Mauser Identification AGAIN

[offroadmatt]

Need help identifying this rifle so I can find a bolt for it. Yes I will have it properly head spaced. Yes I know that takes machining! What I don't know is what the hell this thing is. It has little to no markings. The bolt from another mauser we have is barely to long to close.

At some point somebody had it rebarreled and a sporting stock put on it. The only stamps are the "40" on the bolt release and what appears to be a serial number L 19845 on the front ring. Also it was drilled for scope rings.

Thanks for the help!

[offroadmatt]

More Pictures

Third picture is next to the other mauser I have.

[offroadmatt]

One more...

[Blindstitch]

I don't know your answer but the only thing I really see that's different is the shape of the stripper clip guide.

[jonnyc]

Shorter action. Possibly Yugoslav?

Although that doesn't really make sense, considering the chambering.

[jimbob86]

Possibly Yugoslav?

I've never seen a Yugo without a very deep crest on the reciever- they were right proud of those things by the looks of the crests ..... would take some serious grinding to erase that.

[offroadmatt]

Originally Posted by Blindstitch

I don't know your answer but the only thing I really see that's different is the shape of the stripper clip guide.

Stripper shape is definitely more defined. Also it seems higher then others

[BillM]

That bolt release is a bit distinctive. I'm going to GUESS you're gun
started life as a mdl 1903 Turkish or possibly 1909 Argentine Mauser.

Both were large ring 98's with that curved bolt release. The longer I
look at that stripper guide the more I lean toward Turkish.

[offroadmatt]

Originally Posted by BillM

That bolt release is a bit distinctive. I'm going to GUESS you're gun
started life as a mdl 1903 Turkish or possibly 1909 Argentine Mauser.

Both were large ring 98's with that curved bolt release. The longer I
look at that stripper guide the more I lean toward Turkish.

Well from what I could also find the closest match was also the Turkish 1903. The curve bolt release is not featured on very many models. Any idea the hole spacing on the trigger guard/floor plate of a Turkish?

[BillM]

Well from what I could also find the closest match was also the Turkish 1903. The curve bolt release is not featured on very many models. Any idea the hole spacing on the trigger guard/floor plate of a Turkish?

Did find this:

7) Turkish Mausers there were in many different sizes and configurations. Thereare Intermediate as well as Long
actions.
Most receivers are large ring but with, small diameter treads,

M-1938 Large Ring
Same as #5 above, except with a small barrel shank diameter of .98

M-1903 Large Ring Intermediate
Same as # 4 above but with Tall clip charger guide, and small barrel shank of .98


#4---(now below)
4) Intermediate Large Ring M-98 ,(Large ring, Short action)
1.410 diameter. receiver ring, 8.50 in length, with screw spacing of 7.620
Intermediate Large ring have a threaded shank diameter of 1.10 in. With 12 threads per inch.
Mexicans by FN and Belgium, the M24, M47, M48 by FN and Yugoslavia. A large number of M48 Yugoslavian large-ring M98 Mauser have recently been dropped on the market. This M-98 short is considered an intermediate action, and WILL NOT fit a Standard 98 Mauser stocks and standard bolts will not interchange.. Receiver stripped weight 15.0 oz.

Also found reference that the hole spacing on the bottom metal on a 1903 Turk is the same as a 98 large ring, but the floorplate is 3.82 instead of 4.0
Evidently the Turk had a shorter magazine box?

[offroadmatt]

Took it apart and found some more markings under the receiver. Also noticed the trigger is stamped 40. Wonder if the bolt release and trigger were added at a later date. Also took some measurements.

Trigger guard screws measure 7 7/8"
Receiver Ring Measures 1.38
The opening in the receiver is 2.86 not including the cutout for the stripper rail
Overall length is 8 7/8

[oldscot3]

I'm going to rule out '09 Argentine because of the very tall guide for stripper clips on the rear bridge. I think that feature is key and I also vote (most likely) Turk.

Jerry Kuhnhausen notes in "The Mauser Bolt Actions, A Shop Manual" that *Turkish rifles were "more or less standardized" but (some) "Variations usually had special features or small changes to standard specifications." (*This note also applied to other countries such as China)

I'm not a historical expert on mausers, but I think the Turks started off buying contract mausers from the various Euro producers then later obtained license to make their own. Yours is probably an example produced in Turkey.

[offroadmatt]

Any thoughts on the stamps? KW and UK seem like they might have a meaning. Also the C with two lines must mean something. Looks kind of like a harp...

[Scorch]

1903 Turkish. As stated, only 2 Mausers had the curved bolt stop ear, and the 1909 Argentine was a standard length receiver, not intermediate. The stripper guide is distinctive as well.

What confused me is that the rear bridge is shorter than a standard M98.

[BillM]

There was at least one other model with the curved release and high stripper guide.

1909 Peruvian. But it used the edge of the curved release as part of the stripper
guide, and this one doesn't appear to.

[offroadmatt]

Found this on another site. Turkish 1903. This one also appears to use the release as part of the guide. As you previously mentioned.

[oldscot3]

Any thoughts on the stamps?

Inspection stamps would be my guess. As the action passed through the machining stages it was probably guaged and picked up a mark.

[offroadmatt]

Originally Posted by oldscot3

Inspection stamps would be my guess. As the action passed through the machining stages it was probably guaged and picked up a mark.

Found this as well:
The Turk rifles Model 1887, 1890, 1893 and 1903 had the most proofing and inspection marks ever applied on Export rifles. The Turk inspectors in Oberndorf wanted to really be part of whole process at every stage etc.