I got this 7x57mm custom Mauser in an auction. No markings on rifle other than caliber and a Kongsberg blackbplastic buttplate. The bolt is a modified Swedish M96 with safety removed. Receiver looks to be a commercial Mauser action. Can someone help me determine who made this rifle? I doubt it’s an actual Kongsberg as they didn’t use 7mm Mauser. Leupold scope bases are soldered to top of receiver.
-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
7x57mm custom Mauser Identification?
- Thread starter KneverKnew
- Start date
It would help if you removed the front sight base and showed what that had underneath.
After searching around a bit more, it appears to be a Swede that has had the bolt re-cocker modified some and the safety removed and plugged to facilitate using the side safety over the trigger on the right rear side of the rifle.
I thought it might be danish, but the extractor and firing pin were different. Definitely Swede.
After searching around a bit more, it appears to be a Swede that has had the bolt re-cocker modified some and the safety removed and plugged to facilitate using the side safety over the trigger on the right rear side of the rifle.
I thought it might be danish, but the extractor and firing pin were different. Definitely Swede.
Attachments
Last edited:
The scope bases are soldered in place as well as drilled and tapped. The bolt is obviously swede with the modifications mentioned. Trigger and safety are aftermarket, possibly Timney? Stock can’t be removed easily. Possibly glass bedded? The small ring receiver is not military surplus. It and the barrel, trigger guard and bottom plate have a nice matte black finish, almost parkerized looking.
I was wondering why the bolt “RE-cocker” has the scope of metal ground out of it? Any ideas?
So I’m guessing this is a commercial small ring Mauser action with Swedish bolt chambered in 7x57mm. No idea who made the barrel. I’m assuming stock is a Kongsberg.
So I’m guessing this is a commercial small ring Mauser action with Swedish bolt chambered in 7x57mm. No idea who made the barrel. I’m assuming stock is a Kongsberg.
I'm thinking it's just somebody's idea of a better cocker than what was originally on the Swede.
FWIW, all the small rings started out as military. It was after WWII that they got used for civilian. Both Carl Gustav and Husqvarna
Somewhere or other, I thought I recalled 7x57 being made by the Swede's militarily for someone. I can't say that's true, just a "very original looking" 7x57 that was a Swede. I do know they were made as sporters post WWII. Like my 9x62 647E, there were a bunch made in popular world calibers. The sporters were often not that far off in looks to the original military model. Think like a Standard Modell made in Germany. Not our idea today of a sporting rifle. Back then it was moreso.
I never did get the nomenclature right on my Husky, But, I understand the action was made in about 1941. After those actions were done, they used the FN actions and those are "L's"
It is definitely a military Swedish Mauser action. In one of the last pics you can see where they filled the thumb cut out for stripper clips.
I would guess that it was built by an American smith with access to lots of Swedish parts, hence the buttplate. It should be an excellent rifle. Whoever built it seems to have had some skill, and those actions are perfect to begin with. If you decide to part with it, keep me in mind.
I would guess that it was built by an American smith with access to lots of Swedish parts, hence the buttplate. It should be an excellent rifle. Whoever built it seems to have had some skill, and those actions are perfect to begin with. If you decide to part with it, keep me in mind.
I’ve got more info to share via more pictures. I found a Kongsberg crest on top of receiver ring under the front scope base. Maybe it was a Kongsberg rifle in 6.5 that was later converted?
Also, I took close ups of where the thumb hole slot would be. Are we sure it was filled and not a solid side receiver to start?
There are other pics showing various details that I hope helps. I tried again to remove the stock but ran into solid resistance so it must be bedded somehow. I’m not going to force it. What’s underneath will have to remain a mystery.
I did find some scope rings in a drawer and shot my last three Remington core lokts at 100 yards with 15 mph gusting cross winds. Grouped 1-3/4”. I suppose not too bad for a first try. Reloads to follow.
Also, I took close ups of where the thumb hole slot would be. Are we sure it was filled and not a solid side receiver to start?
There are other pics showing various details that I hope helps. I tried again to remove the stock but ran into solid resistance so it must be bedded somehow. I’m not going to force it. What’s underneath will have to remain a mystery.
I did find some scope rings in a drawer and shot my last three Remington core lokts at 100 yards with 15 mph gusting cross winds. Grouped 1-3/4”. I suppose not too bad for a first try. Reloads to follow.
Now that I have a better pic of the receiver wall it is a solid wall commercial receiver. That line there fooled me.
I'm going with Husqvarna 640 that has been rebarreled and had some other work done.
Now to support that, take a look here.
https://www.simpsonltd.com/products/z35368
Now to support that, take a look here.
https://www.simpsonltd.com/products/z35368
Thanks. I’m finally realizing the crest is for Husqvarna. I’m slow like that. Sorry. So did Husqvarna use small ring receivers (6.5x55??) in their Mod 640’s?
Yup, Whatever number my rifle has, there were a bunch made in popular calibers. 6.5x55 was the most common, followed by 30-06.
I’d say the mystery is solved...partly. Still don’t know who did the modifications or when, or what’s under the wood. Oh well. Best to quit asking questions and go shoot.
If it helps @KneverKnew, I'm jealous. I love the 7x57, and the rifle you have looks like a lot of fun to shoot. I love these old rifles, whether original or as a well done sporter like yours.
Dan,
Is there a website anywhere, where you can locate what your Husqvarna, or Carl Gustav Sporter is?
It does help. Makes me feel better about a questionable purchase. Auction had it listed as 7x57mm sporter hunting rifle UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER. I think I did okay. Thanks again guys for all the shared knowledge.
http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/rifles_se/rifles_se.htm
I use that site for General Swede information...take a look at what they have listed as a Partisan Rifle... the receiver looks strangely familiar.
Do you plan on reloading for it? If so, the first thing to find is the barrel twist. A lot of early American aftermarket barrels didn't have a tight enough twist to go with heavies. My target 7x57 can stabilize up to 168's. That's it. My hunting 7x57 (rebarrelled and sporterized Mexican 1910 (ca. 1933) will only stabilize 150's. It's got a 1-12 twist.
But, a 140 will kill pretty much anything especially if you aren't flinching and put the bullet in the right spot.Anyhow, good luck with this, and just know we're happy for you that you got it.
@KneverKnew;
Damn, you take great close up photos! Wish I could do that.
What ever that rifle turns out to be, it's very cool and in a great cartridge to boot. Enjoy.
Damn, you take great close up photos! Wish I could do that.
What ever that rifle turns out to be, it's very cool and in a great cartridge to boot. Enjoy.
Do you plan on reloading for it? If so, the first thing to find is the barrel twist. A lot of early American aftermarket barrels didn't have a tight enough twist to go with heavies. My target 7x57 can stabilize up to 168's. That's it. My hunting 7x57 (rebarrelled and sporterized Mexican 1910 (ca. 1933) will only stabilize 150's. It's got a 1-12 twist.
Anyhow, good luck with this, and just know we're happy for you that you got it.
The answer is yes AND already have. I have a load series loaded for my Brazilian Mauser that I just sold. So I’ll shoot them in this one. I own a 7mm Express Remington (280 Remington) that I load for and have a limited supply of bullets to try I. The 7x57. I have no doubt it will do just fine. As far as hitting a deer sized target, I should have that covered. 3rd Award Expert in the Marine Corps. Of course that was 40 years ago.
I’ll figure the twist rate and go from there. I think the load series I have had Speer 139 soft points in them using 4064.
Thanks. It’s just my IPhone 6 zoomed in. A steady hand helps.
It's a rebuilt VZ-24 with a "HEAVY" barrel, sitting in a thumbhole stock. The only thing original is the action. Trigger is a Timney target. Great shooter. The first rifle I ever took to one mile.
I need to recharge my camera battery so I can post a pic of it.
Last edited:
Yes, I'd like to see it
I'm having something similar put together, same caliber. It's been at the smith for awhile now. Should be done by spring.
VZ24, heavy barrel, Farrell rail, Parker Hale adapted to use CDI trigger guard and AICS mag
I'm having something similar put together, same caliber. It's been at the smith for awhile now. Should be done by spring.
VZ24, heavy barrel, Farrell rail, Parker Hale adapted to use CDI trigger guard and AICS mag
Last edited:
It started as a proof of concept rifle. When I really first got interested in just how far back could the rifles of yesteryear shoot. In 1898 we went to Cuba and fought the Spanish. They were almost entirely armed with 7x57's. and the U.S. found out how badly we were lacking in the basic military arm of the day. There are exceptions obviously in that the Rough Riders carried the Krag and the Marines carried the 6mm Lee Navy.
In any case the concept came down to the initial phase of of the battles for San Juan and Kettle Hill's. The U.S. Formed up and began to move on the Spanish at about 2000m. They immediately came under very accurate rifle fire. Remember, these are large formations so the Spanish were shooting at formations not individual men. In any case several notable people fell to bullets at long range. Bucky O'Neill being one of them. At first, the Americans thought the Spanish had snipers positioned much closer to the American formations. But after the battle, interrogating the Spanish showed they were all up in their defensive positons. That meant that the 7x57 was hitting and killing at a range of up to 2000m. Bucky O'Neill was felled by a bullet at about 1600m, or almost exactly one mile.
The interesting thing was my findings that while the battle began with the U.S. in formations that were easy to hit, as movement began up the hill and casualties were taken, the formations broke up. At that point the casualties decreased. Some men charging from cover to cover and others holding back, the Spanish had much smaller targets to aim at. The individuals moving made it very difficult to hit. I found that as much as I may prefer or like one cartridge choice over another in one or another platforms, the individual movement by the soldiers is what won the day. I think this was seen by military planners, but it took a long time to ingrain that into the system. As in WWI, ground commanders still had the tendency to want to form up. Control was their issue. But, good communication before the battle to junior officers and NCO's gives the control a commander needs.
I had to laugh, as when I had it done, it was a case of getting it polished for cheap or turned down for $90....I polished it.
It looks bigger than it really is though in that pic. There is a shadow from the flash under the end of the barrel that makes it look bigger.
