Help me price this mauser

[xbuilder9mm]

A Friend wants to sell me this mauser and we are trying to set a fair number. It looks really nice, all the numbers match but it doesn't have a bayonet. The Argentine seal is really crisp and clear. The stock has the seal (very small). I have looked in other websites, but I haven't found too many like this one at a reasonable price.

[Eljay]

I have no idea what 1909s are running these days but it looks great!

[joefrank64k]

Is it just me (or the lighting) or does the action look polished? I know they were in the white, but it looks more reflective than I've seen them.

[krwada]

Argentine Mauser

The Argentine Mauser was originally chambered for 7.65x54mm. This ammo is very difficult to come by. I believe most folks who have these are probably reloaders. Getting a reloading die for this chambering is not very difficult. Because of this, I have seen many of these re-barreled and re-chambered for the .30-06

Anyhow, IF you have matching serial numbers, then this piece is worth between the $500-$700 range. At least, this is what I have seen.

If you do NOT have matching serial numbers, then it will be worth less.

Argentinian Mausers are collectible ... I am just not sure how collectible they are.

[DirtyRussianAmmo]

1909's for sale here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=1909+mauser

[knucklehead0202]

Ammo for these is readily available from at least 3 or 4 major manufacturers. While you may not often see it in local stores, it does pop up from time to time and is readily available via internet/mail order. That's a gorgeous rifle, probably polished a bit but that really doesn't matter. I'd say 5-600 would be a decent price where you're not screwing anybody but making a tidy profit as well.

[Mustang]

That is a very nice example of a 1909 Argentine Mauser. One note...to be truly all matching, the serial number on the cleaning rod needs to match.

I have a number of '09 Argentines, including one in similar condition to the one you posted and all have matching serial number cleaning rods.

I agree that $500 to $700 is about right if it is all matching.

[Crunch130]

The Argentine Mauser was originally chambered for 7.65x54mm. This ammo is very difficult to come by. I believe most folks who have these are probably reloaders. Getting a reloading die for this chambering is not very difficult. Because of this, I have seen many of these re-barreled and re-chambered for the .30-06

I think all they did when they re-chambered them was run a 30-06 chamber ream into the existing barrel, and just live with the extra .003" of bore (.311 vs .308) you ended up with. I think that was fairly common on the Argentine and Peruvian large-ring Mausers, which originally were in 7.65X54.

If I had one of those I would probably reload, using a .311 expander ball and bullets. That might require turning the necks down a bit so the ammo will chamber.

Regards,
Crunch

[Mustang]

I think all they did when they re-chambered them was run a 30-06 chamber ream into the existing barrel, and just live with the extra .003" of bore (.311 vs .308) you ended up with. I think that was fairly common on the Argentine and Peruvian large-ring Mausers, which originally were in 7.65X54.

If I had one of those I would probably reload, using a .311 expander ball and bullets. That might require turning the necks down a bit so the ammo will chamber.

Regards,
Crunch

I do have one of those..






I've thought about loading up some "31.06" rounds, but I'm not sure whether the neck would be pinched by the 30.06 chamber.

I've fired some 30.06 rounds through it. As you would expect, accuracy was mediocre. The hits were very high..I had to take a 6 o'clock hold on the small bottom target and hit the upper target. At 100 yards the rounds were going right over the target backer..

150 grain Federal PS's @ 50 yards:



180 grain PS's @ 50 yards


Better than I expected, shooting .308 bullets thru a 7.65 barrel.

I've always had trouble with the Mauser inverted triangular sights, so not sure how much of the group dispersion I can blame on the sights.

I do have an original '09 Argentine barrel, as well as an intact buttstock. I've considered using this as the basis of a faux '09 Argentine sniper.

[xbuilder9mm]

Thank you very much for helping me with your opinions, I have seen quite a few of these and on most the seal can barely be seen and being from Argentina I am sold on the clarity of the seal, buffed, not buffed a point that I am not clear why that would devalue the price, is it any different than having somebody clean a work of art? I agree with some of you it is a beautiful gun.

[krwada]

.311 vs .308?

Yikes! I had no idea this is how they re-chambered for .30-06

Sounds like accuracy would suffer no?

I think all they did when they re-chambered them was run a 30-06 chamber ream into the existing barrel, and just live with the extra .003" of bore (.311 vs .308) you ended up with. I think that was fairly common on the Argentine and Peruvian large-ring Mausers, which originally were in 7.65X54.

If I had one of those I would probably reload, using a .311 expander ball and bullets. That might require turning the necks down a bit so the ammo will chamber.

Regards,
Crunch

[SVT-40]

Thank you very much for helping me with your opinions, I have seen quite a few of these and on most the seal can barely be seen and being from Argentina I am sold on the clarity of the seal, buffed, not buffed a point that I am not clear why that would devalue the price, is it any different than having somebody clean a work of art? I agree with some of you it is a beautiful gun.

The receiver has been buffed or "brightened"...

The reason it devalues the rifle is it's not in original as issued condition. Some young collectors think that by improving...Sanding, brightening Etc. they are increasing the value by making it "look better".. This is simply 100% wrong. A as issued rifle will always command a higher price than one which has been buffed.

The original Argentine rifles had their receivers and bolts "left in the white".... They were left with very fine finishing marks which left a satin not bright appearance.

I would devalue a "buffed and polished" rifle by 25%.

Below are a few pic's of 1909 Argentine receivers showing their original proper finish.





Notice the very fine finishing marks.. Additionally the crest chows no bright edges indicating it has not been polished. Compare that to the photos you posted. The crest in those pic's shows very bright edges indicating buffing or polishing...





Pic of a polished receiver crest...Notice how the edges of the engraving are rounded and not sharp like the examples above...

[joefrank64k]

The receiver has been buffed or "brightened"...

The reason it devalues the rifle is it's not in original as issued condition. Some young collectors think that by improving...Sanding, brightening Etc. they are increasing the value by making it "look better".. This is simply 100% wrong. A as issued rifle will always command a higher price than one which has been buffed.

The original Argentine rifles had their receivers and bolts "left in the white".... They were left with very fine finishing marks which left a satin not bright appearance.

I would devalue a "buffed and polished" rifle by 25%.

[

Pic of a polished receiver crest...Notice how the edges of the engraving are rounded and not sharp like the examples above...

So it wasn't just me?

[Discogodfather]

I have always wondered what this original Mauser finish really is. It is not "in the white" as advertised, anyone who has machined steel knows it dosen't come out of a lathe / mill like that. They must have burnished it with some kind of abrasive, I know some gun restorers that call it "graining".

If it was "as machined" it would be a nightmare in terms of oxidation. They had some kind of process to add that grain to the metal and give it a matte texture. Anyone know how this was done? Notice how the grain changes direction on the same part, seems like a lot of thought was put into which way it would go.

[xbuilder9mm]

Thanks for the great explanation of the finish, polished or not, I am going to buy it for $ 600. I just saw one on GB that does not look as good as this the current bid is $ 900.00 with 2+ days to go.
How do you keep the exterior looking so good in a mild corrosive environment, I live near the ocean.
thanks