The OTHER Mauser trainer

Wayne said I can post it here - seeing the Springfield is a knock-off of the Mauser system, it kind of fits

Got this yesterday. These are not only scarce but downright non-existant here in Australia. It came out of a VERY old deceased estates collection, and I surmise that the rifle itself was left here/locally traded by USAAF personnel stationed in Northern Australia. IT had been in the old guys collection at LEAST 40 years.

Anyway, it's a totally untouched/non-upgraded Springfield 1922 M1. Most of the surface grunge is actually hardened dried linseed oil and grease, coupled with dirt and who knows what else. I tested a section, and it came off easily, so it's NOT rust. Sure, there is some finish loss, but I am not complaining. Bolt should clean well (I won't polish it, just CLEAN it)

Bore may as well be new. Stock will get wiped down with some ballistol and left alone. All present and accounted for except the Lyman 48 bases indicator and screw (which I have a lead on, but if anyone can help...)

Just bought a sling and sight cover, so good to rock and roll!

I have wanted one of these for longer than I can remember. There is a minty Swede M96 but that was it Mauser wise. I may yet grab the Steyr M95 long rifle - it was talking to me, though the barrel has a rough spot in the middle (like hornets nest or something). Elm stocked, really nice and not refurbed.

Anyway, here the little Yankee is...

nice grab..

yes, I alowed this non german trainer to be posted. Ive always liked these and wanted one. Yet, I never owned one. To find an M1 non-converted is quite hard to find. Most that werent stolen or dissapeared were converted to M2 upgrades. This one looked like it was all blued at some point. This is a real early m1.. Great grab

Can't say I've ever noticed one....



..

Nice find in the 1922M1. I have a 1922M1 unconverted also with a serial number about 85 higher than yours.
Frank

I guess I should have updated this after I cleaned it up - plum forgot!

Here it is. Not perfect, but still decent, and quite uncommon. Shoots ragged holes all touching - just as good as my Mauser Es340B

Your cleaning did do the rifle justice. Is that a "B" stamped on the stock? If I never seen that stamping before. I have 5 differant models of the 1922.
FRank

It is an italicised B. Not sure the significance, either a unit /organisational marking, or?

Maybe even to denote it is the B style stock? (yeah, not likely )

The best "guess" as to how it got here (and has been here in an OLD collection prior to mine for SO long) was it was left behind in Australia by US Servicemen (likely USAAF), or more likely, "acquired" / traded for a couple packets of smokes. Or "fell off the back of the truck"

The irony of it is I managed to acquire an SA M1903, receiver dates to 1926 (through the serial) which matches the 1922 M1 The 03 has a 1-30 barrel (so likely MADE into a rifle then, or possibly rebuilt), and considering EVERY other rifle around it's serial is an NM or DCM rifle, it is HIGHLY likely it was either NM or an NM rifle that was never DCM acquired and remained in the military chain.