Mauser 71/84 modified to target carbine configuration

[dwc99]

I need any advice I can get on the historical background and [if possible] a reasonable sale asking price fo the following Spandau 1888 Mauser 71/84 rifle that has been modified to a target carbine configuration and is in the following condition:

*] Barrel has bee professionally shortened to 22 inch length and the stock/tubular magazine modified accordingly;
*] New hooded ramped bead front sight installed;
*] Military rear sight has been replaced by [from what I have been told] is a relativlely rare "Wehrmannsgewehr" micro-adjustable rear peep sight;
*] Bore is "as-new" -- bright & shiny down to anf including bottom og groves;
*] Metal finish is original factory blue rated at 95+%;
*] Every serial number is matching down to screw heads;
*] Wood is original factory finish rated at 95+% ---all stock stampings & cartouches are crisp and clear;
*] Stock wood has beautiful "fiddle-back" pattern;
*] Magazine cut-off functions perfectly. Stacking rod is in place. Metal butt-plate is regimental marked;
*] A sling swivel has been added to the stock midway between the trigger guard and the butt-plate;
8} ALL modification workmanship is of the highest possible quality!

I am been told [but cannot confirm due to lack of any documentation] that these 71/84 target carbine conversions were carried out in the immediate post WW-1 era by Genmen shooting clubs as a technique to circumvent the Versailles Treaty provisions that prohibited German manufacture of new military firearms. These carbines were then used by the newly emerging para-military political organizations to insure that their members maintained a level of firearms proficiency.

Any thoughts/help is greatly appreciated -- Ths & Cheers -- Dave

[mike ford]

Dave,
Welcome , we are happy to have you with us. Our interests, as an association are generally German/Austrian sporting guns( individual members may have additional interest). This often includes former military rifles converted to sporting use, such as hunting or formal target shooting. There are many things I have never heard about( this being one), but others here know about most of them. After WW1, Germany was limited to the size of it's army, and number and type of it's weapons, as you alluded to. The rifle/ammo restrictions were primarily with the "S" diameter 8x57. It is true that this created an incentive to modify military rifles for target use; but it is also true that these same restrictions created an awful lot of otherwise unusable 8mm rifles that could be converted to sporting use. The M98, 8mm, rifles could fairly easily be converted to the caliber 8.15x46R, which was legal, and at the same time, had become the almost universal German target cartridge. When Mod 98, or Mod 88 Commission rifles were converted to 8.15x46R, they were generally converted to single shot, which would be perfectly useable for target shooting purposes. Now here is an unrestricted rifle that has been reportedly converted to a repeating target carbine. I think such a conversion, at that time, would require a sporting "Repair" proof (crown R mark). I would be interested to see if the rifle has commercial proof marks that would have been placed under the barrel, if the conversion was done in Germany, but not necessarily if it was done somewhere else, such as the US. While it could be German, the front sight has a very Lyman look to it. While I don't usually estimate the value of someone else's gun that I never had "in hand"; the value would vary greatly, depending on whether it could be proven that the story of it's creation is true or not. I look forward to photos of all markings, especially any commercial proof marks, on the bottom of the barrel( maybe the side, due to magazine tube).
Mike

[CoyoteJoe]

I know nothing about it except that it is a beauty and would make a fine hunting rifle for timber country.

[Peter K]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I took a black bear with my unconverted 71/84 a few years back. My cat loves the pelt.
With regard to the bluing, the original action and knox were not blued. On my little screen I can't tell if yours was blued or not.
A few years ago I converted my buddy's sawed off 71/84 to a working 3-shot rifle using the parts in my gun as a pattern. Here is where I converted my radial arm saw to act as a milling machine using a cutoff wheel in place of the saw blade. With a vice that moved in two directions and the elevation of the saw table I was able to rough out the parts. With a bit of filing and sanding a working gun was produced. On the gun's first trip to his tree stand it took one well placed bullet to knock down a nice 6x5 elk. Yes, a 71/84 sporter would be welcome in my lockers anytime.
Peter