Old Mauser Information Help

[Herbert]

Hello, I have this old Mauser 98 and wondering if this is an old military action. There is no makers name on the rifle. There is a serial# and a few markings that I am sharing pictures of. No caliber marking but it is 8mm

Looking for any information who made the action and also what year approx it was made.

How difficult is it to re-barrel to 7x57 and is the action any good for that

Thanks for any help

[Herbert]

Some more markings

[yamoon]

Herbert
I am not a Mauser expert, but here are my thoughts. It was never a military rifle, it has all matching serial numbers, it is an 8mm, could be an I (.318) or an IS (323) the only way to tell is slugging the bore or chamber cast. The proof marks, crown N = nitro proof not black powder, crown B = first proof with heavy proof load, crown U = 2nd definitive proof. The 2.75 gGBP is the service load = 2.75 grams of GBP powder and I believe SG is the type of projectile, probably steel.
If it were mine, I would shoot it as is unless the bore is bad. The 8mm is a very versatile round, I have two 318 and one 323. Any competent gunsmith can install a 7x57 barrel, no other modifications are required. I like open sights so the fact that it has never been drilled & tapped for scope mounts would be a plus for me. There are a lot more knowledgeable people on this forum than me, so if I have made any mistakes, they will correct me.
Mike

[mike ford]

Hebert,
The rifle has commercial Proofs and matching serial numbers, which lead me to think it may be commercial. It is possible for a rifle built on a military action to have matching numbers, but most of the ones I have seen were mismatched, plus it has a tapered barrel which would be a little unusual on an 8mm rifle built on a military action. Did you show all the proof marks on the bottom of the barrel? If not, please do so, they may show additional information. Do the action screws have locking screws? The 7.9 is the bore (not groove or bullet) and it could be either 8x57I or 8x57IS, depending on tolerances.
Mike

[yamoon]

The barrel looks very long, what does it measure.
Mike

[Herbert]

Thanks Mike for all the information, appreciate the help.

The action has locking screws and the barrel is 24.5 inch long.

[algmule]

Hello

Proved using the special 4000 Atm proof powder. Was it not?

01-4000Atm.jpg
01-4000-1893.jpg

It is my understanding civilian rifles were proved using this powder. Is the rifle a former military one. I do not know but remember there were loads of 98:s going awol from different arsenals. I agree with Mike Ford as regarding whether there are more proof marks. "S.G." is another marking for Stahl (Mantel) Gescho?

Peter

[algmule]

Hello

The 7,9 m/m points to the rifle being post 1911-12.

As for the 2,75 g: I owe the following to Axel who once took the time to explain. If I have misunderstood him it is on me.

Original load for cartridge M88 was 3,05 gram Rottweil Cellulose Powder.
1889 the powder load was changed to 2,75 gram of Spandau's Gewehrbl?ttchenpulver (G.B.P.). The cases, however, were brittle and they sometimes failed.
1893 a new case, 88n/A, was introduced. Case walls were thicker and powder load was reduced to 2,67 gram.
1895, cases were further improved by annealing.
1899, a new more stable powder was developed by the Spandau Arsenal and the powder load was again 2,75 gram.

Peter