I found the coolest old shotgun!

kawasakifreak77 · September 29, 2014, 02:49 AM

I was walking out of the gunshow.. I had already made one killer deal & was basking in my score when this really nice hook & schnabel style stock caught my eye. It was around a large ring Mauser action when I noticed how big around the barrel was..

What the...

Side of the reciver says something in german & 16 gauge!

I'm a mauser geek (mostly for the Swedes) & a 16 gauge lover so I had to have it! I had heard of some shotguns built from enfields once upon a time but never saw one. Let alone a Mauser, in 16!

It's a beautiful gun. Deep rich bluing & the stock is very nice, minus a small repair. All numbers match & the conversion looks very professionally done. I'm very happy.

I measured the constriction in the barrel & came up with around .636" so it's very tightly choked. That bites cause about all I shoot are a few sporting clays & quail.

Was going to go shoot it today but didn't end up going. But I can't wait!

skizzums · September 29, 2014, 05:02 AM

Pretty boring with a PICTURE.

Virginian · September 29, 2014, 05:47 AM

To know the constriction, you need to know the bore. A lot of European bores run small.

jaguarxk120 · September 29, 2014, 07:13 AM

I STRONGLY suggest that a good gun smith look at the gun before you shoot it.
The shotgun you have is made from a converted mauser action, to have clearance for the shell the locking lugs have to be cut away, sometimes too much.

And please read the mauser shotgun post at www.shotgunworld.com under Shotgun ID & Value forum.

drcook · October 2, 2014, 04:50 AM

If it is a Mauser 98 action, and in 16ga, what you found is a Mauser Forager.

here is another one

http://www.gunsinternational.com/GER...n_id=100391383

please read this

http://texastradingpost.com/militaria/geha.html

bamaranger · October 2, 2014, 04:55 AM

That, fella's, was a treat. Never knew a bit of that. Thanks.

Dreaming100Straight · October 2, 2014, 12:24 PM

I remember those sporterized Mausers from the early 1960's. I didn't have a shotgun but a rifle.

RJay · October 2, 2014, 09:43 PM

Forager? The link that drcook listed is very good background. That is a fancy made up name for a Geha

. After WWI the Germans were very limited on what type firearms they allowed to build. They were still allowed to build sporter type firearms, and one thing they did have plenty of was Model 98 rifles. They removed the barrel and bored out the receiver ring and collar, special bolt head fitted, new follower, shotgun barrel and a number of other various and sundry things ( complete details can be found in "Bolt action Rifles ). Built in the 1920's and 30's when times were very hard in Germany { and elsewhere because of the Great Depression ). They were made to sell very competitively and were sold by the bushel basket to farmers and ranchers across the US. They served the purpose of a utility farm gun, two shots in a well built package at a very cheap price. Forager, that is Madison Avenue at work, a fancy name for an old well known gun. They make it sound as if the German Military used them for foragering when in fact the military had nothing to do with them other than sell their now surplus rifles to the gun makers

RodTheWrench · October 2, 2014, 10:52 PM

RJay beat me to it!

I inherited one of those exact guns from my grandfather. I shot it a couple of times, but since it didn't have any sentimental value to me and definitely wasn't practical, I let it go at a gun show to someone that wanted the action.

jrothWA · October 30, 2014, 10:27 PM

eliminate all rifles in Germany.

The simple expedient of re boring to shotshell use, complied with the treaty and precluded reuse as a rifle.

RJay · October 31, 2014, 10:44 PM

The Versailles Treaty was complex and very possibly sowed the very seeds of WW II, But the treaty did not forbid weapons, Germany was allowed to have a army and navy but no air force. They were restricted on the type and quantity, caliber of weapons and even the number of men in uniform ( Military uniform ) there were no restrictions on " Sporting weapons ". That is one reason there were so many sporting rifles built on Mauser actions between 1918 and the start of WWII. Germany was short of every thing but rifles, those they had plenty of.

briandg · November 1, 2014, 12:05 PM

Fascinating. We had many bolt shotguns made in america through the last century, and I have always been able to see the purpose but not had any desire whatsoever for them. It's neat to see that they were made in volume from old military "scrap," so to speak.

Which company was it that bought enormous loads of old military, stockpiled the bad actions, and eventually used the actions that failed inspection as supplement to the rebar when they poured a new floor?

RJay · November 1, 2014, 12:41 PM

I believe you are thinking of Bannermans

briandg · November 1, 2014, 01:37 PM

Could be. Navy arms was coming to mind, but heck, I had brain surgery last spring, and after being drugged and nailed down on a table, a veterinarian used a hammer and chisel to open my head up and a moto tool to clean out any parts that he thought looked stupid. Three times on the table took out a few pieces of memory.

September 29, 2014, 02:49 AM	#1
kawasakifreak77 Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2007 Location: St. John, Ks. Posts: 267	I found the coolest old shotgun! I was walking out of the gunshow.. I had already made one killer deal & was basking in my score when this really nice hook & schnabel style stock caught my eye. It was around a large ring Mauser action when I noticed how big around the barrel was.. What the... Side of the reciver says something in german & 16 gauge! I'm a mauser geek (mostly for the Swedes) & a 16 gauge lover so I had to have it! I had heard of some shotguns built from enfields once upon a time but never saw one. Let alone a Mauser, in 16! It's a beautiful gun. Deep rich bluing & the stock is very nice, minus a small repair. All numbers match & the conversion looks very professionally done. I'm very happy. I measured the constriction in the barrel & came up with around .636" so it's very tightly choked. That bites cause about all I shoot are a few sporting clays & quail. Was going to go shoot it today but didn't end up going. But I can't wait! __________________ Looking for oddball ammo. Tracers, AP, whatcha got?

September 29, 2014, 05:02 AM	#2
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	Pretty boring with a PICTURE. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

September 29, 2014, 05:47 AM	#3
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	To know the constriction, you need to know the bore. A lot of European bores run small. __________________ What could have happened... did.

October 2, 2014, 04:50 AM	#5
drcook Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 285	If it is a Mauser 98 action, and in 16ga, what you found is a Mauser Forager. here is another one http://www.gunsinternational.com/GER...n_id=100391383 please read this http://texastradingpost.com/militaria/geha.html __________________ dr = david r. not Doctor, but thanks for the compliment, most folks just call me dave

October 2, 2014, 04:55 AM	#6
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,302	stuff ya don't know That, fella's, was a treat. Never knew a bit of that. Thanks.

September 29, 2014, 07:13 AM	#4
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,619	I STRONGLY suggest that a good gun smith look at the gun before you shoot it. The shotgun you have is made from a converted mauser action, to have clearance for the shell the locking lugs have to be cut away, sometimes too much. And please read the mauser shotgun post at www.shotgunworld.com under Shotgun ID & Value forum.

October 2, 2014, 12:24 PM	#7
Dreaming100Straight Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 1,235	I remember those sporterized Mausers from the early 1960's. I didn't have a shotgun but a rifle.

October 2, 2014, 09:43 PM	#8
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Forager? The link that drcook listed is very good background. That is a fancy made up name for a Geha . After WWI the Germans were very limited on what type firearms they allowed to build. They were still allowed to build sporter type firearms, and one thing they did have plenty of was Model 98 rifles. They removed the barrel and bored out the receiver ring and collar, special bolt head fitted, new follower, shotgun barrel and a number of other various and sundry things ( complete details can be found in "Bolt action Rifles ). Built in the 1920's and 30's when times were very hard in Germany { and elsewhere because of the Great Depression ). They were made to sell very competitively and were sold by the bushel basket to farmers and ranchers across the US. They served the purpose of a utility farm gun, two shots in a well built package at a very cheap price. Forager, that is Madison Avenue at work, a fancy name for an old well known gun. They make it sound as if the German Military used them for foragering when in fact the military had nothing to do with them other than sell their now surplus rifles to the gun makers __________________ Ron James

October 2, 2014, 10:52 PM	#9
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	RJay beat me to it! I inherited one of those exact guns from my grandfather. I shot it a couple of times, but since it didn't have any sentimental value to me and definitely wasn't practical, I let it go at a gun show to someone that wanted the action. __________________ "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." - Han Solo

October 30, 2014, 10:27 PM	#10
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	The peace trtaty for ending WWI... eliminate all rifles in Germany. The simple expedient of re boring to shotshell use, complied with the treaty and precluded reuse as a rifle.

October 31, 2014, 10:44 PM	#11
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	The Versailles Treaty was complex and very possibly sowed the very seeds of WW II, But the treaty did not forbid weapons, Germany was allowed to have a army and navy but no air force. They were restricted on the type and quantity, caliber of weapons and even the number of men in uniform ( Military uniform ) there were no restrictions on " Sporting weapons ". That is one reason there were so many sporting rifles built on Mauser actions between 1918 and the start of WWII. Germany was short of every thing but rifles, those they had plenty of. __________________ Ron James

November 1, 2014, 12:05 PM	#12
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	Fascinating. We had many bolt shotguns made in america through the last century, and I have always been able to see the purpose but not had any desire whatsoever for them. It's neat to see that they were made in volume from old military "scrap," so to speak. Which company was it that bought enormous loads of old military, stockpiled the bad actions, and eventually used the actions that failed inspection as supplement to the rebar when they poured a new floor?

November 1, 2014, 12:41 PM	#13
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	I believe you are thinking of Bannermans __________________ Ron James

November 1, 2014, 01:37 PM	#14
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	Could be. Navy arms was coming to mind, but heck, I had brain surgery last spring, and after being drugged and nailed down on a table, a veterinarian used a hammer and chisel to open my head up and a moto tool to clean out any parts that he thought looked stupid. Three times on the table took out a few pieces of memory.