A closer look at my next Mauser...a Turk...

[majspud]

I was drawn back to the gunshop where I bought my Lion Crest Vz24 to have another look at a Turkish Mauser they had. What I found was a bolt MM 03/38 K. Kale rebuild dated 1944.

Serial number 180238 on receiver, floor plate, rear sight, sight leaf, and slide. Barrel not numbered. Straight bolt is in the white, numbered 80686, so close that when I first saw it, I thought it was all matching. Finish is faded blue and patina, about 70%, and pleasing overall. Stock has light marks considering a Turk; trigger guard screws are a little beat up. Bore is bright and very good; no pitting at all. Metal parts have cosmoline, especially the bolt. Cleaning rod present. The wood is mostly clean, not nearly as wet as my Lion Crest Vz24; should clean up and oil well. Tested my field gauge; no problems. Import marked at muzzle, CAI GEORGIA VT.

The receiver had the typical markings:

T.C Turkiye Cumhuriyeti (Republic of Turkey)
ASFA Askari Fabrika Military Factory
ANK ARA Ankara (City)
K. Kale Kirikkale Tufek Fabrikast Kirikkale Rifle Factory
1944

Number of old rifles converted at K. Kale to the 1938 modern pattern:
1940 0 to 40136: approximately 40,000 rifles.
1941 to 66952: 26,000 rifles.
1942 to 113321: 53,000 rifles.
1943 to 150354: 36,000 rifles.
1944 to 198680: 48,000 rifles. (180,238 would be about the 30,000th '03 rifle out of the 48,000 converted that year)
1945 to 221343: 21,000 rifles.
1946 to 239120: 16,000 rifles.
(Facts quoted from http://turkmauser.com/1938/)

As this is not the shop I do most of my business, he does not have a layaway plan. I hope to have the $149 within the next month.

MS

P.S.

He also had an Enfield Mark 4, No. 1, that I didn't notice last time. Bore VG, wood VG. Marked R.O.F. 1941, bolt and receiver match in original and import marked serial number on receiver. Lots of cosmo on the bolt. Magazine restamped to match. Front band and exposed muzzle mostly white, and Savage marked as is the trigger guard and floor plate. Unusual. There was also a large metal wood screw head about an inch in front of the trigger guard on the right side. I didn't think this was normal; maybe a cheap fix for a crack? Cost $195.

He also had a faded Parkerized finish P17, Eddystone, and E marked parts. Barrel undated. $550. Nice wood.

 

[Karl]

Sounds like the Enfield has the "Ishapore Screw". It's possible it spent time in India or was repaired by the Brits.

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=11600

 

[SKS Ray]

I remember when Turks were cheap cheap and wish I'd have bough more back then. They were considered the bastards of Mauser types and were imported in large numbers. Finding a matching bolt rifle was like finding a needle in a haystack, I have one and I'll never sell it, but no matter what these rifles always shot well. My best shooting Turk has a crown that looks as if it was rarely if ever shot and is sharp enough to where you can feel the rifling with your finger tip when you run it over the muzzle.