I inherited this rifle from my father. He purchased it around 25 years ago, as a used rifle. I cant find very much information on it, and the rifle has very few markings on it. Any help would be much appreciated. To be honest, I am not even sure how people know it is a Mauser in the first place, since it has no names on it. The photos attached are all the markings it has on it.
The system is a German Mauser 98 with single-stage trigger, proofed between 1891 and 1939 ( crown over B, crown over U), the barrel belongs not to the first proof in Germany.
It looks like an early Husqvarna. Most of the makers put their Crest on the forward part of the receiver ring. Pull the scope off, remove the front ring mounting plate and you will most likely have your answer. If you can't decipher the manufacturer just post a picture of the markings and I'm sure someone will recognize it.
35 minutes and I already have answers. You guys are legends. Fascniating info, I will remove the scope today and see what I find. I looked up the Husqvarna on google, and you are correct, it looks very very similar, if not identicle to some of the pics I saw. If it is, were these fairly common?
The proof marks as shown on the receiver ring are German. The proof mark crown over B togethter with crown over U means that the gun must be a completed Mauser rifle when proofed.
Only later it's possible that parts of the gun were used to assemble another one.
I too believe it is a Husqvarna rifle. Looks very, very similar to my Mod. 46 in 9.3 X 57. Sort of a dead give away is the lack of checkering on the forearm, rounded pistol grip and the barrel mounted front sling swivel. A better, more complete picture of the action would be a help as I can't tell for certain if it's on the '96 or '98 receiver although I am very inclined to agree with Marble. Husky built rifles on both actions. Husqvarna would take former military actions and build them into sporting rifles, re-barreling them in the process to various cartridges. The 7 X 57 is an excellent cartridge. Good rifles, much undervalued in my opinion. You can find good ones from Simpson's Ltd. in Galesburg, Illinois from $200 to $400.
Agreed, I remember going with my dad when he purchased it, so this is something I will always keep, and looking forward to using it and getting to know it. See new pics attached. Nothing under the scope, no markings at all, so not sure what this means.
Marble was right, that is a '98 action. No stronger than the '96 but it does handle escaping gas better in case of a pierced primer or other unfortunate event. I'm a bit perplexed by the military sights still being on the barrel. If the barrel is a military barrel that has had the step machined off remove the barreled action from the stock and check the bottom of the barrel just in front of the receiver. Ordinarily that is where the proof marks are stamped.
Nearly all the Husky's I've seen no longer carried the battle sights, interesting.
Interesting. Do you get Husky's that were not marked with markings? Or could the markings have been on the back side where it has been machined off for the scope?
It's very unlikely one would get a Husqvarna from that era that wasn't proof marked. It's even more unlikely there's anything under the scope bases. I'm uncertain as to any reciprocal agreement regarding proof between Sweden and Germany but as close as they are it's possible, if not probable there was. If the German proof was accepted there wouldn't be any others. The #3588 appears to be on the receiver and the crown over B & U are at least part of the receiver proofs. Most will be on the barrel and nearly always on the bottom just in front of the receiver. Only way to know is remove the barreled action from the stock. If the barrel is indeed a German military barrel the proofs should tell quite a bit. Without seeing those about all that can be known has been mentioned.
The 93, 95 and (and I think also the 96s) only had the two locking lugs on the front of the bolt. The 98 had the 3rd (or safety lug). Also, I could be wrong, but wasn't the '96 a 'cock-on-closing' bolt? I know the 93s and 95s were.
I completely agree that the 7X57 Mauser has been wrongly under-rated. It is a first rated caliber for medium sized game. Heck - some of the old time African Big Game greats used the 7mm with incredible results on BIG game.
That is one really nice hunting rifle! I'd be proud to own it. Somebody knew exactly what they were doing when they bought that one.
Yes Jim, the 96 also cocks on closing. So does the SMLE.
It was W.D.M. (Karamojo) Bell who used the 275 Rigby, same cartridge as the 7 X 57, to kill over 1,000 elephants. As I remember he used the 175, gr. round nose, FMJ and specialized in brain shots. I believe he started with the old 303 Brit then went to the 6.5 X 54 Mannlicher/Schoenauer. Neither of which bullets at that time would hold up....that is unless my memory has failed.....again.
For the money those old Husky's are probably one of the best buys on the market right now. Darn good rifles that will one day be discovered.
I've got a 1895 swedish Mauser in 7x57 that I bought in an old Woolco in Seaford Delaware in 1987 for $74 dollars and I consider it one of the finest guns I own. Pull the bolt out, look at the machine work and all these new guns start looking like real junk real fast. Here is a statement I read years ago referring to these gems of that time period, "....They were built at a time when the industrial revolution was at its peak not knowing they would be obsolete long before they ever wore out"......Mine is not for sale!
Just for grins and giggles I looked and I have a couple pictures of my Model 46 Husqvarna in 9.3 X 57.
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