Help! Steyr 1905 8x57 Mauser

Holepuncher · February 8, 2009, 03:30 PM

I need help identifying this rifle, anyone know about Steyr mausers. I believe this was built as a Sporter because of the Double set triggers. Anyone have any knowledge. Thanks
H

Holepuncher · February 8, 2009, 03:33 PM

Anyone?

Scorch · February 8, 2009, 07:10 PM

You have a Steyr-Mannlicher 1905 sporting rifle made prior to WWI. This is not the same as a Mannlicher-Schoenauer, which used a rotary magazine, the Styer-Mannlicher used an en-bloc clip magazine similar to the Carcano rifle. Production of sporting arms ceased in Steyr in 1918 as part of the terms of surrender.

8X57 would be an unusual chambering, do not fire 8X57mm ammo in it without having the chamber cast first. It is probably an 8X56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer (introduced in 1908), considerably less powerful than the 8X57mmJS, launched a 200 gr bullet at about 2,200 fps (vs 2,500 fps for the 8X57mmJS).

Holepuncher · February 8, 2009, 08:01 PM

Any idea of the value, roughly?

PetahW · February 8, 2009, 09:01 PM

IF your rifle is an 8mm, it was designed for a rimmed cartridge (as most of those magazine types were), not a rimless - and so is most likely an 8x56R.

Not many folks in the US collect those early sporters, fine as they may well be - and the combination of an odd cartridge (here) and a missing scope with the upper half of it's fitted claw mounts also MIA doesn't help the value any either.

Some were converted to 8x57 Mauser - but AFAIK, all conversions were to military rifles for various armed forces, and not sporting rifles.

'

Scorch · February 8, 2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Any idea of the value, roughly?

Check on the various gun sale sites, like this
http://www.gunsamerica.com/916947700...56_PRE_WWI.htm

Quote:

IF your rifle is an 8mm, it was designed for a rimmed cartridge (as most of those magazine types were), not a rimless - and so is most likely an 8x56R.

Not necessarily. The Mannlicher magazine system was used for rimless cartridges, just like in the Carcano. Cartridges of the World describes the 8X56mm MS.

Jim Watson · February 8, 2009, 11:20 PM

Are we SURE it is an 8mm?
The 8x56 Mannlicher was the 1908, a 1905 would be a 9x56. Normally applied to Mannlicher Schoenauers, but who knows what those crafty Austrians might have been doing. They had the tooling for the 1888, after all.

James K · February 9, 2009, 12:17 AM

Assuming Steyr followed their usual practice, the date on the left rail is the manufacture date, not the model date.

The magazine rules out the M1895 and earlier rifles; it looks like the 1904 Exportmodell, which was made in 8x57j, and used the (German) Model 1888 clip. Many went to China, the Austrians themselves used them in WWI, and German arms dealers sold some 12,000 to the Ulster Volunteer Force (Protestant loyalists) in Ireland.

While Steyr concentrated on military arms, they did make sporting rifles as well. Whether that is a factory sporter or a sporterized military rifle I can't tell from those photos.

Jim

February 8, 2009, 07:10 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	You have a Steyr-Mannlicher 1905 sporting rifle made prior to WWI. This is not the same as a Mannlicher-Schoenauer, which used a rotary magazine, the Styer-Mannlicher used an en-bloc clip magazine similar to the Carcano rifle. Production of sporting arms ceased in Steyr in 1918 as part of the terms of surrender. 8X57 would be an unusual chambering, do not fire 8X57mm ammo in it without having the chamber cast first. It is probably an 8X56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer (introduced in 1908), considerably less powerful than the 8X57mmJS, launched a 200 gr bullet at about 2,200 fps (vs 2,500 fps for the 8X57mmJS). __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 8, 2009, 08:01 PM	#4
Holepuncher Junior Member Join Date: February 2, 2009 Posts: 6	Any idea of the value, roughly?

February 8, 2009, 09:01 PM	#5
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	IF your rifle is an 8mm, it was designed for a rimmed cartridge (as most of those magazine types were), not a rimless - and so is most likely an 8x56R. Not many folks in the US collect those early sporters, fine as they may well be - and the combination of an odd cartridge (here) and a missing scope with the upper half of it's fitted claw mounts also MIA doesn't help the value any either. Some were converted to 8x57 Mauser - but AFAIK, all conversions were to military rifles for various armed forces, and not sporting rifles. '

February 8, 2009, 11:20 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,545	Are we SURE it is an 8mm? The 8x56 Mannlicher was the 1908, a 1905 would be a 9x56. Normally applied to Mannlicher Schoenauers, but who knows what those crafty Austrians might have been doing. They had the tooling for the 1888, after all.

February 9, 2009, 12:17 AM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Assuming Steyr followed their usual practice, the date on the left rail is the manufacture date, not the model date. The magazine rules out the M1895 and earlier rifles; it looks like the 1904 Exportmodell, which was made in 8x57j, and used the (German) Model 1888 clip. Many went to China, the Austrians themselves used them in WWI, and German arms dealers sold some 12,000 to the Ulster Volunteer Force (Protestant loyalists) in Ireland. While Steyr concentrated on military arms, they did make sporting rifles as well. Whether that is a factory sporter or a sporterized military rifle I can't tell from those photos. Jim