Mauser Action Question

[smoky]

I have two bolt action rifles that were built by a local blue collar gunsmith.  He is since deceased.  The guns function beautifully and shoot very respectable, however they are butt ugly to me in the cheap ram line stocks he put them in (he was very price conscious).  He would take these surplus Mauser actions and fit them to a Shaw barrel and rechamber them (sometimes) and put a new trigger (timney) on them.    He would cut, bend, and reattach the bolt so that they would function in the ram line stock with a scope mounted on it.

My question is this.  How do I tell what Mauser action he was using.  I ask this because I would like to have the metal refinished on these two guns (I have someone to do this) and would like to drop them into a nice wood stock.  I think I may need to know wether these are model 96 or 98's and wether they have the large ring or small ring.  I really don't know much on the history of the mauser actions so any help is appreciated.

Smoky

[Aardvark]

Model 98s cock on opening the bolt,Model 96s cock on closing the bolt.
Are there any markings on the top or side rail of the receiver,if so, what are they?

[Brithunter]

Hmmmmm someone has forgotten about the intermediate ones the VZ24.

Also the smith or someone else could have fitted a cock on close kit to just relying upon how the bolt cocks is no good. You need to check carefully to find out what actions you have then go from there.

[TNyoteboy]

Large ring actions (98) will have a definite step where the receiver meets the barrel, small ring (93,95,96) not much of one. Seems to me most small rings have a longer shroud at the rear of the bolt than the large rings. Easy things to see.

[Aardvark]

VZ24 is not intermediate.The M48 Yugo is intermediate.The VZ24 is the same as the K98.

[Brithunter]

Whoops Got them mixed up. Sorry and thank you for catching my gaffe.

[Slamfire]

The 98 has the third, or safety lug, 96s don't, although there is a bolt guide that passes through the bidge. There is a pad on the 98 over the extractor relief that looks like it is added to the ring,, although it is integral, the 96s receiver rings look round. The gas escape hole in the 96's bolt is a small round hole, while on the 98 it is a large oval. The shroud is smaller and the cocking piece doesn't protrude as far when the rifle is cocked, it is baffelled interanlly to keep escaping gas from passing back to the shooter's face.

[Aardvark]

I hate that when passing gas gets in my face--

[Slamfire]

I hate that when passing gas gets in my face--

Especially when it is real hot and full of metal slivers

[Mikey]

smoky:  you have got to give us a better indication of what the markings are on the rifles.  Those will tell us exactly what size the action is.  I would also like to know what calibers they are - this might also help.

You mentioned the Ram Line stocks, which are fairly new (so to speak) and haven't been around for that long, possibly indicating the custom work may have been completed within the last 10 (?) years because off the top of my pointy little head I can't recall Ram Line having a stock for a 98 until fairly recently. 

There may be a few Mausers around with bolts that do not require cutting, bending and re-welding but it wasn't necessarily to get it to fit the stock, it would have been to enable the action to cycle with a scope attached.  The Timney Triggers are also almost necessary to get a good trigger pull on some of those old Mausers.  However, the Shaw barrels are the real improvement - what calibers?  Were these hunting rifles or bench guns?  Mikey.

[smoky]

Thanks for the replies so far.  Those two rifles are locked in our gun safe at my dad's house, so it will be a couple of days before I can round them up and look for the particulars ya'll mention.

As far as the chamberings, one is 7 x 57 and the other is 7-08.  I also have friends that have rifles built by this late gentleman in .308 and 6.5 x55.  Not sure if he would have varied the model of action from one rifle to the next, but I guess it is a possibility.

They were built approximately 10-12 years ago.  They are working mans hunting rifles, a little heavy but both will shoot around MOA.

Once we determine what model actions we are dealing with, I will have to decide on a new stock.  One of the problems I have with the ram line is that these guns have 20 inch barrels and the stock looks funny to me as it goes about 3/4 of the way along the barrel.  Kinda like a cross between a regular stock and a mannlicher version.  I was thinking about a stock that would take on the look and functionality of something similar to a remington model 7.

I was considering the accurate innovations laminated wood with the fitted bedding block, but I am open to and welcome any suggestions.

Thanks,

Smoky

[TNyoteboy]

I have a Ramline on a La Caruna M43 Mauser and if you look carefully you can see where the outside form is the same for all types. They just use different inserts for whatever action is going in it when they mold it. I also don't like how the barrel sits so low in the stock. Nothing fancy but it works.

[jcn59]

Great American Gunstocks web site has a good description of the various mausers & how to tell them apart.

[smoky]

O.K. Guys,

I got the rifle out and it has the following markings on the action

Left Side:  B 9922  deutsche waffen-und
                               munitionsfabriken. berlin

Right Side: MOD 1908

In addition, lower case letter "a" is stamped in numerous places on the action and bolt.

Any thoughts,

Smoky

[Aardvark]

http://www.sunblest.net/gun/Maus99.htm

[hoosiergu]

Reference on Mauser action types.
http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/catalog/mauser_reference.html

[smoky]

Thanks guys,

We have determined through your information here and conversations with the dealer where I will be purchasing the stock(s) from, that I have large ring 98.  However, I did find out that since the safety and trigger have been changed out, I will need the interarms mark x mauser style stock.  Have ordered the bell and carlson medalist with the bedding block for it.  Can't wait to put it together.

Thanks,

Smoky

[wtroger]

You have a DWM 1908 Brazilian Mauser Original caliber was 7X57 Mauser. I have several of these and they are one of the smoothest actions to be had in the Mauser family. Mine have all been re-barreled and my current Hunter is in 7X57 with a Adams & Bennett barrel it will shoot sub-moa.