JP sauer 30 USG 1906

[dstone]

Hello all, I recently joined this site after purchasing a Sauer sporting rifle from an estate. The knowledge shared here is nothing short of fantastic. I have never been as captivated by a gun as I am with this one. From what I have gathered this gun was produced for the U.S. market maybe before 1939 based on the crown B mark. Any information you can share about this rifle would be much appreciated. Thanks

Obsessed

[dstone]

JP Sauer 30 usg 1906

more pics thanks for your consideration

[mike ford]

dstone,
For us to provide much information, you should post photos of the markings on the underside of the barrel and action. If there is a number on the back of the magazine box, post it also. There seem to be a mixture of style features that point both to German and American styles. The Bear on the floor plate and bolt handle , the low scope safety and single trigger on a hunting rifle are pretty American, while not unknown in Germany. The inlayed diamond is American style, post war especially, but the stiffening panels and keyed forearm remind us of pre-WW1 style. The caliber designation 30 USG 1906 is an early designation( the 10 gram steel jacketed duty bullet matches the designation). You didn't show where this is found on the rifle. I am making these points to try to determine if the rifle was built on an Oberndorf, Mauser barreled action, or post WW1 on a surplus action, or post WW2 as a "Cigarette" rifle. The stock may have been refinished and rechecked in the US ( checkering looks American). Do you happen to know if the estate was from a WW2 veteran?
Mike

[dstone]

Mike, I do not know if he was a veteran but intend to find out. I do know he was an avid collector. Maybe these pics will help.

[dstone]

Is there anything else i can send?

[Axel E]

The rifle was built by Sauer & Sohn, Suhl, on a commercial action bought in from the Mauser, Oberndorf factory. Both the Mauser commercial serial number 54845 and the S&S sn 191641 date it to 1912. As the .30-06 was unknown then by German hunters, it was certainly made for export to the USA. S&S exported many guns to America before WW1. Schoverling, Daly & Gales, 302 & 304 Broadway, New York, were their main US distributors. Many export S&S Mausers were built without set triggers, single triggers only, as both American and British hunters were not familiar with set triggers. The low safety, the grip cap and the stock inlais are later additions certainly, while the engraving may be Suhl original to American tastes.

[mike ford]

Axel has answered the question, but for my own information, I would like to see where the 30 USG 1906 caliber designation came from. It is difficult to read the markings, due to the orientation, and lighting. Did I read 7.6 over 65 correctly( next to the crown B), or is it 63? What is written on top of the barrel? What is on the receiver ring? What is written on the barrel shank, ahead of the receiver ring ( looks like it has been "washed out" in polishing for rebluing).
Mike

[dstone]

Mike, I apologize for my poor photographic skill, working on some better pics now. will send shortly. Thank you as well Axel I appreciate the both of you for sharing your knowledge.

David

[dstone]

Mike, 30 USG 1906 is on the left side of the Barrel.
You are correct 7.6 is over 65
See top of barrel pic JP Sauer and son Suhl, Prussia
On the underside of ring is the Crown B stamp.
On the barrel shank it reads Fluid Steel Krupp Essen.
I don't believe the engraving was done in sulh as it is signed Sid Bell on the inside of the bottom plate and marked fega evans on the bottom of the magazine. I spoke with Bob Evans and was Told Bell commissioned him to do Work from time to time.
I hope this helps, I am curious about the stamp on the bottom of the barrel after serial number. i have included pic. thanks again.

[dstone]

mark forward of serial number

[Axel E]

That mark under the barrel, close to the foreend hanger, is the "Wilde Mann", often called "Caveman" by Americans. It's a Sauer & Sohn trademark, registered in 1882.
It's little surprise to me that the proofhouse marked the maximum case length as 65 mm, while the .30-06 is just 63 mm. My own 1919 proofed 9.3x74R double rifle is marked 75 mm and several 8x58R barrels are mrked 59 mm.. Case/ chamber dimensions for most cartridges were not standardized until 1926, neither in Germany nor in America. The proofhouses simply measured the chamber to the case mouth – leade step and marked that length. Additionally, 65 mm was the length of the .30-03 case, loaded with 220 gr bullets until WW1. A .30-06 chamber with a 2 mm longer neck would have allowed using the .30-03 load too.

[dstone]

Thanks for the info Axel, I really did not think it was pre WW1 when i bought it. I was actually going to hunt with it some but now not sure.

[Axel E]

I was actually going to hunt with it some but now not sure.

Why not? I hunt with rifles that are a bit older, dating to 1905, 1902, 1898, 1895, 1892, 1887.

[dstone]

I was told I shouldn't risk damaging the gun or stock cracking, would be sick if something happened to it. What is the rarity of the gun? I don't reload what 30-06 round should I start with?

[dstone]

I would love to see some of those guns.