Let's play a game... Guess the Caliber..

[BigMoose]

MAUSER 98 SPORTING RIFLE - Z59236

Firearms for the Finest Collectors

simpsonltd.com

Great deal on a nice Mauser sporting rifle.. but. Its an unknown Caliber.

Only clues 7.56 marking, and the bolt face is for a rimmed cartridge.

Any guesses?

 

[JohnKDM]

Just a wild guess, based on the given numbers and rimmed information - the only thing I can think of would be a faint marking of "7.7x56R", which is 303 British. Not worth much as a guess - only a chamber cast and bore slug will reveal the truth.

Edit: Looked at the pictures and noticed the double set triggers and the comparatively modern replacement bolt shroud - as it sits, it has no manual safety that I can see. Not a big deal to fix, the buyer could install a bolt shroud with a wing safety. Which it no doubt had originally.

 

[Wolfhound]

I like Johns guess as a .303 British.

Only other thought is a mis-marked 7.65 Argentine. But, that cartridge is not rimmed and I can’t think of a reason someone would desire that caliber. It’s very rare.

 

[JohnKDM]

The rimmed part puzzles me - it would've been a questionable effort to make a rimmed cartridge work in a magazine Mauser. Perhaps the bolt face was opened up but not for a rimmed cartridge? Throwing darts in the dark,

 

[BigMoose]

Just a wild guess, based on the given numbers and rimmed information - the only thing I can think of would be a faint marking of "7.7x56R", which is 303 British. Not worth much as a guess - only a chamber cast and bore slug will reveal the truth.

Edit: Looked at the pictures and noticed the double set triggers and the comparatively modern replacement bolt shroud - as it sits, it has no manual safety that I can see. Not a big deal to fix, the buyer could install a bolt shroud with a wing safety. Which it no doubt had originally.

The best theory I have heard yet.

If I got it, I wouldn't mess with adding the safety back. Though I must say I am curious.

 

[BigMoose]

The rimmed part puzzles me - it would've been a questionable effort to make a rimmed cartridge work in a magazine Mauser. Perhaps the bolt face was opened up but not for a rimmed cartridge? Throwing darts in the dark,

The only thing I can think of, is officers in England provided their own stuff. Some of them didn't want an an enfield based gun and would go to wild lengths to chamber whatever they wanted in 303.

 

[BigMoose]

Here is a Mauser in 303, so not unheard of.

https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/products/69961-mauser-98-custom-303-british-caliber-rifle-nice-quality-pre-war-custom-mauser-sporter-rifle-with-1-2-round-and-1-2-r9316.html

 

[BigMoose]

I think this might be a J.Rigby mauser in 303.
I have found two other rifles with similar serial numbers

No pics, but the descriptions and serial are so close to the one above.

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1033566

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3032555

John Rigby & Co. Slant Box Magazine .303 British

John Rigby & Co. Slant Box Magazine .303 British for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

No idea why the one at Simpsons is "Sterile Marked"

 

[JohnKDM]

A British officer in the colonies would certainly be able to fall back on issue 303 ammo if he ran out of commercial hunting ammo.

 

[JohnKDM]

I think this might be a J.Rigby mauser in 303.
I have found two other rifles with similar serial numbers

No pics, but the descriptions and serial are so close to the one above.

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1033566

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3032555

John Rigby & Co. Slant Box Magazine .303 British

John Rigby & Co. Slant Box Magazine .303 British for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

No idea why the one at Simpsons is "Sterile Marked"

I have a friend with one of those Rigby Special High Velocity rifles. They knew how to make a hunting rifle for sure and for certain.

 

[BigMoose]

I have a friend with one of those Rigby Special High Velocity rifles. They knew how to make a hunting rifle for sure and for certain.

I am convinced its that, or something similar in 303.
Also likely the flag safety came off so someone could mount the scope lower.

 

[Squid556]

I'm guessing its some kind of wildcat.

This place I buy from has a vast array of obscure cartridges. Nothing comes up for 7.56


OP you have to buy it now so we can chamber cast it

 

[BigMoose]

There is a 7×57mmR (Rimmed)

I am thinking about it, but gunsmiths around here might as well be myths. I would have to figure it out myself lol.