Mauser 98 early 20th century - Hunting/Sporting

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Keith Edmunds

Keith Edmunds

Well-Known Member
Supporter
We all know the romance of the Rigby .275 that WDM Bell and Jim Corbett have forged into history, and it does give a modern Rigby, like the Highland Stalker, a great pedigree.

But what of the original Mauser 98 as an European mainland hunting tool? Surely there must be some great stories of these rifles in the hands of famous German, Danish or Austrian hunters of a bygone age?

As I have said before......if (when) I had the money to spend, it would be a really tough choice between the Rigby Highland Stalker and the Mauser 98 Standard Expert. My heart would go for the romance of the Rigby but my head prefers the styling of the Mauser.

Are there any Germanic heroic tales of the Mauser that match the Rigby's legacy?

www.mauser.com

MAUSER 98 Standard Expert – The Original Bolt‑Action Rifle

The MAUSER 98 Standard Expert represents the improved original. A classic bolt‑action rifle with walnut stock, fine craftsmanship and true MAUSER heritage.
www.mauser.com www.mauser.com

The Highland Stalker - John Rigby & Co.

www.johnrigbyandco.com www.johnrigbyandco.com
 
Keith Edmunds said:
We all know the romance of the Rigby .275 that WDM Bell and Jim Corbett have forged into history, and it does give a modern Rigby, like the Highland Stalker, a great pedigree.

But what of the original Mauser 98 as an European mainland hunting tool? Surely there must be some great stories of these rifles in the hands of famous German, Danish or Austrian hunters of a bygone age?

As I have said before......if (when) I had the money to spend, it would be a really tough choice between the Rigby Highland Stalker and the Mauser 98 Standard Expert. My heart would go for the romance of the Rigby but my head prefers the styling of the Mauser.

Are there any Germanic heroic tales of the Mauser that match the Rigby's legacy?

www.mauser.com

MAUSER 98 Standard Expert – The Original Bolt‑Action Rifle

The MAUSER 98 Standard Expert represents the improved original. A classic bolt‑action rifle with walnut stock, fine craftsmanship and true MAUSER heritage.
www.mauser.com www.mauser.com

The Highland Stalker - John Rigby & Co.

www.johnrigbyandco.com www.johnrigbyandco.com
Click to expand...
I could tell you exciting stories of hunting with with my 1909 Argentinian contract Mauser 98 in the magnificent .270 win, but I don’t want to inspire jealousy.

IMG_1369.webp
IMG_0988.webp
IMG_0804.webp


Well maybe just a little bit.
 
Nothing beats a good Mauser based rifle for quality and class in the bolt action world. Period.

Mauser themselves only made a short line of commercial rifles in the 98 action, as per my earlier picture. These are considered some of, if not the finest Mauser rifles ever made. Only a handful in original condition exists worldwide.

99% of Mauser rifles were of course, rifles made by fine gunsmiths in Germany, Austria, etc, on the better surplus military actions.Ferlach, of course, stands out.

Many other companies made the Mauser 98, Brno, PH, interarms, FN, Husqvarna, and the list goes on.

They were made in large ring standard size, and large ring intermediate, as well as the kurtz short action, ‘the’ hens teeth rifle action. Equally rare are the magnum actions with double square bridges.
The type A, type B and type C had a variety of triggers, floor plates, stock designs, open sight arrangements, and standard, single square or double square bridges.
The Type A and B were predominantly the ‘fancier’ varieties, going to wealthier Europeans and to African. There was a semi-stutzen version called the Afrikaans, very cool.

Typical chamberings were 8x57 JS, later IS, and 7x57. The 8x57 rifles were changed to 8x60 after the Versailles treaty banned Germany from producing military calibres. At this stage Mauser themselves made the Type B, identified by the Mauserwerke action rather than the Waffenfabrik, double set triggers and two or three leaf standing rear sights, vs the tangent sights in earlier production. They also commercialised the stock to be more ‘modern’, including a grip cap, and a floorplate with a swing lever instead of the military push button. The earlier stocks from around 1901 to 1912 were rounded grips.

These ‘proper’ commercial mauser actions were easily identifiable by their pear shaped bolt handle, a feature all fine rifle makers with Mauser actions try to replicate.

The earlier commercial actions in large ring from waffenfabrik Oberndorf, are considered the best Mauser actions ever made, both in metallurgical aspects and tolerances.

Barelled actions and semi finished stocks were sent to John Rigby for their own commercialisation to the U.K. market. Earlier variants included the small ring 98, even the 96.

Mauser made fine 22 rifles in the MS350 and ES 350 series, as well as 410 and 420. Beautiful and well made.

Apart from the pre war and post war productions of the type A B and C, Mauser only really made quite unsuccessful commercial rifles, including the 66, 77, 2000 (Mausers only left hand rifle up to then), m12 and now the m18.

Of course, a few years ago Mauser attempted to reintroduce the m98, but failed miserably due to the extreme price point. The blacking is nitride, sights look to be recknagel, barrel taken from another production line, stock is cnc cut and laser checkered, and stock not properly finished. The action is lovely, but does not offer anything a good surplus military action will, I’d rather take an Argentine 1909 custom build any day. Sadly, they also did a ‘Parker Hale’ bolt handle scallop job to clear the modern day large ocular bells, instead of setting the bolt handle back closer to the bolt body, or shaping it like the FN and Dumoulin versions from Belgium…very fine actions indeed, and true commercial designs without the thump slot for pushing down clip strips.

Personally, I believe Mauser have an opportunity to reintroduce the Mauser 98 rifle, but sadly their economies of scale will not allow them to machine the actions at a price point where they can be competitive.

A commercial Mauser 98, made BY Mauser, should come out under £3000 in my view. And at that price, I suspect a well designed offering will capture the market, especially in the US.
 
HonestJohn said:
Nothing beats a good Mauser based rifle for quality and class in the bolt action world. Period.

Mauser themselves only made a short line of commercial rifles in the 98 action, as per my earlier picture. These are considered some of, if not the finest Mauser rifles ever made. Only a handful in original condition exists worldwide.


They were made in large ring standard size, and large ring intermediate, as well as the kurtz short action, ‘the’ hens teeth rifle action. Equally rare are the magnum actions with double square bridges.
The type A, type B and type C had a variety of triggers, floor plates, stock designs, open sight arrangements, and standard, single square or double square bridges.
The Type A and B were predominantly the ‘fancier’ varieties, going to wealthier Europeans and to African. There was a semi-stutzen version called the Afrikaans, very cool.

Typical chamberings were 8x57 JS, later IS, and 7x57. The 8x57 rifles were changed to 8x60 after the Versailles treaty banned Germany from producing military calibres. At this stage Mauser themselves made the Type B, identified by the Mauserwerke action rather than the Waffenfabrik, double set triggers and two or three leaf standing rear sights, vs the tangent sights in earlier production. They also commercialised the stock to be more ‘modern’, including a grip cap, and a floorplate with a swing lever instead of the military push button. The earlier stocks from around 1901 to 1912 were rounded grips.

These ‘proper’ commercial mauser actions were easily identifiable by their pear shaped bolt handle, a feature all fine rifle makers with Mauser actions try to replicate.

The earlier commercial actions in large ring from waffenfabrik Oberndorf, are considered the best Mauser actions ever made, both in metallurgical aspects and tolerances.

Barelled actions and semi finished stocks were sent to John Rigby for their own commercialisation to the U.K. market. Earlier variants included the small ring 98, even the 96.

Mauser made fine 22 rifles in the MS350 and ES 350 series, as well as 410 and 420. Beautiful and well made.

Apart from the pre war and post war productions of the type A B and C, Mauser only really made quite unsuccessful commercial rifles, including the 66, 77, 2000 (Mausers only left hand rifle up to then), m12 and now the m18.

Of course, a few years ago Mauser attempted to reintroduce the m98, but failed miserably due to the extreme price point. The blacking is nitride, sights look to be recknagel, barrel taken from another production line, stock is cnc cut and laser checkered, and stock not properly finished. The action is lovely, but does not offer anything a good surplus military action will, I’d rather take an Argentine 1909 custom build any day. Sadly, they also did a ‘Parker Hale’ bolt handle scallop job to clear the modern day large ocular bells, instead of setting the bolt handle back closer to the bolt body, or shaping it like the FN and Dumoulin versions from Belgium…very fine actions indeed, and true commercial designs without the thump slot for pushing down clip strips.

Personally, I believe Mauser have an opportunity to reintroduce the Mauser 98 rifle, but sadly their economies of scale will not allow them to machine the actions at a price point where they can be competitive.

A commercial Mauser 98, made BY Mauser, should come out under £3000 in my view. And at that price, I suspect a well designed offering will capture the market, especially in the US.
Click to expand...
Spot on ☝️don’t forget the MAS45 as the last Mauser .22 either.

Wasn’t a Serbian company manufacturing new K98’s?
 
HonestJohn said:
Nothing beats a good Mauser based rifle for quality and class in the bolt action world. Period.

Mauser themselves only made a short line of commercial rifles in the 98 action, as per my earlier picture. These are considered some of, if not the finest Mauser rifles ever made. Only a handful in original condition exists worldwide.

99% of Mauser rifles were of course, rifles made by fine gunsmiths in Germany, Austria, etc, on the better surplus military actions.Ferlach, of course, stands out.

Many other companies made the Mauser 98, Brno, PH, interarms, FN, Husqvarna, and the list goes on.

They were made in large ring standard size, and large ring intermediate, as well as the kurtz short action, ‘the’ hens teeth rifle action. Equally rare are the magnum actions with double square bridges.
The type A, type B and type C had a variety of triggers, floor plates, stock designs, open sight arrangements, and standard, single square or double square bridges.
The Type A and B were predominantly the ‘fancier’ varieties, going to wealthier Europeans and to African. There was a semi-stutzen version called the Afrikaans, very cool.

Typical chamberings were 8x57 JS, later IS, and 7x57. The 8x57 rifles were changed to 8x60 after the Versailles treaty banned Germany from producing military calibres. At this stage Mauser themselves made the Type B, identified by the Mauserwerke action rather than the Waffenfabrik, double set triggers and two or three leaf standing rear sights, vs the tangent sights in earlier production. They also commercialised the stock to be more ‘modern’, including a grip cap, and a floorplate with a swing lever instead of the military push button. The earlier stocks from around 1901 to 1912 were rounded grips.

These ‘proper’ commercial mauser actions were easily identifiable by their pear shaped bolt handle, a feature all fine rifle makers with Mauser actions try to replicate.

The earlier commercial actions in large ring from waffenfabrik Oberndorf, are considered the best Mauser actions ever made, both in metallurgical aspects and tolerances.

Barelled actions and semi finished stocks were sent to John Rigby for their own commercialisation to the U.K. market. Earlier variants included the small ring 98, even the 96.

Mauser made fine 22 rifles in the MS350 and ES 350 series, as well as 410 and 420. Beautiful and well made.

Apart from the pre war and post war productions of the type A B and C, Mauser only really made quite unsuccessful commercial rifles, including the 66, 77, 2000 (Mausers only left hand rifle up to then), m12 and now the m18.

Of course, a few years ago Mauser attempted to reintroduce the m98, but failed miserably due to the extreme price point. The blacking is nitride, sights look to be recknagel, barrel taken from another production line, stock is cnc cut and laser checkered, and stock not properly finished. The action is lovely, but does not offer anything a good surplus military action will, I’d rather take an Argentine 1909 custom build any day. Sadly, they also did a ‘Parker Hale’ bolt handle scallop job to clear the modern day large ocular bells, instead of setting the bolt handle back closer to the bolt body, or shaping it like the FN and Dumoulin versions from Belgium…very fine actions indeed, and true commercial designs without the thump slot for pushing down clip strips.

Personally, I believe Mauser have an opportunity to reintroduce the Mauser 98 rifle, but sadly their economies of scale will not allow them to machine the actions at a price point where they can be competitive.

A commercial Mauser 98, made BY Mauser, should come out under £3000 in my view. And at that price, I suspect a well designed offering will capture the market, especially in the US.
Click to expand...
A commercial Mauser 98 'entire rifle' or 'action' should come out under £3000??
 
Keith Edmunds said:
Interesting, is the modern Mauser action better (new machinery, new materials) or worse than the original?
Click to expand...
Modern actions are generally destined for carriage trade firearms and are finished to a standard that reflects that.
The old military grade actions lack that level of polish.
The Mauser 98 was the original Kalashnikov, it works regardless of what you throw at it. It is not designed for ultimate precision, it’s designed to work 100% of the time, which is what it does. Mine is a bit sloppy by todays standards, with a heavy striker fall that probably costs me a bit of precision, the action is robust rather than crafted to tight tolerances and it is heavier than we’re used to. It also suffers from a full length action, which we have been conditioned to believe is not as good as a short action
( total bollox, why is it a good idea to have an action that wont accept every non magnum cartridge? ).
What it does is work every single time under field conditions. Its simple to work on, you can take it apart fix it and put it back together without tools and a child can see how it works, its adequately accurate for most of us most of the time.
The Mauser action is out of fashion nowadays, and thats fine, fashions change, what it has is style in abundance.
Style is eternal, which is why the 98 action is still in production and still highly desirable today, over a century since it was developed
 
Keith Edmunds said:
It's been interesting to watch the Highland Stalker rise from under £7,000 to over £12,000. Before Christmas I am sure they were a little over £10k then after Christmas I looked and it was £12.5k.
Click to expand...
It’s madness, even their importer, Blackwall’s once referred to them as ‘Ikea’ rifles. There’s nothing to substantiate a price over £3k, apart from limited supply and potential nostalgic wealthy buyers.

Someone told me only around 3-4 have been sold! Whether correct or not..

But, if they priced them at £3k, they’d undercut Rigby, who is using them for the Highland stalker the same way it was 100 years ago.

So might be Mr Newton from Rigbys has made an exclusive agreement whereby Mauser has to sell their own lines at price xyz above the rigby offering
 
HonestJohn said:
It’s madness, even their importer, Blackwall’s once referred to them as ‘Ikea’ rifles. There’s nothing to substantiate a price over £3k, apart from limited supply and potential nostalgic wealthy buyers.

Someone told me only around 3-4 have been sold! Whether correct or not..

But, if they priced them at £3k, they’d undercut Rigby, who is using them for the Highland stalker the same way it was 100 years ago.

So might be Mr Newton from Rigbys has made an exclusive agreement whereby Mauser has to sell their own lines at price xyz above the rigby offering
Click to expand...
The Mauser Standard Expert and Rigby Highland Stalker are pretty much the same retail price and obviously both owned by the Blaser group
 
Dunwaters said:
Modern actions are generally destined for carriage trade firearms and are finished to a standard that reflects that.
The old military grade actions lack that level of polish.
The Mauser 98 was the original Kalashnikov, it works regardless of what you throw at it. It is not designed for ultimate precision, it’s designed to work 100% of the time, which is what it does. Mine is a bit sloppy by todays standards, with a heavy striker fall that probably costs me a bit of precision, the action is robust rather than crafted to tight tolerances and it is heavier than we’re used to. It also suffers from a full length action, which we have been conditioned to believe is not as good as a short action
( total bollox, why is it a good idea to have an action that wont accept every non magnum cartridge? ).
What it does is work every single time under field conditions. Its simple to work on, you can take it apart fix it and put it back together without tools and a child can see how it works, its adequately accurate for most of us most of the time.
The Mauser action is out of fashion nowadays, and thats fine, fashions change, what it has is style in abundance.
Class is eternal, which is why the 98 action is still in production and still highly desirable today, over a century since it was developed
Click to expand...
There you go, fixed that for you! ;)

DAvid.
 
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