TOPIC:

Good evening,

Can anyone help with Mauser markings?

I have a saddle ring rifle brought back from South Africa by Trooper A. H. Edwards of the 47th Company (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Imperial Yeomanry. He was the son of the Archbishop of Wales and enlisted to escape his father's wrath over the debts he was incurring as an undergraduate at Oxford. He was captured at Lindley.

The butt is engraved 'A. Malherbe'.

The breech is engraved or stamped 'MOD MAUSER 1896 LUDW. LOEWE & CO. BERLIN' and there is a serial number 1423.

Hoping that someone is an expert on these - I'm well out of area!

Best wishes,

Justin

Hello Justin,

I'm not sure if this is of any use to you.

I have had a look at the ABO medal roll and there is only one man that could or perhaps might have been the original owner of the rifle?

Burger Andreas Bernardus Malherbe who served in the Heildelberg Kommando

Regards
Adrian

Justin
The "saddle ring" rifle sounds to be a standard Model 1893 Mauser carbine made by one of the principal contractors. You do not mention the physical characteristics of the arm - if a carbine it will have a saddle ring fitting on the side of the stock a bit back from the pistol grip. And of course it will be shorter! There arms were often called "Spanish pattern"; because that was the Mauser pattern made for the Spanish military. The Republics settled on that model as state-of-the-art following the Jameson Raid. For many years, they were known as "Model 1896" - however, some original research done by a certain person 'way back in the 1970's revealed the "1896" was actually the date of manufacture; not the Model type.
These Boer Mauser carbines are very desirable collector's items; even moreso with any form of attributable markings or carvings on the stock. They were once reasonably common here in OZ - however I have not seen one here for at least ten years.
Once upon a time I owned a M93 Mauser rifle with the name "S.P. Viljoen" carved on the stock. However, there were quite a few of them on the roll!
Perhaps you might post some pics of that carbine?
Regards
IL.

Hello Justin,

If you want to take your research further on this Mauser, there is an excellent book, well illustrated, with all the information you will need. From memory the book is called "Mauser" and was written by Dave George.

Dave George is South African but now lives in Australia, he has collected and researched these firearms for many years.

Regards,
Wombat.

Dear Adrian, Iain and Wombat,

Many thanks indeed for the info. I will try and post some photographs of the rifle in the coming days.

Best wishes,

Justin

I should have written in the coming 30 days! Here are some photos of the Mauser.

Justin