About half of the cartridges failed to fire despite fairly deep firing-pin indentations on the primer. Fortunately, the purchase also included a bag of corrosive military ammo. In fact, it was more than the rifle was probably worth on the market at that time, but the Mauser was in considerably better condition than most surplus rifles available during those years. I used silver dollars for all gun purchases during that era, and 40 of them was a healthy price for a surplus Mauser. All I knew was that I wanted that rifle and was willing to put down the 40 silver dollars it took to walk away with it. Yes, I knew what Mausers were, but I couldn't have discussed the differences among them. But who ever said gun deals have to make sense?Īt the time I had no clue that there was any difference in status between that pristine Model 1909 Argentine Mauser still in cosmoline and any other garden-variety surplus rifle. It talked to me, and I listened despite my father's warning that there was no sense in buying some "foreign" rifle that shot ammo no one could get. There, on a table at an Ohio gun show, was this beautiful rifle. I can't recall the exact date in the mid-1950s, but I can remember what happened like it was last week. To many collectors, this superbly made bolt-action military rifle represents the crown jewel of all Model 98 variants.īy modern standards the Model 1909 classifies as somewhat unwieldy, thanks to its 29-inch barrel. Originally published in Guns & Ammo Magazine. On the model 1909, besides the larger ring for strength, the extractors were improved, as well as improving the gas porting and adding a third safety lug on the bolt.ġ. The earlier model 1891 rifle made by DWM or Lowe of Germany, was small ring Mauser almost identical to turk 1890. It was made in 4 versions, the 1909 Rifle, the 1909 sniper, 1909 Cavalry, and the 1909 Mountain Carbine, each of the last three in limited numbers. It was also later produced in Agentine factories and it's built on the large ring Mauser 98 style action. The 1909 Argentine Mauser was manufactured under contract by DWM in Germany for the Argentine government. In the mid 1880’s the Argentine army was using the Remington Rolling Block Rifle, after which they switched to the Model 1891 Mauser and finally, the Model 1909. Argentine Mauser Rifles 1871-1959 by Colin Webster - ISBN: 0764318683 Estimated 1,500 based upon scope purchases (1923-1927)