1915 Mauser Spanish or German?

a_thorpe_cvg · November 29, 2010, 07:50 PM

I got a old 7mm Mauser from my father. He said he looked it up and it was made in 1915, he also thought it was German. I have looked into that and I think it might be Spanish and not German. It has the serial #Q3**, there is also a small cross with a circle around it on the bolt. Can any one verify if its Spanish or German. I would love as much info as I can get on it.
Thank You
ALT

Jim Watson · November 29, 2010, 08:24 PM

7mm was Spanish issue.
It might well have been made on contract in Germany. I don't know that Spain tooled up for Mausers until WW II era when they changed to 8mm like their buddies, the Nazis.
You got pictures?

Scorch · November 29, 2010, 08:36 PM

Spain was one of the first nations to buy the whole package from Mauser: rifles, factory, and tooling. In 1894, Spain adopted the 1893 Mauser with the then-new 7X57mm cartridge, and purchased a turnkey operation at the same time, including tooling and machinery and engineering expertise for their armory facility at Oviedo. They began replacing their old rifles and selling rifles to other countries who would or could not pay for German manufactured rifles. At the end of the Spanish Civil War they looked at several options for rearming and modernizing their arsenal. They looked at Mosin-Nagants and M1917 Enfields in the USA, Carcanos in Italy, and Mausers from Germany, as well as for advice and expertise. In 1943, they adopted the M98 system and installed the manufacturing facility at La Coruna in order to keep their armories separate in case of a coup.

Your 7X57 is likely Spanish, and the cross in the circle is a NATO symbol, meaning the bolt and action probably don't match.

James K · November 29, 2010, 09:08 PM

Hi, Scorch,

I have seen that "cross" or "Maltese cross" in a circle on several Spanish Mausers and doubt it has anything to do with NATO, since the 7mm rifles were never NATO weapons. The marks I have seen differ from the NATO marking (as on ammunition) in that the ends of the cross arms are flared, and don't touch the circle.

I frankly don't know what it does mean (nor do I know what the many other marks on those rifles mean), but I suspect it is just one more inspection marking.

Jim

a_thorpe_cvg · November 29, 2010, 09:36 PM

the serial numbers match on the bolt and the stock also

gyvel · December 1, 2010, 02:39 AM

Don't forget that some of the 7mm's were converted later to 7.62 NATO. Double check to be sure that your rifle is, in fact, a 7mm.

November 29, 2010, 07:50 PM	#1
a_thorpe_cvg Junior Member Join Date: November 29, 2010 Posts: 3	1915 Mauser Spanish or German? I got a old 7mm Mauser from my father. He said he looked it up and it was made in 1915, he also thought it was German. I have looked into that and I think it might be Spanish and not German. It has the serial #Q3**, there is also a small cross with a circle around it on the bolt. Can any one verify if its Spanish or German. I would love as much info as I can get on it. Thank You ALT

November 29, 2010, 08:36 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Spain was one of the first nations to buy the whole package from Mauser: rifles, factory, and tooling. In 1894, Spain adopted the 1893 Mauser with the then-new 7X57mm cartridge, and purchased a turnkey operation at the same time, including tooling and machinery and engineering expertise for their armory facility at Oviedo. They began replacing their old rifles and selling rifles to other countries who would or could not pay for German manufactured rifles. At the end of the Spanish Civil War they looked at several options for rearming and modernizing their arsenal. They looked at Mosin-Nagants and M1917 Enfields in the USA, Carcanos in Italy, and Mausers from Germany, as well as for advice and expertise. In 1943, they adopted the M98 system and installed the manufacturing facility at La Coruna in order to keep their armories separate in case of a coup. Your 7X57 is likely Spanish, and the cross in the circle is a NATO symbol, meaning the bolt and action probably don't match. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 29, 2010, 08:24 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	7mm was Spanish issue. It might well have been made on contract in Germany. I don't know that Spain tooled up for Mausers until WW II era when they changed to 8mm like their buddies, the Nazis. You got pictures?

November 29, 2010, 09:08 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Scorch, I have seen that "cross" or "Maltese cross" in a circle on several Spanish Mausers and doubt it has anything to do with NATO, since the 7mm rifles were never NATO weapons. The marks I have seen differ from the NATO marking (as on ammunition) in that the ends of the cross arms are flared, and don't touch the circle. I frankly don't know what it does mean (nor do I know what the many other marks on those rifles mean), but I suspect it is just one more inspection marking. Jim

November 29, 2010, 09:36 PM	#5
a_thorpe_cvg Junior Member Join Date: November 29, 2010 Posts: 3	the serial numbers match on the bolt and the stock also

December 1, 2010, 02:39 AM	#6
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Don't forget that some of the 7mm's were converted later to 7.62 NATO. Double check to be sure that your rifle is, in fact, a 7mm.