Newbie here

[Gene L]

Hello, there. I found this site by looking for information on a pre-ww1 Commercial Mauser so I'll ask here. It's got the markings on the receiver that dates it back to at least 1912. On one side of the barrel is Oerlinghausen, presumably the town where the gun was made and on the other best as I can make out, is Ludw. F(?)ustkuchen, presumably the maker. I can't find a serial number but the bolt and safety are numbered the same.

I'll send pictures if I ever learn how. It's 8x57, has a splinter forearm held on with a wedge, has the side panels on the stock to reinforce the chamber area. It's in good shape. Got claw mounts on the ring, and a modern aperture sight on the rear.

I realize this post is useless without pictures, but was hoping the names meant something.

[Gene L]

Hopefully, a photo is attached mauser.jpg

[mike ford]

Gene,
Welcome, we are glad to have you with us. One photo was attached, so go ahead and send photos of all the markings, especially of the proof marks on the underside of the barrel, also if there are numbers on the back of the magazine box. A clear photo of the set triggers would help, to see if they are built into the trigger guard or a separate unit pinned in.
Mike

[Gene L]

Mauser 1 jpg.jpgMauser 2 jpg.jpgMauser 3 jpg.jpg

[Gene L]

This might be chambered for the J round?

[algmule]

Hello

Gene L,
you're welcome

00GeneL.jpg

Kind regards
Peter

[mike ford]

Gene,
There is no doubt that it is chambered for the "J" round, it has 7.7mm bore( not groove or bullet) diameter. It was proofed after the 1911 "improvements" to the 1891 proof law were implemented and there is no date or ledger number, so I was proofed in Suhl between 1912 and 1922. The action ( at least the trigger guard/magazine assy.) is Mauser Oberndorf, as shown by the set triggers being built into the assy., rather than being separate and pinned into it. If you show the numbers under the receiver and at the back of the magazine, maybe we can tell when the action was made. Also photos of the markings you described would be helpful.
Mike

[Gene L]

What I read on this site was that the marking of St.m.G. was discontinued after 1912. I didn't locate any numbers at the back of the magazine, but I'll look again. I'll try to photo the markings on the barrel, but they're faint and I wouldn't expect much. The serial numbers all match. I believe the number you're looking for is 28043, which matches as I said. I don't have enough light to show the shallow engraving of the town and possibly the builder, but I'll try in the morning.

[algmule]

Hello

Gene L,
Ludwig Pustkuchen, Kaufmann, Hauptstraße 74, Oerlinghausen. See the ad I posted above. He did not manufacture your rifle, he only retailed it.

Kind regards
Peter

[Gene L]

Hello

Gene L,
Ludwig Pustkuchen, Kaufmann, Hauptstraße 74, Oerlinghausen. See the ad I posted above. He did not manufacture your rifle, he only retailed it.

Kind regards
Peter

Thanks, Peter, A wealth of information on this site.

[mike ford]

Gene,
It is not that St.m.G. "per se" was discontinued( this only shows bullet type), rather, showing the proof load( here 2.67 rifle flake powder and steel jacketed bullet) was discontinued; because it created confusion when ammo with more of a weaker powder was contemplated for use. Different sources show this mark was discontinued in 1911 or 1912 or 1913. Notice the barrel shows the new nitro proof marking, this then begs the question " why both type marks?". It may not be impossible that it was done during the change over period, but most likely an older rifle was rebarreled, after the change. A great many rifles were built in Suhl, post WW1, using surplus Military actions, and fit up with part oct./part round barrels, double set triggers and claw mounts. Pre-war, they had to use expensive commercial Mauser Oberndorf actions, due to active patents. The reason for asking about numbers on the back of the magazine or under the receiver is an effort to determine if it is a military or commercial action. Now, I am seeing indications of both. It would be better if someone more knowledgeable than I could personally examine the rifle.
Mike

[Gene L]

Thanks, Mike. Based on what little I know, I infer it is almost certainly a Commercial action, because a military action woldn't have the 2.7/St.m.G on the receiver, since military ammo was standardized, there was no need. I guess that info was put there for a commercial loader of ammo would know what to load to. And the SN on the barrel matches the SN on other parts of the rifle.

Somewhat of a mystery rifle?

[mike ford]

Gene L.
That is normally true, but we find strange things from time to time. Normally, Mauser commercial actions have the Mauser number on the back of the magazine box and on the bottom of the receiver, near the recoil lug. On very early ones the number may be on the left side if the receiver ring ( I didn't see one there and you reported there is none at the other locations). On the otherhand, the double set triggers seem to be the Mauser commercial type. The proof load would not be used by a commercial loader for sporting ammo. A Mauser commercial barrel had diameters in gauge measurement well after millimeter dimensions were being used. Therefore I believe your barrel is from Suhl. If a commercial Mauser action was sold to some other maker to build a rifle, normally the other maker would use their own serial number and the number on the barrel would match it. I cannot say, however, that no other maker ever used Mauser's number. The dovetail cut on the receiver ring would have removed an early Mauser logo. A later address would be on the left receiver wall. Better photos or a "hands on" inspection would be helpful.
Mike

[Gene L]

Thanks, Mike. Your posts have been extremely helpful. There is a wealth of information on this site.

[Gene L]

Hello

Gene L,
Ludwig Pustkuchen, Kaufmann, Hauptstraße 74, Oerlinghausen. See the ad I posted above. He did not manufacture your rifle, he only retailed it.

Kind regards
Peter

Thanks, Peter. I didn't catch on to the ad you posted until you explained it to me. I'm a poor reader.