Question regarding M1895

ingous · 06-10-2008, 07:37 AM

I am posting a few pictures of a recent (well….yesterday) impulse buy. As impulse buys go I purchased the rifle before doing my “homework”, and now I am left with some questions. I was hoping that you “Mauser Vets” could give me a few clues.

The rifles is a Chilean Mauser 1895 build by Lowes, Berlin, chambered in 7x57. When I saw the rifle I noticed that the stock is a bit unusual (short), but I thought I was looking at a “Short Rifle” therefore the unusual stock. I tried to find some info on the web, but I didn’t find much (there appears to be a lack of websites out there pertaining to the Model 1895). To make a long story short, I am wondering if I (unknowingly) bought a “Sporterized” rifle?

The hardware seems to check out as original. Serial numbers on the bolt, bolt handle, and magazine floor plate all match. Screws all have proof marks, the swivels appear to be original, and I have even found two examples of “Tiger wood” stocks on the web. Yet my rifle’s stock does not have the front metal band which accepts the cleaning rod and supports the bayonet.

Can you help me out and give me some more info or your opinion? Thanks!

wunhunglo · 06-10-2008, 07:48 AM

Looks sporterised to me, especially the way that bolt handle is turned down.. I have a Columbian 24/30 which is fairly similar. Don't have access to mine just now to really check them over.
I'm sure some of the mauser 'experts' will give lots more info on it.

MauserMan1 · 06-10-2008, 12:15 PM

Wunhunglo is right. Its been sporterized. I hope you didnt pay too much most sporterized Mausers arent worth more then $150...tops (non-collectors may argue). You could get a hold of a new stock and hanguard and a barrel band shouldnt be too difficult to get and return it to its "correct" configuration. You would also need to find a new bolt or bolt body as the bent handle is not correct either.

Or you could just leave it alone and enjoy as is. I'm sure it still shoots just fine!!!

TheWanderingMind · 06-10-2008, 12:40 PM

Ja, it's a sporter! The best thing you can do with it is get a deer license and use it! Myself, I might put a little effort into refinishing it and rebluing, but I darned sure wouldn't get too upset about it. A 7mm Chilean sporter is just what the doctor prescribed for Minnesota deer...

SwedeSteve · 06-10-2008, 12:41 PM

^+1

ingous · 06-10-2008, 11:07 PM

Thank you all for the info. I think I might just keep and shoot it as is. I paid $140 for it, that's probably not too much. In my mind it is still a nice rifle and I am looking forward to taking it out to the range.

Capt'n Mil Coll · 06-11-2008, 02:12 PM

After looking at my 95 Chileno Mauser Carbine there are noticeable differences between yours and mine. The biggest difference is the Real carbine is stocked almost all the way to the muzzle and does have a cleaning rod. Also being a carbine the rear swivel is on the side of the stock not under it like yours is. On my full size M95 the swivel is under the stock. My M95 carbine does have a bent bolt. I posted my pics of both but they are kind of dark. The two rifles on the bottom. It looks to me like someone may have been trying to make a carbine out of a long rifle. Still should be fun to shoot but it will have a heck of a kick.

I tell ya the rifle has been reblued and the wood refinished. What I would do is have fun with it and refinish the wood to more of a blonde rather than a redhead and shoot the sh** out of it. The few bubbas I have I shoot all the time cus I dont worry about wearing them out. You can go to my profile and look under Some of my collection pics to see how nice my M95 carbine looks as a blonde. Most were.

ingous · 06-11-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt'n Mil Coll

.... It looks to me like someone may have been trying to make a carbine out of a long rifle....

Thanks for the info, Captain. I can live with and enjoy the rifle as long as "only" the stock and bolt handle have been changed. I would be disappointed so if the barrel had been shortened. How long is the barrel on your carbine? That would be very interesting to know. Plus, if you don't mind please take another look at my picture that shows the front sight. The barrel still has the section in the very front that is more narrow that (I think) would accept the bayonet. I'll take that as a good omen that the barrel has (hopefully) not been chopped off. What do you think?

On a different subject, the friendly (he really is) UPS guy dropped off my package from Midway USA today with my order of 3 boxes of Prvi Partisan 139gr SP. Has anybody shot that ammo before, is it decent? The price definitely appeared to be.

Capt'n Mil Coll · 06-12-2008, 12:33 AM

I do have a book that mentions the Chileno Mosqeton M95 Short Rifle. It says it was identical with the long rifle except for the length. But the bolt handle was turned down. It had the swivel on the bottom. You may want to google that and see if there is a pic. The book I have does not have a pic of it.

My Carbine is About 41.5 long overall and 23 inches from the reciever ring to the tip of the barrel.

sean46953 · 06-12-2008, 03:21 AM

I'd guess the same thing you did ingous, I'm betting that the relief at the muzzle is for the bayonet. I've got a 95 that is very similar to yours! Mine was made at the Ludwig Loewe factory in Berlin. I was bubba'd in about the same fashion too. But, my barrel was cut and does not have the original sight nor the relief at the muzzle for the bayonet. Also, mine was left it's rather original blonde color. A little info on it, they were made between 1897 and 1900, (atleast I think it was 1897...having a hard time remembering correctly, it may have been 1895, just something is tellin me that I read 1897) so the are over 100 years old. They have this interesting little "shoulder" just behind the bolt handle (when closed) that was the precursor to the legendary 98 action's 3rd safety lug, infact it was found with the Chileno 95's that there was the need for that third lug because if the two primary lugs up front sheared off, that little shoulder wasn't much to stop the bolt either. lol That is the reason for the shoulder though, it was incase the front two lugs sheared off, it was there as a "last chance" safety. Rather interesting pieces and VERY fun to shoot! As for recoil, even bubba'd, mine is pretty weak. No where near a 98's in 8mm.

ingous · 06-12-2008, 09:53 AM

Captain/Sean, very interesting, thank you.

I did meassure my rifle. It's about 41.5" long and the barrel is 23" meassured from the rear of the receiver ring (21" from the front). So if nothing else it appears to be a sporterized Carbine.

I have yet to google the "Mosqeton" to read up on it, but I tend to agree that the stock has been replaced at one point in time. My stock has no serial# or any other proof marks.

Can you tell me if the 1895 is a small ring or large ring Mauser?

06-10-2008, 12:15 PM	#3
MauserMan1 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 20	Wunhunglo is right. Its been sporterized. I hope you didnt pay too much most sporterized Mausers arent worth more then $150...tops (non-collectors may argue). You could get a hold of a new stock and hanguard and a barrel band shouldnt be too difficult to get and return it to its "correct" configuration. You would also need to find a new bolt or bolt body as the bent handle is not correct either. Or you could just leave it alone and enjoy as is. I'm sure it still shoots just fine!!! Last edited by MauserMan1; 06-10-2008 at 12:20 PM.

06-10-2008, 12:40 PM	#4
TheWanderingMind Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Wichita Falls Texas Posts: 840 Images: 13 Blog Entries: 11	Ja, it's a sporter! The best thing you can do with it is get a deer license and use it! Myself, I might put a little effort into refinishing it and rebluing, but I darned sure wouldn't get too upset about it. A 7mm Chilean sporter is just what the doctor prescribed for Minnesota deer... __________________ Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do...

06-10-2008, 12:41 PM	#5
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 14,121 Images: 1	^+1 __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

06-11-2008, 02:12 PM	#7
Capt'n Mil Coll Military Rifle Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 2,729 Images: 44	After looking at my 95 Chileno Mauser Carbine there are noticeable differences between yours and mine. The biggest difference is the Real carbine is stocked almost all the way to the muzzle and does have a cleaning rod. Also being a carbine the rear swivel is on the side of the stock not under it like yours is. On my full size M95 the swivel is under the stock. My M95 carbine does have a bent bolt. I posted my pics of both but they are kind of dark. The two rifles on the bottom. It looks to me like someone may have been trying to make a carbine out of a long rifle. Still should be fun to shoot but it will have a heck of a kick. I tell ya the rifle has been reblued and the wood refinished. What I would do is have fun with it and refinish the wood to more of a blonde rather than a redhead and shoot the sh** out of it. The few bubbas I have I shoot all the time cus I dont worry about wearing them out. You can go to my profile and look under Some of my collection pics to see how nice my M95 carbine looks as a blonde. Most were. __________________ Let's light this fuse and see what happens! Last edited by Capt'n Mil Coll; 06-11-2008 at 02:22 PM.

06-12-2008, 12:33 AM	#9
Capt'n Mil Coll Military Rifle Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 2,729 Images: 44	I do have a book that mentions the Chileno Mosqeton M95 Short Rifle. It says it was identical with the long rifle except for the length. But the bolt handle was turned down. It had the swivel on the bottom. You may want to google that and see if there is a pic. The book I have does not have a pic of it. My Carbine is About 41.5 long overall and 23 inches from the reciever ring to the tip of the barrel. __________________ Let's light this fuse and see what happens!

06-10-2008, 07:48 AM	#2
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 2,299	Looks sporterised to me, especially the way that bolt handle is turned down.. I have a Columbian 24/30 which is fairly similar. Don't have access to mine just now to really check them over. I'm sure some of the mauser 'experts' will give lots more info on it.

06-10-2008, 11:07 PM	#6
ingous Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: MN Posts: 539	Thank you all for the info. I think I might just keep and shoot it as is. I paid $140 for it, that's probably not too much. In my mind it is still a nice rifle and I am looking forward to taking it out to the range.

06-12-2008, 03:21 AM	#10
sean46953 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Marion, Indiana Posts: 357	I'd guess the same thing you did ingous, I'm betting that the relief at the muzzle is for the bayonet. I've got a 95 that is very similar to yours! Mine was made at the Ludwig Loewe factory in Berlin. I was bubba'd in about the same fashion too. But, my barrel was cut and does not have the original sight nor the relief at the muzzle for the bayonet. Also, mine was left it's rather original blonde color. A little info on it, they were made between 1897 and 1900, (atleast I think it was 1897...having a hard time remembering correctly, it may have been 1895, just something is tellin me that I read 1897) so the are over 100 years old. They have this interesting little "shoulder" just behind the bolt handle (when closed) that was the precursor to the legendary 98 action's 3rd safety lug, infact it was found with the Chileno 95's that there was the need for that third lug because if the two primary lugs up front sheared off, that little shoulder wasn't much to stop the bolt either. lol That is the reason for the shoulder though, it was incase the front two lugs sheared off, it was there as a "last chance" safety. Rather interesting pieces and VERY fun to shoot! As for recoil, even bubba'd, mine is pretty weak. No where near a 98's in 8mm. __________________ http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...00_0535100.jpgSean M. Hartman

06-12-2008, 09:53 AM	#11
ingous Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: MN Posts: 539	Captain/Sean, very interesting, thank you. I did meassure my rifle. It's about 41.5" long and the barrel is 23" meassured from the rear of the receiver ring (21" from the front). So if nothing else it appears to be a sporterized Carbine. I have yet to google the "Mosqeton" to read up on it, but I tend to agree that the stock has been replaced at one point in time. My stock has no serial# or any other proof marks. Can you tell me if the 1895 is a small ring or large ring Mauser?