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DWM Mauser 1895 sporter with an odd scope mount

H

HerrWolfsberg

Member
Recently I acquired this Mauser 1895 sporter in 7x57. The rifle shows a very nice civilian gunsmithing work, but the barrel has a standard military contour. Apart of the name of the manufacturer (DWM) and the serial number, there are no other proof marks.

There is a scope mount, but instead of the regular configuration, the bases are quite far in the front. The mount itself looks like a Suhl mount but with just one hook instead of two.

Would somebody know:

a) what kind of a scope could have originally been mounted on the rifle given the position of the bases?

b) whether the rifle started its life as a commercial piece or whether it fits in some of the foreign contracts?

Thanks in advance.
 

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HerrWolfsberg said:
a) what kind of a scope could have originally been mounted on the rifle given the position of the bases?

b) whether the rifle started its life as a commercial piece or whether it fits in some of the foreign contracts?
Click to expand...
a) I believe I have seen similar scope arrangements from multiple manufacturers. Hopefully someone else here notices a specific trait that may help. Sporting rifles aren't my forte.

b) This brings to mind other rifles very similar, though scopeless. I would hazard a guess yours was purpose built for the commercial market.
www.k98kforum.com

Help with DWM (Commercial?) Identification

Came across this and not sure what I have. Pulled the metal from the stock to clean it since it was filthy from years of storage. I thought it was a typical sporterized Mauser, it is not. Original blue. No marks of any kind from modifications to the metal. Metal appears to be all original. The...
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Have you had the barreled receiver out of the stock?

From what I can see in the pictures this would have been a “commercially” retailed rifle built by DWM. Some refer to these as Pleizergewehr as many were bought and sold, most commonly to Africa in the early 1900’s. However, many have turned up in the US that that narrative does not necessarily make sense. Some have stated that they were presents, or purchased by dignitaries, members of commissions, government officials, etc. What we do know from observation is that they were a commercial variant often times constructed from contract parts.

“commercial” in quotes, being that these were not part of a military contract, but neither appear to have been sold through normal commercial channels that I know of.

If you take the rifle apart and go over it with a fine tooth comb you may find some markings that tell a little story.

I own serial 3, or 8, I forget at the moment of a similar rifle. Rifle is clearly built during or immediately following the last Chilean 1895 contract in 1902 if memory serves correctly. Only a few parts are Chilean accepted parts, it has the exact same barrel as a Chilean 1895, they even utilized a cut down rear sight base for a commercial/sporter rear sight. Beautiful gun.

Thanks for sharing pictures of yours. If you have time and are able, I would appreciate any photographs you can take of the barrel and receiver under the wood line and any small markings on parts.
 
Mikegermany said:
This should be for an Vogtländer scope with long eye relief, often mounted on Mannlicher and 88 systems in this time period.
Click to expand...

Ah, that makes sense! Thanks a lot.

Would you happen to know the model of Voigtländer scope I should look for?
Fal Grunt said:
Have you had the barreled receiver out of the stock?

From what I can see in the pictures this would have been a “commercially” retailed rifle built by DWM. Some refer to these as Pleizergewehr as many were bought and sold, most commonly to Africa in the early 1900’s. However, many have turned up in the US that that narrative does not necessarily make sense. Some have stated that they were presents, or purchased by dignitaries, members of commissions, government officials, etc. What we do know from observation is that they were a commercial variant often times constructed from contract parts.

“commercial” in quotes, being that these were not part of a military contract, but neither appear to have been sold through normal commercial channels that I know of.

If you take the rifle apart and go over it with a fine tooth comb you may find some markings that tell a little story.

I own serial 3, or 8, I forget at the moment of a similar rifle. Rifle is clearly built during or immediately following the last Chilean 1895 contract in 1902 if memory serves correctly. Only a few parts are Chilean accepted parts, it has the exact same barrel as a Chilean 1895, they even utilized a cut down rear sight base for a commercial/sporter rear sight. Beautiful gun.

Thanks for sharing pictures of yours. If you have time and are able, I would appreciate any photographs you can take of the barrel and receiver under the wood line and any small markings on parts.
Click to expand...

Thanks, the info sounds very interesting. I've had the barreled receiver out of the stock, but didn't take any photos. But I'll be at my safe tomorrow so I'll take photos for you.
 
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