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Bought a Mauser Sporter on Layaway a while back in Bozeman Mt. Was supposed to be a 8MM. I really did'nt look at it close as he wanted $1200 and I just said I'll give you $500 on layaway. I knew the guy from other pawn shops in Butte Mt. He said I'll check and came back and said ok. I was in a hurry as I was taking my Dad to a Doctor appointment. When I picked it up to my surprise it was a 9X57. OK even better. Then I noticed I missed the barrel had been set back. It is chambered to 358 Winchester. Shoots well and I got it at a good price so no complaints. This morning I noticed it has the Nazi eagle on the back of the bolt handle. I saw in a Mauser book when one has this mark here it was pressed into German service as a sniper rifle. Anyone know for sure? Sure wish I had the scope and claw mounts. I could'nt get a clear picture of the marking.
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Mauser Sporter
Looks like a "guild gun", equivalent to a custom rifle over here. Look under the barrel and action, should have makers name, caliber, etc and proof.
These rifles were proofed by law.
As to the caliber, the .358 would use .357 diameter bullets, while the 9mm bullets would be approximately .366.
It is possible that somebody re-chambered it, but did not re-barrel, so you might have a wildcat on your hands.
I don't know about the marking, but I suspect that any significant mark would be on the barrel or action rather than the bolt, which can readily be switched.
In any case, a nice rifle. -
The 9X57 is a .356 diameter. The 358 Winchester is .358. Not enough to bother as long as top loads are avoided. The 9.3 is .366 diameter. I have another sporter in 9.3X62. This rifle has no maker name.Comment
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Bullet diameter
You are correct regarding bullet diameter. Growing old is hard on the memory.Comment
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Hard to be sure, but I think the rifle is ex-military and was converted to a sporter after the war (WWI or WWII?). It was probably converted to 9x57 in Europe for a GI, then converted again in the U.S. Removing the scope bases might show up the original military markings.
JimComment
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If still there, the marks will be under the mounts. I've never heard sniper rifles being associated with an eagle on the bolt handle as all my 98k's have that mark on the bolt handle. If you find it's fact, please let me know.
Here is some pics of the proofs. That bottom pic, bottom rifle with the bolt open is also a 98K custom job in 25-06.
I thought 8x57 is 8MM?
Last edited by afghanvet; 09-01-2009, 04:25.Comment
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The rifle shown by Afghanvet is a K.98k, made in 1943 by Waffenwerke Brünn, Bystrica, in German-occupied Czechoslovakia. The left side says "Mod. 98".
KenK, are there any marks on the left rail of your rifle?
8x57 or 8x57JS is the European civilian designation of what we call the 8mm Mauser. The German military called it simply the 7.9. (Yes, folks, I know about the 8x57J, but that K.98k doesn't use it and Ken's .358 Winchester caliber Mauser doesn't either, so I chose not to complicate things.)
JimLast edited by Jim K.; 09-01-2009, 07:30.Comment
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Only markings on the reciever ring on left side is Stm G over 18.0 gr and the N nitro proof mark. Top of reciever ring is matted and the scope mount is dovetailed into the reciever ring. There will be no marks . Lots of letters and numbers on bottom of barrel and reciever. Will try to post a picture of these marks in a day or so.Comment
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The eagle over swastika was the German firing proof starting shortly before 1940. It will be found on the bolt, receiver, and barrel.
Prior to the eagle/swastika the old Weimar stick eagle was used as the firing proof.Comment
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