Mystery Mauser Won't Extract

durt_b1ker · September 27, 2004, 08:20 PM

I've got a gun my brother gave me to look at for him. It is a small bolt action rifle with about a 19" barrel. The barrel has clearly been altered, and it has niether front nor rear sights. A scope mount has been fitted instead. The scope interferes with the safety, which is a lever attached to the rear of the bolt. It's some kind of mauser. It seems to hold 5 rounds of 7.62 x 39, but it is pretty clear that it was meant for a much longer cartridge. 7.62 x 51 fits the magazine much better than the 7.62 x 39. I cleaned and dissassembled it, and everything looks pretty good. It does have some surface rust here and there. I fired it and the brass does not extract. I knocked the brass out and tried cycling a shell through the gun. It stuck too. Out of the gun, the extractor grabs brass like it should. Anyone have any ideas?

For what it's worth, on the receiver it says:

MAUSER MODELO ARGENTINO 1891
MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN E.N.

On the barrel it says:

NOT FOR MIL. SURPLUS AMMO.
7.62 x 39mm
.308 BORE

At the muzzle it says:

8-43

Jim Watson · September 27, 2004, 11:03 PM

It is an 1891 Argentine Mauser, originally made in 7.65x53, same caliber as Belgium used for many years. Cartridge size is similar to but NOT interchangeable with 7.62 NATO.

Sounds like somebody put a cheap 7.62 Commie barrel on it with no other work to make it handle the round properly. Numrich used to sell kits for later model Mausers but I don't recall they ever did a '91

I think your brother got gypped.

durt_b1ker · September 27, 2004, 11:26 PM

Well, I think he bought it dirt cheap hoping that I could fix it. He assumed (wrongly) that since I had a few guns and can clean them, I was some kind of gun mechanic.

I think that you are correct, it must be some kind of partially completed project gun. From what I can tell, there should be a different magazine follower to accomodate the much shorter 7.62 x 39 rounds. I assume there is a difference in the rims on the cartridges as well, and some kind of change needs to be made to the extractor. I've seen some later mausers converted to 7.62 X 39, but never one of the older style mausers. Are there any parts around to complete the conversion?

Thanks for the help

dfaugh · October 1, 2004, 06:53 PM

I read about these conversions...In addition to the barrel there's a block and different follower for the magazine, as well as a "longer" extractor...One of the problems may be I recall these were for large ring mausers, and this would be a small ring...although bolt & magazine dimensions are similar.

Jim Watson · October 1, 2004, 09:46 PM

'91 Mauser is not very similar to anything else.
It has a single stack magazine and a hook extractor as was revived in early Sakos. Getting 7.62 x 39 Soviet to work in it will be a chore.

September 27, 2004, 08:20 PM	#1
durt_b1ker Member Join Date: September 17, 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 35	Mystery Mauser Won't Extract I've got a gun my brother gave me to look at for him. It is a small bolt action rifle with about a 19" barrel. The barrel has clearly been altered, and it has niether front nor rear sights. A scope mount has been fitted instead. The scope interferes with the safety, which is a lever attached to the rear of the bolt. It's some kind of mauser. It seems to hold 5 rounds of 7.62 x 39, but it is pretty clear that it was meant for a much longer cartridge. 7.62 x 51 fits the magazine much better than the 7.62 x 39. I cleaned and dissassembled it, and everything looks pretty good. It does have some surface rust here and there. I fired it and the brass does not extract. I knocked the brass out and tried cycling a shell through the gun. It stuck too. Out of the gun, the extractor grabs brass like it should. Anyone have any ideas? For what it's worth, on the receiver it says: MAUSER MODELO ARGENTINO 1891 MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN E.N. On the barrel it says: NOT FOR MIL. SURPLUS AMMO. 7.62 x 39mm .308 BORE At the muzzle it says: 8-43 __________________ I loves the Surplus!

September 27, 2004, 11:26 PM	#3
durt_b1ker Member Join Date: September 17, 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 35	Well, I think he bought it dirt cheap hoping that I could fix it. He assumed (wrongly) that since I had a few guns and can clean them, I was some kind of gun mechanic. I think that you are correct, it must be some kind of partially completed project gun. From what I can tell, there should be a different magazine follower to accomodate the much shorter 7.62 x 39 rounds. I assume there is a difference in the rims on the cartridges as well, and some kind of change needs to be made to the extractor. I've seen some later mausers converted to 7.62 X 39, but never one of the older style mausers. Are there any parts around to complete the conversion? Thanks for the help __________________ I loves the Surplus!

October 1, 2004, 06:53 PM	#4
dfaugh Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,715	As I recollect I read about these conversions...In addition to the barrel there's a block and different follower for the magazine, as well as a "longer" extractor...One of the problems may be I recall these were for large ring mausers, and this would be a small ring...although bolt & magazine dimensions are similar. __________________ "If you Listen to Fools, the Mob Rules" "No one has the answer, but one thing is true. You'e got to turn on evil, when its coming after you. You've gotta face it down,and when it tries to hide, you've got to go in after it, and never be denied. Time is running out...Let's roll. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for love. We're going after satan, on the wings of a dove. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth."

September 27, 2004, 11:03 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,537	It is an 1891 Argentine Mauser, originally made in 7.65x53, same caliber as Belgium used for many years. Cartridge size is similar to but NOT interchangeable with 7.62 NATO. Sounds like somebody put a cheap 7.62 Commie barrel on it with no other work to make it handle the round properly. Numrich used to sell kits for later model Mausers but I don't recall they ever did a '91 I think your brother got gypped.

October 1, 2004, 09:46 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,537	'91 Mauser is not very similar to anything else. It has a single stack magazine and a hook extractor as was revived in early Sakos. Getting 7.62 x 39 Soviet to work in it will be a chore.