OK, so here's the situation. Sunday, my uncle, (86 years old) was going to California to see my other surviving uncle and decided to drop by on the way. (I've had more company this month than a tavern advertising free beer.) When he got here he drags out this old rifle and says he wants me to have it. Didn't unwrap it then, just put it in the gun locker. Later, after dinner I asked him about the rifle, where he got it etcetera, and he tells me that he bought it in Costa Mesa, California, somewhere in the late 60's. Said he paid either $49.00 or $59.00 but couldn't remember for sure. Said it was an impulse buy and he pulled it off of a long rack but said they had some others in better shape, but they were way more expensive. (Knowing my uncle they were $69.00, but back then, that $10 was 2 hours labor for a Journeyman Plumber)
He took it with him back to Arkansas, intending to hunt with it, but it was way too heavy to carry and he kept forgetting to get ammo for it, so he never fired it, put it in a closet and it's been there for the last 60-70 years. After he went to bed, I unwrapped it and what he brought me was a Model 1912, Waffenfabrik Styr, Austria, Straight bolt, Chilean, Mauser. I kind of looked it over, all serial numbers matched, including the stock, but no cleaning rod and no bayonet. I thought I had me a nice, very clean, 7 x 57 Rifle to play with.
Yesterday, I went online to see what I could find out about it and ran into all kinds of warnings about converted Mauser's so went and checked it out and sure enough marked on the barrel is over stamped .308 Cal., CIA (Century International Arms), St. Alb. Vermont. OK, now I'm going to have to have it checked out by my local gunsmith for safety, but I played with it for a while yesterday and the action is as smooth as Hillary Clinton's lies, rifling is about 60-75% and the cartouches on the receiver and stock are almost non-existent, so it really has no value to a collector. Only thing I found that was obviously wrong was it takes two men and bulldozer to get the safety on and off. Another thing I found when I tore the bolt down is that the entire bolt, inside and outside and places not normally blued had been blued, including the firing pin and it doesn't look like an amateur job. Apparently these are supposed to be in the White. I called California this morning and asked if he had had the rifle repaired, re-blued or other work done on it and he said no, it was just as he bought it. The serial number (D7232) is at the end of the run so suppose they could have changed standards or a Chilean armorer did it for whatever reason.
I am also fascinated with the issue ramp sights since they go from 300 Meters to 2000 Meters and wonder if they are accurate at all. If it's safe to fire, might take it out and shoot some tracers or HEI (High Explosive Incendiary) rounds so I can see the trajectory and where they hit at various ranges. A definite flash and smoke when they hit. If you need to know where to get these, send me a private message or email. Don't want to end up in conflict with a site sponsor that may handle these, even though I haven't seen any advertised.
Anyway having taken up all of this space on this post, am in a quandary. Do I sportorize it when I can buy one already converted for about what the rifle is worth, or just clean it up and use it "as is" if it is deemed safe to fire? If not safe to fire, part it out, re-barrel?, or just go whole hog with a new barrel, custom bolt, and possibly a new trigger assembly with safety, although I know it will cost more than I could ever get out of it. BUT…there is the fun of doing it, however I could do it and still end up with a ***. Basically, is it worth building or restoring? Remember it is a gift, so have to be cautious with what I do. Know I'm going to get asked. What would YOU do? Anyone know anything about Mauser's? BTW, Goodwill Ind. won't accept it.
Would appreciate any thoughts, comments, suggestions, or anything else you care to say except that I wasted your time reading this…
. Is it worth even messing with? And I don't need a 102 year old wall hanger.
Would seriously like to hear some of your comments on what you would do. Net investment to date = $0.00.
Bruce
This Smilie was liberated from another site! Feel free to use it til we get caught!...
He took it with him back to Arkansas, intending to hunt with it, but it was way too heavy to carry and he kept forgetting to get ammo for it, so he never fired it, put it in a closet and it's been there for the last 60-70 years. After he went to bed, I unwrapped it and what he brought me was a Model 1912, Waffenfabrik Styr, Austria, Straight bolt, Chilean, Mauser. I kind of looked it over, all serial numbers matched, including the stock, but no cleaning rod and no bayonet. I thought I had me a nice, very clean, 7 x 57 Rifle to play with.
Yesterday, I went online to see what I could find out about it and ran into all kinds of warnings about converted Mauser's so went and checked it out and sure enough marked on the barrel is over stamped .308 Cal., CIA (Century International Arms), St. Alb. Vermont. OK, now I'm going to have to have it checked out by my local gunsmith for safety, but I played with it for a while yesterday and the action is as smooth as Hillary Clinton's lies, rifling is about 60-75% and the cartouches on the receiver and stock are almost non-existent, so it really has no value to a collector. Only thing I found that was obviously wrong was it takes two men and bulldozer to get the safety on and off. Another thing I found when I tore the bolt down is that the entire bolt, inside and outside and places not normally blued had been blued, including the firing pin and it doesn't look like an amateur job. Apparently these are supposed to be in the White. I called California this morning and asked if he had had the rifle repaired, re-blued or other work done on it and he said no, it was just as he bought it. The serial number (D7232) is at the end of the run so suppose they could have changed standards or a Chilean armorer did it for whatever reason.
I am also fascinated with the issue ramp sights since they go from 300 Meters to 2000 Meters and wonder if they are accurate at all. If it's safe to fire, might take it out and shoot some tracers or HEI (High Explosive Incendiary) rounds so I can see the trajectory and where they hit at various ranges. A definite flash and smoke when they hit. If you need to know where to get these, send me a private message or email. Don't want to end up in conflict with a site sponsor that may handle these, even though I haven't seen any advertised.
Anyway having taken up all of this space on this post, am in a quandary. Do I sportorize it when I can buy one already converted for about what the rifle is worth, or just clean it up and use it "as is" if it is deemed safe to fire? If not safe to fire, part it out, re-barrel?, or just go whole hog with a new barrel, custom bolt, and possibly a new trigger assembly with safety, although I know it will cost more than I could ever get out of it. BUT…there is the fun of doing it, however I could do it and still end up with a ***. Basically, is it worth building or restoring? Remember it is a gift, so have to be cautious with what I do. Know I'm going to get asked. What would YOU do? Anyone know anything about Mauser's? BTW, Goodwill Ind. won't accept it.
Would appreciate any thoughts, comments, suggestions, or anything else you care to say except that I wasted your time reading this…
. Is it worth even messing with? And I don't need a 102 year old wall hanger.Would seriously like to hear some of your comments on what you would do. Net investment to date = $0.00.
Bruce
This Smilie was liberated from another site! Feel free to use it til we get caught!...
