected.High-Power rifles outfitted withsalt wood stocks will usually ex-hibit damage where the wood andmetal meet. If considering a pur-chase, the rifle should be carefullyscrutinized. If there is evidencethat it was fitted with a salt woodstock, the value should be cut byat least 50 percent – or better yet,wait for another rifle.

All High-Power grades are col-lectible, but the Safari was mostcommon and least ornate. Cleanexamples today typically bring$1,000 to $1,800, depending on cal-iber. The Medallion grade jumpsconsiderably in value, with highcondition examples often bringing$2,200 to $3,000, and rare caliberswill fetch notably more. The Olym-pian grade was not only the mostcostly but also is comparativelyrare and very desirable. New, in-the-box examples only occasion-ally change hands but are reportedto bring $6,000 to $8,000, depend-ing on caliber. It is important tonote that claw extractor, control-round feed versions will alwaysbring a premium. Magnum cal-ibers typically bring a 10 to 15 percent premium, as will rare ver-sions such as the .284 Winchesterand .257 Roberts.

The Browning High-Power wasthe last of a breed and representsthe end of an era. It is unfortunatethat it was not modernized withmore efficient and cost effectivemanufacturing methods and puton a diet to better conform towhat today’s shooter is lookingfor. Regardless, due to its qualityand Mauser 98 action, it will al-ways retain its classic status.

The BrowningOlympian Grade

featured French orsatin silver receiver

finish with en-graved game scenesblended with scroll

engraving. This.338 WinchesterMagnum is fromthe Elmer Keith

collection.

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- OFFICIAL RULES - You must be 21 years or older to enter the drawing. Only one entry per subscription per magazine for a total ofthree entries per person using the official entry form. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: To enter without purchase, print in block letters, thewords EL LOBO GIVEAWAY across the top of a 4x6 card along with your name, age, address and phone number and enclose in an envelope.You may submit up to three entries (each card must be mailed in a separate envelope). Failure to follow these directions will void yourentry. Please send entries to Wolfe Publishing Co., Dept ELG, 2180 Gulfstream, Suite A, Prescott, AZ 86301. Wolfe Publishing Co. is notresponsible for misdirected, damaged or undelivered mail. All entries must be received by January 30, 2012. The drawing will take placeon February 15, 2012. Winners will be notified within 15 days of the drawing. All decisions are final. No substitutions for prizes otherthan those necessary due to availability. Applicable taxes and charges not included in the giveaway are the responsibility of the winner.Odds of winning are dependent upon total entries received. Void where prohibited by law and regulations. Employees and families ofWolfe Publishing Co., Classic Barrelworks and Swarovski Optik are not eligible to enter. All federal, state and local laws and regulationsapply. The rifle must be shipped to an FFL dealer in your area. Winner’s name will be published in the magazines following the drawing.

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Read a full review and test of theEl Lobo hunting rifle by Brian Pearce

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oC nte

est Endsds

Models and Calibers

EarlyMilitary

Mausers

Rifle Special Edition46

Peter Paul Mauser’s first repeatingrifle was the Model 71/84 (above) firing a black-powder 11mm cartridge.Mike enjoys the history behind hisMausers, like this German K98k 8mm.

2011 47www.riflemagazine.com

As with all great designs, the MauserModel 1898 did not arrive on the scene as a

brand-new idea. It evolved gradually over years as im-provements were made upon previous Mauser riflemodels. Peter Paul Mauser actually began his firearmsdesigning career in the 1860s as an ordinary employeeat an arsenal owned by the Wurttemberg governmentbefore the various German speaking states united intoone country. A surprising fact in light of his later suc-cess is that he had difficulty in even getting superiorsto review his ideas for improvements on the riflesbeing made by them.

Oddly enough, for a weapons inventor whose namebecame synonymous with magazine-fed, bolt-actionrifles, Mauser’s first successful creation was a single

Brazil, Iran, China,Japan, Turkey, England

and even the United States are someof the nations in which military Mauser rifles

were built. Someone has to be thinking, “Even in theUnited States?” The Hopkins and Allen Company ofNorwich, Connecticut, produced Model 1889 Mausersfor the Belgian army.

Because of the factors pointed out in the two pre-ceding paragraphs, trying to cover all Mauser militaryrifle developments in a magazine article would be ab-surd. Instead, the focus herein will be some of thehigh points of design changes that most affected therifles’ effectiveness.

In the 1880s some nations’ military forces beganadopting repeating rifles, so in 1884 Mauser re-designed his single-shot bolt action. Ironically, itseight-round, tubular magazine was more like the typeseen on American leverguns than the staggered boxtype most associated with the Mauser name. It washung beneath the barrel but inside the stock. To loadit the bolt was pulled back its full length, cartridgeswere dropped into the receiver and then pushed for-

shot. It was the G71 (G standing for Gewehr) whichwas a bolt-action design at a time when most single-shot rifles still used one sort or another of a block-type action with exposed hammer (i.e., rolling block,falling block, tilting block, etc.). G71s were cham-bered for the 11mm Mauser, a bottlenecked, center-fire metallic cartridge using a lead alloy bullet andblack powder.

Trying to follow the paths taken in Mauser rifle de-velopment after the G71 becomes a writer’s night-mare. (Also Model began to substitute for Gewehr forsome Mauser variations.) For the next 70 odd yearsafter Mauser’s first rifle, so many nations adopted somany Mauser-design rifles that nomenclature be-comes almost mind-numbing. Here’s a for-instance:Belgium’s Model 1889, Turkey’s Model 1890 and Ar-gentina’s Model 1891 are essentially the same actionbut each nation’s armed forces had their own ideasconcerning details of stocks, sights and such.

Likewise, as to sites of manufacture. To modern ri-flemen the simple word Mauser has deep connectionsto Germany, and rightly so, but the number of coun-tries in which Mauser-designed rifles were built islikewise mind-boggling. The list literally encircles theglobe. Germany, Austria, Spain, Belgium,Sweden, Poland, Czechoslova-kia, Yugoslavia, Argentina,

Mike VenturinoPhotos by Yvonne Venturino

Evidence of a firearm design’sgreatness is that it suppliedthe basis for many followingdesigns. In regard to rifles,

Peter Paul Mauser’s Model of 1898 isa case in point. Few are the bolt-action sporting rifles even now in thetwentieth-first century that do notrely on ideas and features he incorpo-rated into his Model 1898 rifle actionin the late nineteenth century. Per-haps Jerry Kuhnhausen says it best in his book The Mauser Bolt Actions

M91 Through M98: A Shop Manual.On the last page, he wrote in regardto the M1898, “. . . most of the changesin spinoffs made by other manufac-turers have been made to eliminatemanufacturing steps, simplify pro-duction, and lower costs.”

EarlyMilitary

MausersRifle Special Edition

Above, the Mauser Model 71/84 fed from a tubular,eight-round magazine inside the stock and beneaththe barrel. Right, by 1893 Mauser had developed thestaggered box, internal magazine for his bolt-actionrifles. They were intended for feeding from the topby means of five-round stripper clips.

48 www.riflemagazine.com

ward and down into the magazine.There was a magazine cut-off de-vice so that a fully loaded maga-zine could be retained as the riflewas loaded and fired with singlerounds. The new rifle designationwas G71/84. Caliber remained theblack-powder 11mm Mauser forGermany, but a variation of theG71/84 called the Model 1887 wasbought in huge quantities by Tur -key chambered for its 9.5x60mm.

The late 1880s saw the greattransition of the world’s armiesfrom black powder powered car-tridges to smokeless propellants.This change required stronger rifleactions but allowed them to besmaller in size. The first Mauserrifle built specifically for smoke-less powder cartridges was theModel 1889, as adopted by theBelgian army. Its chamber-ing was the 7.65x53mmand for it Mauser de-vised a second typeof magazine. Ob -viously, thedesigner’s

Model 1891, look like their design-ers used the same idea. Such wasnot the case. Mannlicher-style mag - azines were fed by means of an en-bloc loader most commonly calleda clip. It was inserted into therifle’s magazine along with car-tridges and when empty droppedfree through the opening at thebottom of the magazine box. Mostmilitary rifles based on the Mann -

mind was gravitating toward whatwas to be his final magazine form.

While the Model 1889 and thenthe very similar Argentine Model1891 Mauser used the box maga-zine idea, the notion of cartridgesbeing in a staggered formationhadn’t arrived yet. Therefore afive-round magazine box had toextend below the rifle’s receiver.At a quick glance the MauserModel 1891 and theMannlicher design ofbolt actions, suchas the ItalianCarcano

licher design require enbloc load-ers to function, because theiractions will not acceptindividual cartridges.The Mausers would.

By the early

1890s, PeterPaul Mauser

was on a roll. Veryquickly the world’s mil-

itary organizations boughtinto the bolt-action, box-

magazine, smokeless powder car-tridge concept. One such cus-tomer was Spain with the Model1893, which was the first Mauserrifle in which its clip-fed, five-round box magazine was con-tained inside the stock. This wasmade possible because cartridgeswere held in staggered columnsinstead of straight stacks as withthe Model 1889/1891. However,soldiers carried their ammunitionin five-round stripper clips. TheModel 1893’s (and all followingmilitary Mauser bolt actions) rearreceiver bridge had slots milled in it for clip guides. The soldiermerely inserted the stripper clipinto the slots and pressed downwith his thumb, and all five car-tridges quickly slid into the Mausermagazine. (More on that shortly.)

Between the Spanish Model 1893and the final Mauser design, theModel 1898, there was a large arrayof military Mausers loosely basedon the Spanish ’93. Usually thesediffered slightly in the shape of thebolt face and/or safety arrange-

By 1889Mauser haddeveloped

magazine-fedbolt actions for

smokeless powdercartridges. Mauser’s

first smokeless powderdesigns had cartridges in straightcolumns in magazines extendingbelow the stock. This variation is a Model 1891 7.63mm Argentine cavalry carbine.

2011

means in essence is that as aMauser’s bolt feeds a cartridgefrom the magazine, the extractorslips into the case’s extractorgroove as it chambers. Pull thebolt backward before fully cham-bering a round and the cartridgewill come with it. This contributes

chamber but without the extractorsnapping over the rim.

Mauser’s military models fromthe mid-1890s made great combatimpressions on two English-speak-ing nations. When America andSpain engaged in a short war in

ment. However, design featuresrunning through all were the five-round integral box magazine anda firing pin that was cocked onclosing the bolt. It’s also worthy ofmention that all these Mausersused what modern riflemen callthe controlled feed instead of a push feed system. What that

to another military Mauser featurethat many modern riflemen findvery annoying. That is, in order forthe bolt/extractor to pick up a car-tridge properly, it must be pressedinto the magazine. Just dropping iton top of the magazine followerand closing the bolt results in thecartridge being pushed into the

1898, U.S. soldiers armed with theirKrag-design bolt actions were eas-ily beat in regard to rate of fire bySpain’s Mausers. To load a Krag’sbox magazine, the shooter had toflip it open and then drop roundsin one at a time. Spanish soldiersjust popped their five cartridges inwith a press of the thumb. Then in

www.riflemagazine.com 49

Note the turned-down bolt handle on the German Mauser K98k8mm (top), and the straight handle on this Swedish MauserModel 1896 6.5mm (bottom).

Right, the front bolt is fromthe 6.5 Swede; rear is the

bolt from the K98k 8mm –with an extra locking lug.

Model 1891 Argentine carbines were first made inGermany but were soon licensed for manufacture in Argentina.

Millions of Model 1898 rifles were made at theBRNO factory in Czechoslovakia.

Rifle Special Edition50 www.riflemagazine.com

World War I, the Brits decided tomodernize to a more powerful.276-caliber cartridge from their.303. That necessitated a strongerrifle than their SMLE, and so theEnfield facility designed the Pat-tern 1914, again a copy of Mauser’sideas. As things played out, theBrits declared war on Germany in 1914 and so dropped the .276-

caliber idea but not the Pattern1914 design. They turned it over toAmerican companies to produce in.303 caliber. That’s another story.

Also worthy of note is the factthat Japan’s Type 38 6.5mm adoptedin 1905 and the later Type 99 7.7mmadopted in 1939 were adaptationsof the basic Mauser design: boltactions with clip-fed, five-roundstaggered box magazines.

Back to the Mauser Model 1898.Adopted by the German govern-ment in the spring of 1898 aschambered for its 8x57mm (alsocalled 7.9x57mm and 7.92x57mm),the newest Mauser actually be-came the bolt-action rifle by whichall others have been compared.With it there was a third safety lugon the bolt and better gas channel-ing in the event of a ruptured car-tridge case. Whereas the earliersmokeless powder Mauser bolt actions are generally rated as beingsafe with ammunition generating

Early MilitaryMausers

1899 when the Brits decided to ab-sorb the riches of the Orange FreeState and caused the 2nd BoerWar (1899-1902), they got a lessonabout Mausers in the hands of theBurgher (farmer) Commandos.

It is no coincidence then that bothnations began eyeing a Mausertype of rifle for their own arm-ies. The United States actually did adopt one, and Great Britainstarted to but didn’t get the jobdone. The former rifle was theU.S. Model 1903 Springfield. It wassuch a copy of the new MauserModel 1898 design that the UnitedStates government eventually hadto pay Peter Paul Mauser for in-fringing on his patents. Prior to

Above, three German K98ks (top to bottom): midwarversion with 1.5x ZF41 scope, another midwar versionwith laminated stock and prewar version with walnutstock. Below, the 1.5x ZF41 scope was quick detachable,so the open sights were usable too.

2011 51www.riflemagazine.com

The preeminent user of militaryrifles based on the Mauser Model1898 design of action was Ger-many. As detailed in Ball’s book,the variations of German ’98s wereimmense, so once again we’ll onlyhit the high points. In World War I,the standard German infantry rifle

was the G98 with a 29-inch barrel,49-inch overall length and 9-poundweight. Sights were a simple Vnotch in a rear that could be ele-vated for 2,000 meters and an in-verted V-blade front. Ball relatesin his book that best estimates are that over 5,000,000 were made.Many variations were used rang-ing from carbines to sniper riflesto ones with 20-round extendedbox magazines.

By World War II, the German’sstandard infantry rifle had evolvedinto the K98k. Here the K standsfor karabiner or short rifle. Nowthe barrel length was 23.6 inches,overall length was 43.6 incheswith 8.6-pound weight. Sights didnot improve; still they were anopen V-notch rear (still rated for2,000 meters) with inverted Vblade for front. The K98k was themost produced Mauser model ofall with over 11,500,000 made be-tween 1935 and 1945 in no fewerthan eight factories in Germanyand Czechoslovakia. Many Mauser

about 45,000 copper units of pres-sure (CUP), the ’98 raised the limitby about 5,000 more CUP.

There is one caveat, however.Until 1905 Germany used .318 inchas its barrel groove diameter for8x57mm. After that it was openedto .323 inch. The first dimensionis called the J bore and the lat-ter the JS bore. Because of this,American ammunition companiesput a pressure limit of 37,000 CUPon their 8x57mm loads just in casesomeone fired them in the smaller-sized Mauser barrels. Therefore, ashooter of any Mauser rifle cham-ber for 8x57mm must know ex-actly which version he has in handbefore shooting anything in it.

A quick check of the book Mauser

Military Rifles of the World 3rd

Edition by Robert W.D. Ball showsthat about 40 countries adoptedthe Mauser ’98 as their standardinfantry rifle at one time or an-other. Most nations that hadadopted one of the weaker ver-sions of Mausers from early in the1890s gave them up in favor ofstronger ’98s. One significant ex-ception to that was Sweden. Thatcountry’s military began its Mauserera with a Model 1894 carbine andthen a Model 1896 rifle. One andall Sweden’s military Mausers werechambered for its 6.5x55mm. TheSwedes hung onto their version ofMauser, mostly made at home butsome in Germany, until the 1950s.

These American and British rifles are variations of Mauser’s designs.America even had to pay royalties on the U.S. Model 1903 (front). Atrear is the British Pattern 1914.

Rifle Special Edition52 www.riflemagazine.com

EarlyMilitary

Mausers

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R

metic production quality of K98ksdecreased. Another K98k in myracks is dated 42 with code of AR,meaning it was made by Mauser-Werke AG of Berlin. Its stock islaminated wood, and althoughmetal finish is still blue, machiningmarks on the barrel have not beenpolished out. It is also an interest-ing variation of K98k in that itwears a ZF41 1.5x scope mountedover the rear sight – in otherwords it’s the “scout rifle” conceptput to use about 40 years before it became popular in Americangun magazines. The German Wehr- macht intended these as marks-men’s rifles rather than actualsniper rifles. Take that 1.5x scopeoff of my K98k and the size ofgroups I shoot effectively doubles.

Some weapons scholars believethat the total number of Mauser-designed rifles built worldwidenumber over 100,000,000. Thatmakes them rival the Soviet AK47for all-time most numerous mil -itary rifle. But there’s one fact that will keep the basic Mauser ’98 action in front of sportsmenlonger than any more modern mil-itary rifle. That is, it was so easilyadapted to sporting use. Untoldnumbers brought home from bothworld wars ended up as sporter-ized hunting rifles ranging from a grade little above butchery tohigh-grade customized firearmsworth thousands. Thusly for overa century, Mauser ’98s became the model from which most otherbolt-action sporting rifles were derived and by which they havebeen judged.

tory-made sporting rifles of thetwenty-first century.

However, with the pressures offighting a war on several frontsagainst numerous enemies, cos-

’98s appear similar, but one fea-ture that helps to quickly identifya K98k is its turned-down bolthandle. Most other Model 98 vari-ations have straight bolt handles.

Germany’s K98ks of prewar vin-tage are beautifully crafted Mauserswith commercial quality bluingand solid walnut stocks. One suchin my collection is dated 1937 witha manufacturer’s code of S/147.That means it was made by Sauer& Sohn of Suhl, Germany. Its qual-ity surpasses most American fac-

Above, Mike considers this groupabout par for his fine condition

K98k at 100 yards with opensights. Right, when fitted with its

1.5x ZF41 scope, groups from theK98k shrink dramatically.