Boer Mauser

[MackMan]

I recently met up with a former High School classmate via Facebook. Well I soon realize we both have the same interest in old and historic rifles. He was kind enough to share some pics of one of his rifles. Just thought I would share it with others who may find it interesting.
Most of the captured Boer weapons were destroyed, but this is a rare survivor which was sent to New Zealand in 1904, which I now own. It was sent as a trophy as NZ, then a colony, sent troops to fight for the British as did Canada and Australia. It is "South African Trophy #116). These photos are being sent to a Major in NZ who tracks and studies these rare rifles. This is an Orange Free State Mauser made in Germany. The Boers usually carved their names or initials into their buttstocks as you see here



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[highpower]

That sure beats the usual Mosin that usually get posted here. Nice rifle with a great documented history.

[Sampachi]

Very cool!

[TRAP55]

Very cool and rare rifle, one to hang on to! Here's some info a gentleman I know posted a while back, that's done a lot of research on them.

ORANGE FREE STATE (ORANJE VRIJ STAAT) - OVS

a short lived republic in SOUTH AFRICA, the ORANGE FREE STATE began to arm itself in earnest after the abortive JAMESON RAID into the neighboring TRANSVAAL in 1896. contacts were made and contracts drawn with DWM (DEUTSCHE WAFFEN UND MUNTIONFABRIK) in 1897 for the purchase of MODEL 1983 SPANISH PATTERN MAUSER rifles, short rifles, and carbines, made with the cylindrical bolt head as opposed to the SPANISH VARIANT flat0bottom bolt. records indicate that approximately 18,000 weapons were delivered before shipments were abruptly terminated by the advent of war.

of particular intrest is that there were several variations in the weapons delivered, with the majority of the rifles made by DWM, showing the DOM markings / proofs and "MOD. MAUSER" on the reciever ring, as well as "OVS" on the side of the reciever and in 2 places on the stock.

a small number of rifles were manufactured by LUDWIG LOEWE AND CO. of BERLIN (this is the one example i own / SER# O.V.S. 501 / sporting a double set trigger, 400-1100 meter rear ladder sigh, and a windage adjustable hoded front sight / custom installed and period correct), and marked "MOD. MAUSER 1896" on the side rail and incorporated the LOEWE crest on the reciever ring. the left side of the reciever ring is marked "OVS", as is the stock immediatly below.

several thousands of rifles were in the process of completion and final inspection / proofing when delivery was halted by the onset of the BOER WAR; these rifles were then overstamped with the crest of CHILE and used to complete an existing contractual obligation with that country.

of those "OVS" mauser rifles to be found, some will have bent bolt handles, while others will have straight bolt handles. it is of intrest to note that a number of the MODEL G 71 MAUSER RIFLES purchased by the TRANSVAAL were also used during the BOER WAR.

the BOERS aquitted themselves admirably during the course of the ill-fated BOER WAR, treating the BRITISH to an astonishing show of marksmenship ability, coupled with the introduction of the BRITISH to the effect in a combat theater of a flat trajectory, clip loading rifle used by highly skilled irregulars. losses of equipment and weapons during the course of the conflict forced the BOERS to rely upon the capture of BRITISH weapons, smuggling of surplus military and commercial guns from abroad, and the transfer of proscribed and illegal weapons from friendly nations for resupply and there TO & E. very few "OVS" MAUSER rifles are encountered today.

the BOER BURGHERS carried food and water for 3 days, and often several hundred rounds of ammo in there basic kit. it was not unusual for BRITISH troops on patrol to actualy run out of ammo, and suffer severe casualties as they tried to return to the BRITISH controlled areas. BOERS often sported multiple leather bandoliers, waist belts, and "ammo vests" when conducting operations.

BOER patrols usualy had binoculars, telescopes, a "PLEZIER GEWEER" target / hunting / snipers rifle, and homemade explosives.

my reserch indicates about 1800-2000 of the half complete guns were re-chambered for the 7X57 MAUSER RIMLESS cartridge and sold to CHILE.

Some recommended reading:
"THE BOER WAR" by THOMAS PAKENHAM...
"GESKIEDENIS VAN DIE TWEEDE VRYHEIDSOORLOG" by J.H. BREYTENBACH
"OFFICIAL HISTORY OF WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA(1899-1902)" by W.J. DE KOCK...
"THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WARS IN SOUTH AFRICA(1899-1902) by L.S. AMERY...
"WAR IN PRACTICE: TACTICAL LESSONS OF THE CAMPAIGN ON SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1902 (1903) by BADEN-POWELL, MAJ. B.F.S.

[Emdawg]

Very nice! Anything OVS marked is pretty hard to find.


I had one of the M1893's that went to Chile after the Boers were cut-off by the British.

[pitfighter]

Great stuff - really cool collectable - do have a British rifle to keep it company?

[Beetle Bailey]

Very nice historic rifle. Are you bringing it to the August C&R shoot?

[smle-man]

The main round of the Boer republics was 7mm but by the end of the war the remaining Boer forces had more .303 rifles courtesy of the British and Imperial forces than the 7mm rifles purchased prior to the war. The Boer commando forces armed themselves with captured Lee Enfields and .303 rounds.

There was a big scandal on both sides of the war: the Boers had a large amount of reworked 7.65mm rounds foisted onto them by a European supplier as 'short neck' 7mm rounds which caused some action failures in the 7mm rifles and a loss of confidence in the mauser rifles issued to the commandos. The British Lee Enfields were discovered to shoot a couple feet away from the point of aim past a couple hundred yards which made hitting the enemy a matter of luck. At that time the British army did little rifle marksmanship training which was corrected post Boer war.

[Father Ted]

That is a nice rifle

[MackMan]

Boer Mauser

Very nice historic rifle. Are you bringing it to the August C&R shoot?

I wish. Rifle belongs to friend back east.


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[Sutcliffe]

By nature of supply.....

I would think that baby is quite valuable.
Very nice.