03-08-10 02:15 PM - Post#91364    

I have had this rifle for many years, it was bought from an estate sale and no one knew anything but suspected it as being spanish. I have scrubbed many bb's and cant find anything the same. does anyone know anything about this rifle and can someone help me with finding out some history of it.

Thanks.

link to pics on facebook... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11103&id...

03-08-10 07:49 PM - Post#91375    

    In response to nuclearnco

The rifle you have is a Spanish Model 1916 Mauser.
I can not tell by your pictures how long the barrel is so I am unsure if it is a Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) Short Rifle or a Cavalry Carbine.
These rifles are essentially shortened versions of the Spanish M1893 Mauser Rifle.
Manufactured at Spains Ovideo Arsenal from 1916-1951 these rifles were originally chambered for 7mm Mauser (7x57) but most were rechambered to 7.62 NATO during the early 1960's.

I have seen many "sporterized" military rifles and I find yours very interesting.
The stock work is one of the better conversions I have come across.
Most simply have the handguard removed and the stock shortened, or they replace the military stock for a commercial one.
In the case of your rifle the military stock was retained but has been ground down to a straight english style grip behind the trigger guard and extended to the muzzle by adding additional wood.

I also took notice of your rear sight.
While it is a military sight it is not original to your rifle.
The type of rear sight is known as a Lange Vizier sight.
These sights are normally found on German GEW 98 rifles.

The Spanish M1893 was originally manufactured by LUDWIG & LOEWE in Germany before production started at OVEDIO in Spain.
Some of the early German made M1893's were suppossed to have had these sights on them.
Whether your sight is one of these that the Spanards placed on the rifle, or was added at a latter date after the rifle was surplused, I have no way of knowing.

The "hat" symbol that you mention is the Spanish Royal Crown.
The Royal Crown with a crossed Sword and Fasces below it is the official Crest of the Spanish Civil Guard (Espana Guardia Civil).
The Guardia Civil is the Spanish version of a combined National Police/National Guard.

School teaches us the Precious Metals are Gold, Silver and Platinum. Life teaches us they're really Brass, Copper, Lead and Steel.