Guns International #: 102091692
Seller's Inventory #: 646205

Category - Steyr Rifles - Military Rifles - German

Category
Steyr Rifles
Military Rifles - German

STEYR Modelo 1912 Mauser

Description:
Guns Listing ID: 646205

CLEAN LOOKING RIFLE. NO BENT BOLT. WAFFENFABRIK STEYR AUSTRIA MODELO 1912. GREAT FOR ANY COLLECTION!


Currently, we are still in the centenary of the First World War (1914-1918) and in the past four years interest in this conflict has risen steadily. This has been helped in part by various forms of media piquing the interest of those who may not have been informed about this incredibly important historical event. And as can be expected, this interest has also crept it’s way into the firearms world.

While gun owners generally have an interest in historical arms, weapons from World War Two usually seem to overshadow those of the Great War, so it’s good to see these firearms get more attention. But with a rise in interest, so have we seen a rise in prices. Rifles that were once $200 are now $400. Four hundred dollar rifles are now $700. It was once accepted that rifles of the First World War would be less-expensive than those of the Second; they were older, and had been rode harder for a longer period of time. There was also little “glory” in the trenches when compared to WWII. No longer the case, there is still hope for the average shooter. Sort of.

BACKGROUND
The military of the Republic of Chile has always had a bit of a Prussian slant. Even to this day, their parade uniforms include Stahlhelms and elite units still wear Pickelhauben. Naturally their parade rifles are Mauser 98 and 95 rifles and their uniforms are often a spitting image for the German Army.

DSCN2489
The game-changing Mauser 98 bolt. Note the large locking lugs and claw extractor. (Photo: Francis Borek)

The 1895 Mauser was essentially an evolution of the epoch-making Spanish Model 1893. Chambered in the 7x57mm cartridge, the rifle and cartridge taught the US Army the importance of clip-loading high velocity cartridges in Cuba. Boer commandos taught the British some hard earned lessons about marksmanship on the veldt of South Africa with the 7x57mm Model 1895 Mauser.

By 1911 however, the cock-on-closing Model 1895 was starting to appear a little outdated and Chile wanted a new rifle. For them the choice was simple: adopt what the Germans have, which was the famous Model 1898 Mauser. Indeed, the rifle that Chile adopted was essentially the same as this the 1898 Mauser — though with a few changes. It was dubbed the Modelo 1912.

DEVELOPMENT
First and foremost of these changes, the Modelo 1912 was made by Waffenfabrik Steyr of Austria instead of by DWM/Mauser Oberndorf of Germany. Additionally, the same rifle Chile ordered was also sold to Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, and even China bought a few.

DSCN2497
Stock disc that is used for unit markings. Also shown is the quick-detach swivel. (Photo: Francis Borek)

It dispensed with the complicated and expensive Lange-Vizier rear sight for a simple tangent sight. The upper handguard also wrapped around the rear sight. Gone also were the grasping grooves on the stock as well as the stock washer for bolt disassembly. In it’s place was an acceptance stamp on one side of the stock, and a unit disc on the other.

Very wisely, Chile retained the 7x57mm cartridge. It had already proven itself to a be flat shooting cartridge with low recoil. But perhaps most importantly, Chile already had large stocks of the cartridge and would save money by retaining it.

SERVICE HISTORY
When World War One started, the Austro-Hungarian government purchased the large stocks of Modelo 1912 rifles that Steyr had yet to del

SOLD

Manufacturer: STEYR
Model: Modelo 1912 Mauser
Caliber Info: 7 MM
Condition: Used - Non-Certified
Barrels: 28.5 BARREL
Finish: WOOD