1909 Arg carbine

[Mickey Christian]

I have one but know nothing about it. I know when asking questions pics are important, but at this point I can only email pics....that being said, does anyone have info on theswe rifles?
Thanks,
Mickey

[gwp]

Here are several sites with information about the Argentine 1909 Carbine

http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=269-Argentine-Model-1909-Cavalry-Carbine-(Mfg-by-DWM)

http://207.36.233.89/shooting/1909argentinecarbine/index.asp

http://www.gunboards.com/sites/mrj2003/Argentina/ArgM1909Car.htm#Top_ArgM1909Car/

[Mickey Christian]

After looking aty the links, the carbine I have is an Engineers/Mountain carbine. Seems like only 10,000 made. How rare are they in America?
Thanks,
Mickey

[Peconga]

After looking aty the links, the carbine I have is an Engineers/Mountain carbine. Seems like only 10,000 made. How rare are they in America?


M1909 Engineers carbines show up pretty regularly on the various auction sites (GunBroker, Auctionarms, Gunsamerica) so they must not be TOO rare. However, they are certainly not thick on the ground, and are a highly desirable variation of the contract Mauser rifles from the early 20th century.

The DWM action used on the Argentine Mauser M1909 has always been very popular with custom rifle builders, since they were beautifully machined and came from the factory with a desirable hinged triggerguard. As a result a large proportion of Argentine 1909 rifles and carbines have been pulled apart over the decades strictly for the action, with the balance of the rifle being discarded. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that over 2/3 of the Argentine M1909 rifles and carbines ever imported into the USA have met their fate this way.

If your Engineer's carbine is still in original configuration, by all means keep it that way as the collector value will only increase over time.

[dave]

If original, reciever and bolt should be 'in the white' (not blued) and have matched serial numbers.
I do not think 'mountain carbine' is official Argintine designation for this carbine. Collectors have a habit of using this name for any carbine of this type and importers used allot of exotic names to help sales! More likely issued to police, like many other So.Amer. countries issued similar to their police. Even one web site uses the phrase 'so called mountain carbine'. One importer used the name Trappers rifle for a Swed. sporter in 30-06, why would a "trapper" need a 30-06? most carry .22 pistols.