Vintage 1895 Mauser Hanger Queen Identify!

[BlackBart]

Something I've had in my hangar for decades. Numbers matching, wood and metal overall good condition, barrel is dark though the rifling doesn't look bad. Neither a 8mm Mauser or 06 will chamber, I "think" it's a 7.65X53 but not sure. One of those things I wished I tried when I had the ammo. Again, all numbers match (none seen on wood) but I don't know what it is exactly. Found may similar online but not identical. Crest smoothly removed.

 

[Sirex]

7.62x51/.308? I have a 1895 in .308, and I know many were converted in the 60's to shoot more available ammo.

 

[Boom Boom]

Could be 7x57, 6.5x55 Swedish, or .308Win. Any chance somebody re-barreled it to something less obvious before you got it?

 

[bbrown]

Looks to me like a Spanish Model 1916 short rifle, 2nd pattern, in 7x57.

Bryan

 

[BlackBart]

Looks to me like a Spanish Model 1916 short rifle, 2nd pattern, in 7x57.

Bryan

Keep talking Bryan, you might be onto something. looks like it was never marked and it's in 7.62????? http://masterton.us/unmarked_1916_serial_numbers

The SN is OT-87xx, so does that mean it was barreled or what???? Seems the receiver may never have had a crest.... Guardia Seville Perhaps. The bore looks too big for a 7mm, in fact to me using 8 mm and 7.62 bullets in the muzzle it still looks like a 7.65 but who knows?

FURTHER research under the front of the barrel is Oviedo Modelo 1916 SAMCO Mia Fl 308W!

Now how safe is it to fire 308's? I think Id leave 7.62 NATO out of the equation because of the pressures.

 

[Sirex]

I think if I am not mistaken, it would be a bit safer to shoot 7.62x51NATO out of it rather than .308 Win. I think it is reverse of the 5.56/.223. The 7.62NATO is a wee bit softer than .308 commercial. I had some 7.62x51 CETME ammo which is much softer but sold it with my old .308 Mauser but now I am looking for more since I got another. SG had some in 480 round cans, but I don't need wuite that much. I had been considering having my GS drill a vent port in the receiver in case of a rare case rupture but I don't really expect to shoot mine hopefully. If I could find some more 7.62 CETME ammo again I would readily snag it up.

 

[yellowsled]

very nice rifle.

 

[rj1974]

I think if I am not mistaken, it would be a bit safer to shoot 7.62x51NATO out of it rather than .308 Win. I think it is reverse of the 5.56/.223. The 7.62NATO is a wee bit softer than .308 commercial. I had some 7.62x51 CETME ammo which is much softer but sold it with my old .308 Mauser but now I am looking for more since I got another. SG had some in 480 round cans, but I don't need wuite that much. I had been considering having my GS drill a vent port in the receiver in case of a rare case rupture but I don't really expect to shoot mine hopefully. If I could find some more 7.62 CETME ammo again I would readily snag it up.

This ... 308W has a higher pressure the 7.62 nato .

 

[bbrown]

There's been quite a bit of discussion online over the years about whether the chambering is for 7.62 CETME, 7.62 NATO or .308 WIN. I won't go into the differences, but there are some. Personally, I favor the lower pressure CETME chambering, but the only reason is because it's a Spanish round for a Spanish rifle. Yeah, I know, weak argument.

BTAIM, the model 1916 is a "small ring" Mauser, and the bolt probably doesn't have the additional locking lug that the "large ring" Mausers do, so there are at least two safety issues: overpressure from higher pressure rounds (NATO/WIN), and locking lug failure without the additional lug as a safeguard. The first can cause gradual receiver stretching resulting in accumulating headspace issues, the latter can put the bolt through your forehead. Mauser added the extra locking lug for a reason, you know.

If you plan on shooting it, I'd go with lower pressure rounds. Dunno where to find those from commercial sources, however.

YMMV.

Bryan

 

[mikec]

Some 7.62 CETME ammo for sale, http://www.sgammo.com/product/surpl...arbra-112-grain-fmj-non-magnetic-surplus-ammo

 

[BlackBart]

This is why I brought the discussion here...... century old mystery for me solved. I'll probably never shoot it UNLESS I need to test fire some ammo but that's about it.

 

[j8064]

Looks to me like a Spanish Model 1916 short rifle, 2nd pattern, in 7x57.

Bryan

Keep talking Bryan, you might be onto something. looks like it was never marked and it's in 7.62????? http://masterton.us/unmarked_1916_serial_numbers

The SN is OT-87xx, so does that mean it was barreled or what???? Seems the receiver may never have had a crest.... Guardia Seville Perhaps. The bore looks too big for a 7mm, in fact to me using 8 mm and 7.62 bullets in the muzzle it still looks like a 7.65 but who knows?

FURTHER research under the front of the barrel is Oviedo Modelo 1916 SAMCO Mia Fl 308W!

Now how safe is it to fire 308's? I think Id leave 7.62 NATO out of the equation because of the pressures.

My first thought was it looked like a Spanish M1916. I have two - one in it's original 7x57 caliber and the other is a 308 conversion I bought from Samco. What gives me doubt is the rear sling attachment bar. I'm no expert on M1916's, but both I have and all I've seen do not have an inset bar mounted with screws. They have have a "staple" type sling attachment held in place with a nail inserted through the butt. Below are pics of mine so you can see the difference.

There's much debate out there on .308 vs. 7.62 Nato fired in the conversions. I reload for mine so it's a non-issue to me.

In any case, nice rifle you have there.