Fn Belgian Mauser Serial Numbers
Mauser rifles began to come in from a number of.. Looks like the FN Mauser picture on the wikipedia file under fn mauser 3006. In fact the Belgian Army used a Mauser 98 of Belgian. The serial number on. May 17, 2014 Help Identifying FN made Mauser Sporter. Are below the wood and only states that it is an FN made in Belgium with the date code and a serial number. Feb 18, 2013 FN Mauser question. Other Belgian company manufacturing FN actions in. Manufacture based on serial number please post a link. Unmarked FN Commercial.
A friend of mine inherited this FN Bolt action rifle in 7x57mm Mauser, and I haven't been able to identify a model or what the value is. He is looking into selling it since he has a few other bolt guns and this rifle doesnt have any sentimental value. He is not technically inclined so I am looking into this for him. Pictures are below and there is a closeup of the only markings on the rifle. ANy help would be awesome, thanks. Ok, this is what I could find. The Lion over PV means the rifle was rated as a smokeless powder rifle (a good indication that it was manufactured around the time rifles were being converted from blackpowder to smokeless).
The Crown over the R means the barrel had a rifled bore. The crown on the oval with ELG inside was a proof mark denoting it was manufactured in Liege, Beligum. FN is another proof mark denoting it was manufactured by FN-Herstal. Then finally the 7x57 is the caliber. I, as of yet, am unable to determine what the arrow means. It is most likely a proof mark of some kind, but there are just too many references to arrows on rifles to really find anything online, same goes for the X (what exactly is above the X, it's too hard to determine with the pictures).
It appears to be a Model 1895 Mauser rifle. I read on a website that FN had been contracted to manufacture rifles for the Belgium Army before the turn of the 20th century. After the contract was filled, they started to make rifles for the Germans on a model that was very similar (almost identical) to the Spanish M96 Mausers. Also, at this time there was limited production of commercial rifles made of the same variety. I have heard that many manufacturers only serialized military firearms (to keep count of their contract) and the extra tooling was not use don commercial rifles. In what I have found, I would say that this could possibly be a early to mid 20th century FN action either model 1895 or 1889 mauser of commercial origins (most likely the 95). Outside of that, I can't offer much more other than what I have already posted.
Hope that helps some. ETA: I had no prior knowledge of these firearms prior to doing some online hunting.
Some of my facts could be wrong as I am tkaing bits and pieces from many different places. I have no idea what a 1895 Mauser looks like, but what I have read it would seem by the markings and the similar look to the Spanish M96 that it would be a M95 Mauser. I may be completely off though. If it were a military rifle sporter conversion, it would either have been re-barreled, or have the original military barrel. The one pictured does not have a stepped barrel, and the receiver is not clip slotted, and there is no thumb cut on the left side of the receiver. Judging by the pictures (if they're accurate), if the proof marks are still in the white as they appear to be, it would mean that it's not refinished.
The pictures from a distance also look like it's got a deep blue polish. The bolt is definitely a 98.
I would guess that this is a FN Mauser Commercial variant of some sort, most likely post-ww2. Then again, I could be totally wrong. Rogers Powertone Snare Serial Numbers. Lmao Is there a crest or anything on top of the receiver near the barrel? I'm with xeno...
The bolt is definitely a 98. You can tell by the extractor claw and the shape of its rear end.
It has the m95 style trigger guard with one screw at the front tho. No stripper clip guide leads me to believe it was a commercial action, most likely 50s/60s.
There's no way the safety works on that rifle. Not that you would need it tho. I bid 150:cool: j/k it's worth a lot more than that - can you give us the details on the scope? And honestly, if I inherited a gun that nice I would keep it unless I was totally broke. A commercial FN in 7x57... Ahh I'm droolin here. Would sure look nice next to my 95 chilean.
Judging by the pictures (if they're accurate) Is there a crest or anything on top of the receiver near the barrel? I took those pictures tonight of the rifle in it's current condition. The mark above the X appears to either be a very small capital A or a carrot mark as PanzerAce noted. The only other text on the barrel and receiver reads 'Made in Belgium' on the right, and 'Chrome Vanadium Steel' on the left. The serial number is on the barrel, the receiver, and the bolt handle and is the same throughout. No other marks at all on the rifle except for a PV Lion mark on the bolt handle.
No rear sight, just the front, and the optic is a Herter's (no model or any numbers) in I believe 4X magnification with a basic thin crosshair, and some made in Japan rings. The stock is a synthetic textured Bell and Carlson with a Pachmayr pad, unknown if original. The barrel floats above the stock about halfway to the front scope mount.
Funny thing is the rifle is in like new condition despite being so old sounding, only the bolt face shows evidence of repeated firings. The safety works, but only if the scope is removed, and I can't seem to removed the bolt in order to clean it without going through the muzzle.
With that rear sight and the stepped barrel, it's almost surely a military rifle. As for what type (model) of Mauser it is, you need to post up photos of the bolt.
98's have three lugs, two up front, and one in the rear. Earlier models have only two lugs.
That will help narrow things down. Also, you can remove the action from the stock and find the markings underneath the wood. To remove all doubt about what it is, you would need to have all the proofmarks and serial numbers to give someone. Lots of stuff under that stock.. With the good close up of the receiver, we can finally see that it is for sure a small ring Mauser (not a 98).
You can pull the bolt and you'll find two lugs, and no third lug on the rear of the bolt. Some of these have been converted to other calibers, but it's not really worth it. Leave it as is, shoot 7mm Mauser out of it once in a while, and forget about trying to make money on it. Many Mauser rifles are worth tons of money, but those rifles are generally civilian sporters done up by Rigby, Gibbs, or one of many very fine German gunsmiths.
Check out the current issue of Rifle magazine, it's all about the Mauser brand. There is also a thread right now on this forum where a guy has posted up photos of an early Mauser sporter that might be worth some money. There are some military rifles that are worth money, but those are usually Oberndorf (German made) Mausers, and not contract pieces. Sorry to rain on your parade, but the rifle is worth keeping for it's own sake, not because of any value motive. It's a good rifle.
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