[fleetwood1976]

I picked this up a few years ago solely because I had never come across one and it was shorter than my k98 mauser. It has no inporter marks. It is well worn and i have took pix of the visible markings, no crest. the but plate is ruffled between the screws. no stock cartouches that I can see. I am not sure where you start measureing a barrel, but if it is at the back of the chamber, it is about 17 inches. I was wondering if any big time mauser guys could give my some input on the rifle. I have a general collection of foreign military of all countries and don't specialize in one certain area.

 

[Oldeyes]

Your short barreled .30-06 large ring FN Mauser looks like it is a police contract unit dating from the late 40's. FN sold these rifles in quantity in various calibers to police departments all around the world.

 

[fleetwood1976]

see, i would have assumed it was 8x57, someone else may have too because the rifling is gone. almose smoothe bore.

 

[Oldeyes]

The rifle was produced in quantity by FN circa 1947 in 7X57, .30-06, 7.65 and 8X57. Some were later converted to .308. The original specified factory barrel length was 17 1/2 inches The rifles were sold in seeming 5,000 unit contract quantities to police departments in Mexico, Columbia, Uruguay, Holland and others. I have only seen three repatriated rifles over the years and those were in the .30-06 chambering. Yours could possibly be in any of the other calibers. Cast the chamber if in doubt. I once owned a mixed pieces parts .30-06 version that shot quite well, but it was also a pretty decent shoulder thumper as you might expect.

 

[fleetwood1976]

This one is also a parts gun. no matching serial numbers etc. Rough shape, no rifling in the barrel. I can think of a lot of guns I would rather shoot. I just like the history of the old bolt action military stuff. where one guy sees a $100 mosin nagant, I see a trail of history that shows how many countries and wars that rifle has been through. I appreciate your help, I just don't see as many of these on the market as k98's and others. thought I might of had a rarity. but with most military stuff, rarities are rare, considering they usually made stuff to outfit millions of troups.