Mauser automatic rifle

[scani]

I'll dig out the book and post some photos.

A fellow collector from France, who unforunately is no longer member of this forum, had some great period photos showing the different variations of the Mauser semi-auto rifle in use with the imperial air force.
I very well remember one photo showing a Mauser semi-auto with a stock similar to the one shown on the attached photo.
View attachment 350068
And ....
decades ago a Mauser manual on the semi-auto rifles sold on ebay.com
Out of sheer ignorance/stupidity I did not place a bid on it.
The manual showed the variation we all know and a rifle with full stock (like on the G98) and bayonet lug, as shown in #16, but with the large mag.

Iirc there was one full-stocked 1915/1916 model (previously Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess’ collection) was sold at James D. Julia.

I wonder if you meant this.

 

[Amberg]

Wow, great photo!! Thanks!
But the rifle I think to remember had a totally different stock.
Well, that is more than 25 years ago. I might be wrong, but I don't think so.

 

[scani]

Wow, great photo!! Thanks!
But the rifle I think to remember had a totally different stock.
Well, that is more than 25 years ago. I might be wrong, but I don't think so.

These seem to be customized rifles, probably a small batch of rifles were made in this configuration by Mauser Oberndorf, probably they were modified by the flyers themselves… Did German “air force” allow soldiers to carry their own firearms?

 

[Amberg]

Did German “air force” allow soldiers to carry their own firearms?

As far as I know: NO!
Maybe a pistol/revolver, but a rifle ....??
Have to ask some fellow collectors over here.

 

[Fal Grunt]

I meant to add this last night and forgot:

Self Loading Mauser Rifles - Jon Speed

www.gunboards.com

a guy on gunboards asked if Mauser made up any kind of special rifle that could be fitted to planes in WW1 so here is Glass plate pic of what Mauser frim called a Fortress rifle that could have been tried out on planes. The 2 rifles this guy showed are NOT Mauser made! Mauser did Not make any new self loaders during WW1 besides the flieger rifles etc Jon

 

[Fal Grunt]

So folks can see real doc here from Sales book for 1912-13 shows GPC orders a lot of 7-1-43 units each. Jon the German GPK ordered small lots of Mauser self loading rifles for testing. GPK = Rifle testing Commission from 1909-13.


another item of info on Mauser self loaders is PRICE = 1000 Marks / unit compared to a G 98 that went for 60-70 Marks range. Here is pic of 1916 Flieger Carbine on Test shooting stand then a 1911 Sporter with Prism scope.

 

[Fal Grunt]

Here are pics of Paul Mausers first US Self Loader model C98 Patent and then his Last patent only filed by firm in 1915 a year after Paul died. This patent is totally different concept that was Never made into real example. Jon

 

[Fal Grunt]

Another tech aspect on Mauser Self Loaders was Paul Mauser did experiment with a Gas operated system but the Germany Military at the time did not appove of any hole in a barrel which was quite normal in later times . In my glass plates I have seen this system with a long operating rod that was activated by gas entering a hole at front end of barrel etc.

Here is some cool tech docs on Mauser Self loaders



1. Test target 50 meters 9mm

2. Test target 50 meters 8mm

3. Ammo test shows Velocity and Pressures well over 4000 ATM

4. Special Self loader

5. Flieger carbine drawing

 

[Fal Grunt]

I saw guy on Gun boards mention Paul Mauser loosing an eye while test shooting a 1901 Self Loading rifle.The cartridge ruptured which caused some small pieces to fly out the rear. Here is the pic of the rifle involved with the date carved in stock. It was at this point Paul tried to build his self loaders with more safety factors in the design. Jon

 

[Fal Grunt]

Here is my last Mauser self loader docs and my favorite. A handbook made for Pauls new Sporter in 1912 with patented side scope mount system and signed by Paul. This booklet shows the system take down process. Jon