TOPIC:

A big thank you to the guys that helped me identify this advertised Spainish Mauser as a ZAR DWM Rifle.

It now sits in pride of place with its brother. I'm hoping to get a chestnut display box made for them to be housed together in.

Without your contribution another part of Boer history might have been lost.

Attached pictrure is of the Winburg Kommando who S.S Vivier served with and im hoping that the rifle I have might be in this picture..............but we will never know.

Thank you so much.

Regards to all,

Nik

Congratulations, Nik!
You may want to source a clearing rod for your ZAR Mauser. These are correct:
www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcar...ct=549&idcategory=50
And they were issued with these, though they got lost quite quickly:
www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcar...ct=123&idcategory=50
enjoy shooting them!
Rob

Nik, I have good quality copy of the Winburg Kommando photograph. I send it herewith in four parts to give you more detail. and, provided your grandmothers didn't wander off with the local postman after a barn dance, you should look like one of them.. Also, perhaps you can divulge the surname of the forefather who is in the picture, perhaps one of the forum members have photographs or documents which can shed more light on the man. Everhard

Thank you so much for that...... thats a great picture. If I send you my email address please may I respectfully ask you to send it to me in its highest format please.

It is a great photo.
A few observations on the rifles the Winburg men carry. I don't know the date of the photo but my wild guess would be between Nov 1899 and June 1900.
Mos of the men carry Mauser rifles with straight bolts indicating either ZAR rifles (ZAR supplied the OVS with 1500 Mauser rifles) or OVS rifles in the lower range of serial numbers. For higher OVS serial numbers the bolt handle was turned down.
These two men carry plezier (sporting) Mausers which suggests they are officers or wealthier men.

This lad has adapted a bandolier with large tubes such as a shotgun bandolier - to carry Mauser cartidges in pairs, an arrangement I've not seen elsewhere.


Several men carry "£4" Martini Henrys, like these, and elsewhere is a WR ZAR Martini.


This man carries a captured Lee Enfield or Lee Metford Mk II, it isn't clear whether it has a safety catch.


This man carries a Mauser carbine, suggesting he might be an artillerist or a foreign volunteer.