My impulse buy... a mauser sporter.

[becker_atc]

Well I stumbled into a pawn shop today and saw rifle I wanted. Ran to the bank to get the cash and long story short I ended up with it.



It's czech/brno mauser with a 30-06 barrel, has iron sights, drilled and tapped with a weaver k4 (not marked el paso but says USA and seems very clear) and bore looks good. Next day off I get I will see if she will shoot for me. If so will stay a 30-06 and will likely be taken up to my dads so I have a rifle there and not have to always cart one up there. If she dont shoot all to well looks like I got a good base for a custom mauser hunting rifle........Gave $250 for it.

 

[ronny]

Unless there's something seriously wrong with it, you done good, especially given the use you plan for it.

 

[been]

nice! So its a VZ24? I have one and its great! Smooth action!

 

[becker_atc]

I looked it over best I could with a light and stepped out into natural light. Nothing jumped out besides it needs a good cleaning and oiling (was a very dry in the action). Theres is a bit of surface light rust on the floor plate and trigger guard that I think will scrub right off. I didnt have time as i was rushing home to toss it in the safe and make a mad dash to the plant for night shift.

Paused long enough to snap a cell phone picture and toss a little oil on the bolt to see if it would slick up any. Few drops and she improved 100%, went from from having decent resistance of no lube to super smooth in the matter of working the action a few times with some fresh oil. Trigger is a bit heavy for my liking but not much creep and seems consistant for a likely worked over military trigger.

As for being a VZ24 I assume it is, the crest looks to be ground off under the scope base and its not marked vz24 like some I have seen, BUT a friend of mine thats built several mausers over the years said that not all of them were marked. So IDK. Any other marks give it away?

 

[Toney]

Very nice!!!

 

[Mr.357Sig]

Nice score. Congrats.

 

[AKguy1985]

Does the serial number have an R in the prefix?

 

[becker_atc]

Four digit serial number with a B under it. Small lion proof mark, crest is ground off and stamped ceskolovenska, zbrojovka, a.s., brno

 

[mightymouse]

You did good...congrats!

 

[becker_atc]

According to this the rifle started life as a VZ98/22, made from about '23 to '27 it looks like.

A, B, C, D blocks: 40,000 VZ98/22 long rifles produced in 1923, VZ23 Short bayonet.

...

After the initial letter prefix batch was completed, serial numbers ran:

Brno:
xxxxA through xxxxC

Mine is BRNO made and is XXXX B (cant remember exact numbers but in the 4K range I think)

More info: http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?318806-Czechoslovak-Mauser-Serial-Numbers