A nice 98 Mauser

[Bob Mc Alice]

My other son in law went to visit his dad in SW Co. last month and came home with a gun for me to check out. His dad gave it to him to keep. The story is it was a war take home souvenir that belonged to his dads uncle. It was stashed in the back of a clothes closet for the last 65 years. It was completely covered in dust but showed no signs of rust thanks to to natural low humidity in the West. I took it apart for a thorough cleaning with a paint brush and mild solvent. The bore was clogged up with waxy cosmoline but looked rust free when cleared out. A look through the Hawkeye borescope revealed not a trace of jacket material to be seen. The bore looked as good as any match bore I have seen. Not a rub mark at all on the bolt face leads me to believe this rifle was only test fired and saw no battle. The rifle is mechanically perfect and safe to fire.

All components have the same serial number as issued from the Mauser subcontractor BSW...Berlin Sulher Works in 1937. This contractor only made them for three years, 37-39.This is a nice pre war example of craftsmanship. Some home work on Mauser websites puts the collector value of the rifle somewhere between $800. to $1200. I am thinking towards the higher end based on condition. It has the issued bayonet also in premium condition.

My son in law is a fishing nut and has little interest in guns but intends to keep this gun and not sell it. I had a space in my safe for it, so I get to store it for safe keeping.

He now has the desire to go to the range with me to fire it. He picked up two boxes of RP 170 gr. Core-Lokts at a local shop. I would very much like to fire it, too. It is not up for sale so it is his to do what he wishes collector value or not.

Would you fire it or leave it unfired? Some photos of it. http://s766.photobucket.com/albums/xx302/seveno8/M98/

[Bob259]

It's beautiful Bob.... I'd be tempted to make is a safe queen, but than again why not enjoy it. My only comment would be to be careful with modern factory loads as they tend to have more pressure then the original. I know on the M1 site like for the 1903's they recommend hand loads over factory RP for that reason.

[Bob Mc Alice]

Bob, I pulled an RP round apart and weighed the charge. It appears to be IMR 4350, the kernels even measuring the same at .040 dia. x .080 long. The color is the same ,too. The charge weight was 49.0 grs. My Hornady manual shows this to be a mild starting load with the 170 gr. bullet at 2300 FPS using the same K98 rifle for testing. I think we will go ahead and fire this old rifle soon. I know I will hand load for it as I got a set of "new" Herters dies in 8x57 in that yard sale haul. Who knows...some day I may join you guys at Ridgway for the military rifle silhouette matches.

[Bob259]

Bob, I pulled an RP round apart and weighed the charge. It appears to be IMR 4350, the kernels even measuring the same at .040 dia. x .080 long. The color is the same ,too. The charge weight was 49.0 grs. My Hornady manual shows this to be a mild starting load with the 170 gr. bullet at 2300 FPS using the same K98 rifle for testing. I think we will go ahead and fire this old rifle soon. I know I will hand load for it as I got a set of "new" Herters dies in 8x57 in that yard sale haul. Who knows...some day I may join you guys at Ridgway for the military rifle silhouette matches.

That would be great!!!

[Another Dang 9]

My only comment on the 8 mm is hard on brass. I pick up a lot of used brass and 8mm has a large chamber which leaves a split at the shoulder most times. They shoot great but brass life is short. I would fire a few rounds check shoulder with a gage or just visually for any cracks.

[RBriscoe]

My only comment on the 8 mm is hard on brass. I pick up a lot of used brass and 8mm has a large chamber which leaves a split at the shoulder most times. They shoot great but brass life is short. I would fire a few rounds check shoulder with a gage or just visually for any cracks.

Well, they were battle rifles...and the brass got used once.

Bob,

It is amazing that a pre-war Mauser was never used. I would try to contact some of the Mauser collectors to see if the rifle has any unusual value before firing it.

My dad had a Mauser that he got in Germany after the war. He Ihad a new barrel put on it in .270 Win and a French Walnut stock. The metal work was done K. (Kurt, I believe) Jaeger of Wiesbaden who was apparently a cousin of the Pennsylvania Jaeger riflesmiths. The wood work was done by Kleingunther, before he came to the states. (Gee, do you think he was influenced by Jack O'Connor?)

Mausers remain neat rifles.


Cheers