Argentine Mauser?

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  • Oddway Otts

    Active Member
    Mar 17, 2008
    359
    Harford County
    The wife & I were antiquing today at some out of the way places. At one antique & consignment shop (which was closing for the day) I handled an 1891 Mauser, " MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN," stamped on the left side of the receiver. It looked pretty good. The wood was really good; the bluing was dark, but it had a dusting of rust, as did the bolt. I couldn't see the bore. The Mauser (or whatever) crest was ground off smoothly. I couldn't find a manufacture date. The seller didn't know the caliber. Firm price: $500.00, including a somewhat rugged bayonet (no scabbard). That's a lot of money right now. The place was closing, so it was fish or cut bait.

    The wife was with me, so I cut bait. From the above, does anyone know if it was probably an Argentine Mauser, and what caliber they are?

    Oh, I was tempted.

    Should I have bought it? Should I drive 60 miles or so back tomorrow, gamble on the bore and buy it?:banghead:

    If I drove all that way with a bore light and didn't come home with it, I'd never hear the end of it. :facepalm:

    What to do, what to do? :confused:
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    Sometimes if you feature something you just have to grab it.
    I seen a real nice one just a short while ago for 300 and didn't buy it.
    No bayo though.
    I passed over a sported no4 with a duffle cut stock only that was priced right.
    Just the other day I was policing the shop and found two new n0 4 stocks I forgot I had.
    Other parts in the bin including reeded hand-guards and all the small bits.
    Had the wife call and said to go up and buy it.
    It was gone.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,738
    Socialist State of Maryland
    You really need to know more about the Argentine Mauser's before you open your wallet. Many of them have duffel cuts, stock cut to fit in a duffel bag, as well as mismatched handguards. Most of them are 7.65x53 caliber but some have been converted to 8x57. In my opinion, that receiver design is unsafe chambered in 8x57.
     

    Rambler

    Doing the best with the worst.
    Oct 22, 2011
    2,163
    Well, I learned something today. I looked up duffel cut. I had never heard the term nor encountered a firearm altered that way. But, it makes sense.
     

    Furious George

    Active Member
    May 10, 2010
    340
    My M1909 DWM Argentine Mauser is one of my favorite rifles. Probably the best $120 I ever spent (yeah, a long time ago).

    The 1891? Not so much.

    It is an early, primitive design that does not have much going for it. None of the refinements of the the later 93/95/98 Models. The M1909 is the ultimate 98 pattern Mauser.

    The 1891's with the ground crests were imported in the 50's and sold at Monkey Ward's for $19.95.

    My Grandfather bought one and it eventually came to me. 30+ years after his death I got some 7.65 Argentine Mauser ammo and tried it out. The bore was dark and it did not shoot worth a darn. Totally shot out.

    For $500 there are many rifles and other things I'd rather have than a ground crest, rusty M1891 Argentine Mauser.

    Be thankful you cut bait and still have $500. Don't go back. Take you wife out to dinner to thank her.


    ETA: WWII 8mm duffle cut bring back Mausers have nothing to do with this.
     

    Art3

    Eqinsu Ocha
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 30, 2015
    13,267
    Harford County
    That seems like an awful lot of money for all those unknowns. If the seller doesn't even know the caliber, how could he know the value? I'd find it very easy to walk away and not look back.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    M91 actions have a higher thread count (7 full threads) and longer front ring than earlier pre 98 actions like the 93-95. Steel quality is also higher.
    But...... they are closer to the black powder cartridge Mauser's and also do not have gas control vents in the bolt or reciever.
     

    Threeband

    The M1 Does My Talking
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 30, 2006
    25,234
    Carroll County
    Not up on the Argies, but $500 for one with a ground crest sounds steep.

    Don't let the fever control you. Argentine Mausers are not rare. They are collectable.

    Check out the forums at Gunboards.com
    That's where the collectors hang out. (EDIT: I just looked there, and see ground crests are not rare among Argies. But I stand by my recommendation to do a little research.)

    Do some research. Read up a bit, learn some about them. Then shop around and find a really nice one at a decent price.

    Do you have your C&R license? You don't need one, but for $30, it allows you to have eligible guns shipped to your door. It's worth getting.

    The caliber should be 7.65 Argentine, by the way.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Full length or a Carbine like mine?
    https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=250006

    I was up in York and this one cost me $375 Was marked for $399 and he discounted it pretty quick to $37. I think having my lovely wife with me softened him up. Stock is pretty dinged up but that never shy's me away with something that is old and was in use.
    This was IMO an awesome price for it and I could not say no. Full crest, nice bore, nice trigger. dark top hand guard was the only thing that looked out of place but I really had a good feeling. There was another one there and it was $500 and had a crusty bore

    I have been eyeballing Argentine mausers for several years and almost always found something I did not like. Very often was the price. More often it was the bore.

    As far as date, the serial # including any letters would get you an approximate date or date range. you'd have to google around to find it. Many of them the factory and serial # has ranges that gets you an approximation depending on which one.
     

    Threeband

    The M1 Does My Talking
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 30, 2006
    25,234
    Carroll County
    Thanks guys.... I guess I'm glad I passed. I think the fever got me, but it did look cool.;)

    I feel kinda bad for offering such sensible advice. It really is a violation of the spirit of the forum. Even if it turns out to be not such a good bargain, it might ignite in you an enthusiasm, even a passion for old guns.

    To me one old obsolete gun is 20 or 30 times more interesting than a Glock or an AR 15 (although I own and respect both).

    Before my wife's health problems sidelined me, I really enjoyed shooting informal vintage rifle matches. I would really encourage you to pick up a vintage rifle or two and do some shooting with them, even search out a vintage match.
     

    Art3

    Eqinsu Ocha
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 30, 2015
    13,267
    Harford County
    I feel kinda bad for offering such sensible advice. It really is a violation of the spirit of the forum. Even if it turns out to be not such a good bargain, it might ignite in you an enthusiasm, even a passion for old guns.

    To me one old obsolete gun is 20 or 30 times more interesting than a Glock or an AR 15 (although I own and respect both).

    Before my wife's health problems sidelined me, I really enjoyed shooting informal vintage rifle matches. I would really encourage you to pick up a vintage rifle or two and do some shooting with them, even search out a vintage match.
    Like this one :innocent0
    https://www.practiscore.com/novembe...WNbgfb6IeEnLaX0yIXZatZLce4xS8rxDF8zz6fRfQqoz4 It is listed as full, but I've heard a rumor that there might be a shooter withdrawing (not 100% sure...so don't hold me to it). If you can get away for half a Saturday, we'd love to have you.

    Otts is my dad. I've known him for what seems like my whole life ;) I know he'd be pretty bummed if he bought something that wasn't a good bargain, or, even worse, unserviceable. We've been very lucky that all of our milsurps have been pretty much good to go without needing major work. He has more than enough Allied rifles to finish out the A&A season. I know he's been itching for a Mauser for a few years. We (HE) really should be learning more about them. My guess (hope) is that he'll find something nice (that we can be confident in) from our usual supplier, SCSG.

    While it is MDS's duty to be enablers, sensible advice in this case is good. :thumbsup:
     

    Oddway Otts

    Active Member
    Mar 17, 2008
    359
    Harford County
    Thanks again guys, I appreciate the thoughtful input.

    I don't remember ever seeing one like this. I thought it was some kind of rare. What really got me (aside from I THOUGHT this was a really good price), was the cool look of what appeared to be a dark oiled stock, rather than varnished like the Mosins, contrasted with the long stock & barrel, but short handguard. From the input here and some on-line search, I'm 99% sure it's an Argentine Mauser. Like Art 3 said, I'd feel really bummed if I got screwed, especially since things are tight right now. With all my brooding, pissin' & moaning, the wife actually said something to the effect that "Well, you could hang it right there (in the dining room) and it would look pretty good." :innocent0 ($500 is an expensive wall hanger). I'm not in need of a lookin' good Milsurp, in fact, Pillsbury, my beautiful P-14, with the shot-out barrel (but complete volley sight pair) fills that bill. I just wish that I had had more time to futze with it. But, from the surface dust & rust dusting, I think it's been there for a while, and will still be....:innocent0
     

    Threeband

    The M1 Does My Talking
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 30, 2006
    25,234
    Carroll County
    Belgian Mausers are almost identical.

    I have a very minty Swedish Mauser gathering dust, which I should probably sell.

    The Belgian and Argentine Mausers are first generation smokeless Mausers, and have the single column magazine protruding/hanging down below the action. The Swedes, Spanish, and Chilean Mausers are second generation, and have the staggered, flush magazine. The Gewehr 98 is the third generation: cocks on opening and has better gas leakage protection.
     

    JTH20

    Active Member
    Feb 18, 2013
    536
    MD
    I paid a little over $450 for a pristine 1891 Argentine Mauser. 100% matching down to the cleaning rod. The only flaw was the ground crest. I probably paid too much, but I've never seen a rifle that old with all intact stock cartouches, including some very crisp proofs on the grip, so i had to have it.
     

    BeoBill

    Crank in the Third Row
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 3, 2013
    27,064
    南馬里蘭州鮑伊
    A discussion on the Argentine Mauser. Identical to the Belgian, as mentioned above. They were imported and sporterized in the 1960s, which is when I got mine. Good brush/deer gun, I really enjoy mine.

    Argentine Mausers 1891-1909
     

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