What a wonderful video and for me, personally, very timely. I have begun collecting and your videos are teaching me as I go along and confirming that my selections are good. You and I seem to have very similar tastes in firearms. I follow you on Patreon as well so as not to miss any of your teaching. Thank you!
Excellent video as always. Love the old mausers, i had a Swedish mauser in 6.5mm of course, fantastic rifle, fantastic cartridge, and when i bought mine, it was cheap.
When these rifles were made, no corners were cut. They were made with fit and finish that many custom rifles today would be hard to reproduce. While an Ar style rifle may work fine ,it has no soul. Its like a truck compared to a sports car.
Hi Ron - I'm the same. I used to have a collection of Mausers way back - but they were so common and not worth much at the time and more and more seemed to arrive from all over Europe. Many were unissued. If only I had kept them all and bought more of the ones still in arsenal grease. Many of these have gone up 10X and more. Oh well, live and learn as people like to say. Thanks for the support!
I came across an FR-8 in excellent condition at a rural Goat, Livestock Feed & Seed and hesitated to buy. After watching your videos on the FR-8 I drove back to the boonies and made the purchase. Thank you for the great videos.
I just bought a Swedish Mauser M38 by Husqvarna - inspired by your videos. Waiting for it to arrive at my FFL. The 6.5 x 55mm is just a brilliant cartridge for a brilliant rifle. Can’t wait . . .
As late as the 1950s, the Mexicans actually tried adopting a bolt-action for standard military use. I believe you were going to do a video on them, but preempted for a couple of "End of the World" videos (which were quite insightful). The FR7/FR8 series is fascinating: A rear-area manual-action arm in military caliber (7.62mm NATO) seemingly made to look self-loading, with the flash hider and imitation gas tube. Cheap but fills the role, with the appearance perhaps offering some deterrence to bad guys.
Thanks for the great videos. I've always loved military surplus firearms but you have given me more appreciation and interest for the sporting weapons.
Very nice rifle Sir, on Your Peruvian Carbine, it is strange how the sling mounts are on the same side as the bolt handle, it makes Me wonder if those were used for some type of patrol sling, or perhaps to hang the rifle from a saddle in some way. Excellent review Sir, God Bless.
Hi Rick! I could not figure it all out - probably a special application carbine but I never found out what the application was. Thanks for the good words. God Bless You Rick
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns sir, do you have in your collection any Spanish model 1916 in 7 mm? I bought one and would like to ask you if you know why it does not have any crest?
Those are some really beautiful military surplus rifles you have. Such rifles are tough to beat for personality, history, quality, and just sheer variety of action designs. Besides, when it comes to the "plastic whatever" if it makes someone happy so be it, but the U.S. Model 1917 (a non-sporterized Eddystone with its original 1918 barrel) I have is celebrating its 100th birthday this month while others of its ilk are still doing front-line duty in the Danish military as part of the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol in Greenland. The best part is that the Sirius Patrol have been offered the ability to pick new rifles, but they refuse to give up 100+ year old rifles they have found to be extremely dependable in arctic conditions. Honestly, I can't think of many 100 year old weapon systems, let alone actual weapons that are still serving in such harsh conditions while fending off potential replacements successfully.
I learned from your writing - thank you so much. I had no awareness of the Sirius Patrol. I would be just like them. Modern military rifles work extremely well, and then they don't work at all. Recently a fellow showed me his black rifle - he had fallen and hit a rock. A piece of the aluminum action had broken away and before breaking the action deformed in the area of the break. Almost nothing moved. Time for new parts but in the middle of no where...I'll take the Enfield every time. Thanks for writing.
You are welcome and I am happy that I was able to share some interesting military history. For myself, part of the fun of owning old battle rifles is learning about their history. A great example is in the case of the U.S. Model 1917 one has to go to the Second Boar War to understand the origins of its design history. On the subject of modern military rifles you are right in that they work extremely well until they don't. As to their aesthetics I find the black plastic or synthetic stocks to be sterile and cold. That makes them great for a truck gun that is in a rough environment, or as a firearm that a person won't worry about scratching or damaging a nice wood stock on. In regard to the your statement that you will "take the Enfield every time" I fully agree. They are tough to be beat, and they have extremely strong actions so a person can find sporterized ones in magnum rounds such as 300 H&H, 375 H&H, etc.
Another fine video I never new or seen some of these guns you have a great channel the best on you tube Ian really interested in history so ther is so much history and stories attached to most rifles again well done video
@USOG, Did not know you had a video on Mauser's. When I bought my Spanish Mauser about 20 some years ago there was no You-Tube video's to learn more about this. So most research I found on this was from books and other people I talked to that owned these guns. When I bought my Spanish Mauser someone before me re bored it into the 308 Win, which I learned that was a real bad thing. Never will buy another re bored gun again. About 5 or 6 years ago bought the original Yugoslavia 8 mm Mauser, which was never re bored, and in very good condition. It is a great rifle, one of my favorite. Then the Japanese WW2 Mauser I got was handed down to me, and I am the 3rd owner of it since a great uncle brought it back with him from WW2. And never shot it yet. I think the Japanese Mauser is not very well made and very bad craftsmanship compared to the Yugoslavia, German, Spanish etc..... Mauser's. Of course the one I have is beat up real bad, like the Spanish Mauser I have. Read and heard the Japanese Mauser is an excellent deer and wild boar caliber, but not a good caliber for elk moose etc....like the Spanish 7 mm or 8 mm German and Yugoslavian Mauser's are. Then the Spanish 308 Win you have there, was that the original caliber for that gun or did someone re bored it ?
Hi - Good post. They are all so interesting. The Japanese version known as the Arisaka may look crude but it is actually the strongest of them all - an almost indestructible action. I keep studying and learning.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns , Thanks, Yeah I am always keep studying and learning myself,cause I love this topic as well as you can see. Never known the Japanese Arisaka has the strongest action. Guess out of many and many gun companies through out the world that has been making guns since the 1300,s, I don't think I will never learn it all and it amazes me that they always can come up with new calibers and or new styles of make of guns every year.
This Brazilian Mauser is especially beautiful reminds me of the Swedish M38. I love the lines of these rifles. Is this Peruvian Mauser one that they had FN rebarrel to 30-06? Thanks Mike 👍 BTW what was the caliber of the Brazilian Mauser?
I really like the dial aperture on the FR8 have you tested it at the different ranges? Seems like a really good idea I don't know why more people don't do this with the dial aperture. Thank you
I like to say there is no "military surplus" market anymore, only a "collector's market". Prices for military surplus have gone up so much that in most cases it makes more sense to buy a new production firearm if you are looking for value. If you are buying an older gun, you probably went in looking for one.
I think you are correct and the nice thing is this trend will continue. They aren't making them anymore. Buy the military surplus - enjoy...and sell for more later. Or buy new, have less for more money and sell for little later.
Another option is to buy good quality F.N. Mausers that were sold by such retailers as Sears and Roebuck, under the J.C. Higgins brand. The only problem then is they almost always come with a trashy scope that the dealer wants to pass of for a high priced combo.
There is huge interest, and higher prices because I started to want some old military guns, so of course the prices have sky rocketed. It's been about 3 years that I decided the new stuff, though fancy looking, just doesn't compare in quality, and to shoot something that is so old, and made by craftsmen, and possibly has a real history to it. Just such an experience. Too bad if video gamers are buying them.
On that fr 8, what is the under-barrel protrusion? It resembles a semi-auto but that is a bolt action. I have seen a Brazilian, sporterized, (scoped) 7x57 1935 sub moa @ 100 yds. thank you
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns thank you for your reply. I had not ever seen one before you presented it here, it is an interesting feature that caught my attention!
Hello LW, Many people have the same thoughts - me included. It is a sad reality but somehow we seem unable to rise above hurting one another. For sure it adds a thoughtful dimension to owning the retired - from - service military rifles and seems to add to their ever increasing value.
@USOG, nice rifles, you don't see these in this condition everyday. I can see your Peruvian FN Mauser has the reversed safety. Do you know any details, why these guns were build with the reversed safety instead of the "normal" one?
As legend goes, one of the colonels on ordering commette was a target shooter and normal safety was to close to his nose for comfort, so he insisted on a reversed safety.
A question for you or for the community, I have a 1950 numbers matching FR 8. The metal finish is excellent and it shoots better than my abilities to aim it. Question is, I would like to refinish the stock. Steam out the dents, strip, sand, stain and oil. Will I be destroying historical value in doing this. I have experience in wood finishing and won't "bubba" it up. Your thoughts please.
Quick Question, would you consider doing a video discussing your opinion and ideas on the current atmosphere of gun control/debate, the NRA that’s supposedly running out of funding, etc I’m not asking you to get political, and I hope that it wouldn’t make you uncomfortable but it would be understandable if you didn’t want to . I’m a young man, that’s unsure of the future of firearms , and am just looking for some advice and wisdom. Thanks for all your content sir
Something I love about the old 3rd world military rifles is that they are often better guns than their more Western contemporaries. I have 3 theories to this 1. They had smaller armies than nations like Germany and the US so they could afford giving their infantry better small arms (think Switzerland historically with guns like the K31 and Vetterli or New Zealand today with the Lewis Machine and Tools ARs) 2. The design is already made for them by the western super powers, once they ordered the tooling for their Rolling Blocks and Mausers, the only place to go was up. 3. They often had access to larger amounts of higher quality raw materials, this is especially true for Latin America which had access to far better Timbers for stock making on adverage than the Western powers (Brazil in particular has some of the best wood in the world in it's rain forests) This is unfortuantly no longer the case with modern firearms as their more complex automatic actions give these poorer countries more places to cut corners that the super powers wouldn't have. We thankfully still have these beauties.
Hi Frank - we're on the same page. There is more quality and character in the military rifles of yesteryear, from Lee Enfields, Enfields, Mausers and Arisakas to Springfields and others - then just about any modern rifle. We just don't seem to know how anymore. Fortunately, the used racks are waiting for those who know and one can go home with 3 better rifles for the price of one, or one for one third of a plastic whatever.
Thank you as always for sharing. I always learn from your videos. I have a question. I've been looking into buying a 1884 Springfield trapdoor as an investment, but also to shoot. How much does restoration help or hurt the value. I don't think I would attempt to completely restore the rifle, but would really just do a high maintenance. Getting rid of rust, repairing stock damage, and possibly rust bluing.
As far as possible I try to leave rifles as they are, but I do brass brush away rust and wash stocks with mineral spirits; anything that doesn't change the rifle - but cleans it - to me - is a good thing. I hope you buy that Springfield - legendary rifles and a unique and practical action. I wouldn't worry about the rust blue - the gun will shoot just the same with or without it. Hope this helps and God Bless.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Thank you, and yes it helps. The only reason I had thought to do any work at all is what I had thought of purchasing is a project gun. I'm always working on something, and I had thought just like a home, possibly sweat equity would increase value. Now I may just look at rifles in better condition. Again thank you Mike, your advice means a lot to me.
Generally, from what I have seen of the Antiques Road Show the less is more rule is the best when it comes to restoration. In the case of doing rust bluing not only would you lose the 100+ year old patina and honest wear that the firearm has, but it will likely cause a loss in value from the investment/collector standpoint. How much I don't know, but likely depends on the future potential buyer more than anything else. As to a good general resource on trapdoors I recommend trapdoorcollector.com. It has information pertaining to disassembly, restoration, production data, etc. With regard to the 1884 model you may also want to check out the 1888 model that is mostly distinguished by its ramrod bayonet. I should also mention that the Model 1888 comes with a breech block that says it is the U.S. Model 1884, but it isn't. As such, sometimes sellers will mistakenly list the 1888 model for sale as an 1884 model so it is useful to know. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck in your search for a Trapdoor.
Be wary of South American surplus guns from tropical climates. The condition of the metal under the wood is likely to be in very much worse condition than that which is visible, due to the condensation of moisture and the difficulty of cleaning and oiling it there.
Word of warning. Only use military grade 7.62mm NATO in the Spanish FR8 carbine. The pressures of the .308 exceeds the chamber pressures for the receiver. The head case of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge is much thicker for safety measure, the .308 head case is thinner. Only use military spec ammunition. I have seen one bulge on the receiver and crack the stock where the magazine is by the reinforcing cross bolt. Spanish style Mauser 98 receivers are softer than any other style of Mauser 98 rifles of carbine made by CZ or FN. The Spanish didn't have the technical package to build them. The Spanish government built and copied these during WWII and didn't have the quality control as the Spanish 1893 style made before the Spanish Civil War. The M93s were built on the Mauser technical package and quality control specified by Mauser in their government arsenals. The FR-7s were built on older receivers from existing 1893s and M1916 short rifles and carbines.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Spanish military ammunition have always been loaded to less pressure than the standard US and NATO specs as in the M80 Ball. The FR8 and FR7 were transition rifles for the Spanish Army in the late 1950s till the 1960s when the Spanish Army adopted the CETME 58 service rifle in 1957. Designed by former Mauser employees who escaped to Spain after WWII and employed at CETME by Franco to design weapons for the Spanish Army. Later production CETME 58s were made stronger by better steel pressings and barrels to handle the US M80 Ball cartridge. The German Army then adopted the CETME 58 to be produced by Rheinmetall and H&K in Germany as the G3 because the Belgians wouldn't let the Germans produce under license the FN FAL as their G1. All Spanish military produced 7.62mm reduced load were used to fire the FR8 and FR7 for transition phase marksmanship training for the Spanish Armed Forces through the 1960s and 1970s. I remember back in 1987 when I was in Barcelona Spain the Guardia Civil and some local police were armed with FR8s,FR7s, and Destroyer Carbines strolling on the sidewalks near the beach armed with these rifles. Back then I knew the Spanish loved their Mauser rifles and I was fascinated to find out why they carried these till the then in the 1980s? I found out in the 1990s when they were first imported into the US from Shotgun News in an article. I bought an FR8 because I loved Mauser action rifles. I read the article and found out about the precaution about firing .308 in them. One day at the range a guy bought one of these FR8 rifles and he loaded them with Remington .308 hunting 150 grain soft point hunting ammo and blew up his rifle. His left hand got cut from the stock splitting after 15 rounds. I had no problems using surplus Spanish military Santa Barbara ammo made in 1970. I bought 3000 rounds of it for $180.00 back then. These rounds sucked in my Armscorp M14 and didn't properly cycle and I nearly had to close the gas regulator on my Century British parts kit L1A1. The Spanish Santa Barbara ammo was not powerful enough. But it worked in my buddy's H&K 91 with no problems and ejected the rounds normal like a G3 to the next galaxy. The following week a gunsmith who looked at the guy's rifle and took it home to do a Rockwell hardness test on the receiver. He said that the receiver was soft and heavy Spanish steel and made at the La Coruna Arsenal. My FR8 was made in Santa Barbara Arsenal. Santa Barbara I think was a powder arsenal and artillery facility for the Spanish Army. I think that quality was better there in my opinion because Spanish arms quality control were very shoddy at that.
@@reddevilparatrooper "Spanish military ammunition have always been loaded to less pressure than the standard US and NATO specs as in the M80 Ball" That is incorrect. All ammunition was loaded to NATO standards and even the pre-adoption 7.62 "CETME" cartridges had similar chamber pressures to 7.62 NATO - imgur.com/a/j3lS2 - "One day at the range a guy bought one of these FR8 rifles and he loaded them with Remington .308 hunting 150 grain soft point hunting ammo and blew up his rifle" Do you know if it was a commercial loading, or a reload? Did he check the headspacing of the rifle? Did he check it for prior damage? The only recorded proof of blown-up Spanish Mausers I have seen were through reloads and, in the case of the FR-7, Pakistani ammunition loaded with cannon powder.
@Superdude70 I saw a friend of mines FR-8 with the receiver crack, bolt stuck, and stock crushed from the center and back. His FR-8 was in good condition imported into the states by SAMCO from Florida back in the early 1990s. The ammunition he loaded into his carbine was Remington 180 grain soft point hunting ammo. I know the pressures on hunting ammo are higher than the SAAMI specs than a standard military 7.62MM NATO round and the inside case dimension. 7.62mm NATO military casing has a thicker wall at the bottom near the base up a 3rd from the extractor groove intentionally designed from having case head separation. He had fired 15 rounds out of the box and the 16th blew his carbine up. I looked at his empty cartridges and found that all the primers were almost crushed flat. His cases had cracks and splits from the case, shoulder, and neck which indicates the FR-8 has a 7.62mm NATO style chamber which has a loose tolerance for thicker walled military cartridges. Hunting rifles in .308 have tighter dimensions in their chamberings like Winchester Model 70s and Remington 700s. Therefore he used the wrong ammunition in a Spanish surplus military rifle. Spanish made military Mauser rifles from 1892 to the 1930s have used the technical data package from the 7mm Mauser. The conversions or large ring Mauser production FR-8s were done in the 1950s. The M1943 is an M98 action made in Spain made during WWII and after for the Spanish Army and Air Force. I think that they made these rifles to the German TDP for 7.92X57 using the 198 grain heavy spitzer in 198 grains. These FR-8 and FR-7s were made to only fire military ammunition not commercial grade high pressure hunting ammo. Of course you will know the difference. I am not that idiot that don't know the difference. That I am not being a smart ass to you. I do hand load and know not to exceed the limits of all calibers by their loading charts an SAAMI specs. I know a few hand loaders who have tried to do beyond the specs with older and modern firearms. They have injured themselves by destroying their firearms. Not good. I don't think it's foolish to give a warning than not give a fuck at all.
As a dude in his early 30s, it was OG Call of Duty on computer that got me interested in older guns
What a wonderful video and for me, personally, very timely. I have begun collecting and your videos are teaching me as I go along and confirming that my selections are good. You and I seem to have very similar tastes in firearms. I follow you on Patreon as well so as not to miss any of your teaching. Thank you!
LOVE the Mauser carbines. That's a spectacular example. Thanks for sharing!
Modern rifles "lacking in character" is so true!
As a spanish mauser collector i love your FR8 Sir! Good video as always! Greetings from Italy!
Thank you! Glad you are here. Hope all is well with you in the bel paese! Ciao!
Excellent video as always. Love the old mausers, i had a Swedish mauser in 6.5mm of course, fantastic rifle, fantastic cartridge, and when i bought mine, it was cheap.
They go up and up - in accordance with the quality and value they are.
When these rifles were made, no corners were cut. They were made with fit and finish that many custom rifles today would be hard to reproduce. While an Ar style rifle may work fine ,it has no soul. Its like a truck compared to a sports car.
Gee, John, I think you got that truck and sport's car thing backward.
@@larrytischler8769 Your right LOL
I used to collect military Mausers. I really wish I had kept some of them!!! Thank you for a wonderful video. You have some wonderful rifles!
Hi Ron - I'm the same. I used to have a collection of Mausers way back - but they were so common and not worth much at the time and more and more seemed to arrive from all over Europe. Many were unissued. If only I had kept them all and bought more of the ones still in arsenal grease. Many of these have gone up 10X and more. Oh well, live and learn as people like to say. Thanks for the support!
First , my DWm 1908 Brazil 7x57 is zeroed and taken the shooting test for moose and more here this season . Ammo is Hornady Gmx 139 grain.
I came across an FR-8 in excellent condition at a rural Goat, Livestock Feed & Seed and hesitated to buy. After watching your videos on the FR-8 I drove back to the boonies and made the purchase. Thank you for the great videos.
Great call Angel - these are very fine. I bought another myself because it has an exceptional bore. You'll like your FR -8. Glad my video was helpful.
I love your videos. Really want to buy another mauser. I have a M 43 mauser in 8mm. Thank you for posting this one.
Thank you John - I hope you get that rifle soon : )
I just bought a Swedish Mauser M38 by Husqvarna - inspired by your videos. Waiting for it to arrive at my FFL. The 6.5 x 55mm is just a brilliant cartridge for a brilliant rifle. Can’t wait . . .
Great decision - you'll find the rifle and cartridge excellent!
Beautiful pieces !!! =)
You do a great job . Trust me when I say I am pretty finnicky on gun videos . You do it right .
Thank you David!
As late as the 1950s, the Mexicans actually tried adopting a bolt-action for standard military use. I believe you were going to do a video on them, but preempted for a couple of "End of the World" videos (which were quite insightful).
The FR7/FR8 series is fascinating: A rear-area manual-action arm in military caliber (7.62mm NATO) seemingly made to look self-loading, with the flash hider and imitation gas tube. Cheap but fills the role, with the appearance perhaps offering some deterrence to bad guys.
Thanks for the great videos. I've always loved military surplus firearms but you have given me more appreciation and interest for the sporting weapons.
Thank you! There really is nothing else quite like them and nothing better than them.
Nice I’ve Got a Spanish Mauser In 7x57 Mauser It’s Well Used But Still Shooting 😀😊👍🏼
Very nice rifle Sir, on Your Peruvian Carbine, it is strange how the sling mounts are on the same side as the bolt handle, it makes Me wonder if those were used for some type of patrol sling, or perhaps to hang the rifle from a saddle in some way.
Excellent review Sir, God Bless.
Hi Rick! I could not figure it all out - probably a special application carbine but I never found out what the application was. Thanks for the good words. God Bless You Rick
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns sir, do you have in your collection any Spanish model 1916 in 7 mm? I bought one and would like to ask you if you know why it does not have any crest?
Those are some really beautiful military surplus rifles you have. Such rifles are tough to beat for personality, history, quality, and just sheer variety of action designs. Besides, when it comes to the "plastic whatever" if it makes someone happy so be it, but the U.S. Model 1917 (a non-sporterized Eddystone with its original 1918 barrel) I have is celebrating its 100th birthday this month while others of its ilk are still doing front-line duty in the Danish military as part of the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol in Greenland. The best part is that the Sirius Patrol have been offered the ability to pick new rifles, but they refuse to give up 100+ year old rifles they have found to be extremely dependable in arctic conditions. Honestly, I can't think of many 100 year old weapon systems, let alone actual weapons that are still serving in such harsh conditions while fending off potential replacements successfully.
I learned from your writing - thank you so much. I had no awareness of the Sirius Patrol. I would be just like them. Modern military rifles work extremely well, and then they don't work at all. Recently a fellow showed me his black rifle - he had fallen and hit a rock. A piece of the aluminum action had broken away and before breaking the action deformed in the area of the break. Almost nothing moved. Time for new parts but in the middle of no where...I'll take the Enfield every time. Thanks for writing.
You are welcome and I am happy that I was able to share some interesting military history. For myself, part of the fun of owning old battle rifles is learning about their history. A great example is in the case of the U.S. Model 1917 one has to go to the Second Boar War to understand the origins of its design history.
On the subject of modern military rifles you are right in that they work extremely well until they don't. As to their aesthetics I find the black plastic or synthetic stocks to be sterile and cold. That makes them great for a truck gun that is in a rough environment, or as a firearm that a person won't worry about scratching or damaging a nice wood stock on.
In regard to the your statement that you will "take the Enfield every time" I fully agree. They are tough to be beat, and they have extremely strong actions so a person can find sporterized ones in magnum rounds such as 300 H&H, 375 H&H, etc.
I love carbines and I wasnt aware of the Peruvian.
Great collection of cool bolt action surplus rifles! :-)
Another fine video I never new or seen some of these guns you have a great channel the best on you tube Ian really interested in history so ther is so much history and stories attached to most rifles again well done video
Thank you Jeff - I do my best. Glad my videos are useful. Take care.
the fr-8 didn't mimic the h&k, but was made to like the cetme rifle which the h&k mimicked.
Lovely rifles. I believe the 1908 would have come with the recoil lug ends in white but still tastefully re-done.
Modern guns don't compare.😎👌
Great video
Thanks David
@USOG, Did not know you had a video on Mauser's. When I bought my Spanish Mauser about 20 some years ago there was no You-Tube video's to learn more about this. So most research I found on this was from books and other people I talked to that owned these guns.
When I bought my Spanish Mauser someone before me re bored it into the 308 Win, which I learned that was a real bad thing. Never will buy another re bored gun again.
About 5 or 6 years ago bought the original Yugoslavia 8 mm Mauser, which was never re bored, and in very good condition. It is a great rifle, one of my favorite.
Then the Japanese WW2 Mauser I got was handed down to me, and I am the 3rd owner of it since a great uncle brought it back with him from WW2. And never shot it yet. I think the Japanese Mauser is not very well made and very bad craftsmanship compared to the Yugoslavia, German, Spanish etc..... Mauser's. Of course the one I have is beat up real bad, like the Spanish Mauser I have.
Read and heard the Japanese Mauser is an excellent deer and wild boar caliber, but not a good caliber for elk moose etc....like the Spanish 7 mm or 8 mm German and Yugoslavian Mauser's are.
Then the Spanish 308 Win you have there, was that the original caliber for that gun or did someone re bored it ?
Hi - Good post. They are all so interesting. The Japanese version known as the Arisaka may look crude but it is actually the strongest of them all - an almost indestructible action. I keep studying and learning.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns , Thanks, Yeah I am always keep studying and learning myself,cause I love this topic as well as you can see. Never known the Japanese Arisaka has the strongest action. Guess out of many and many gun companies through out the world that has been making guns since the 1300,s, I don't think I will never learn it all and it amazes me that they always can come up with new calibers and or new styles of make of guns every year.
This Brazilian Mauser is especially beautiful reminds me of the Swedish M38. I love the lines of these rifles. Is this Peruvian Mauser one that they had FN rebarrel to 30-06? Thanks Mike 👍
BTW what was the caliber of the Brazilian Mauser?
Beautiful rifles. Would love to have a K98.
I really like the dial aperture on the FR8 have you tested it at the different ranges? Seems like a really good idea I don't know why more people don't do this with the dial aperture. Thank you
I like to say there is no "military surplus" market anymore, only a "collector's market". Prices for military surplus have gone up so much that in most cases it makes more sense to buy a new production firearm if you are looking for value. If you are buying an older gun, you probably went in looking for one.
I think you are correct and the nice thing is this trend will continue. They aren't making them anymore. Buy the military surplus - enjoy...and sell for more later. Or buy new, have less for more money and sell for little later.
Another option is to buy good quality F.N. Mausers that were sold by such retailers as Sears and Roebuck, under the J.C. Higgins brand. The only problem then is they almost always come with a trashy scope that the dealer wants to pass of for a high priced combo.
There is huge interest, and higher prices because I started to want some old military guns, so of course the prices have sky rocketed. It's been about 3 years that I decided the new stuff, though fancy looking, just doesn't compare in quality, and to shoot something that is so old, and made by craftsmen, and possibly has a real history to it. Just such an experience.
Too bad if video gamers are buying them.
On that fr 8, what is the under-barrel protrusion? It resembles a semi-auto but that is a bolt action. I have seen a Brazilian, sporterized, (scoped) 7x57 1935 sub moa @ 100 yds. thank you
Hi Phil - the tube is for a cleaning kit - and these are accurate rifles for sure - the Brazilian : even more so.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns thank you for your reply. I had not ever seen one before you presented it here, it is an interesting feature that caught my attention!
When I see those old military rifles I wonder how many men it took out. Good video
Hello LW, Many people have the same thoughts - me included. It is a sad reality but somehow we seem unable to rise above hurting one another. For sure it adds a thoughtful dimension to owning the retired - from - service military rifles and seems to add to their ever increasing value.
Well said the ppl that run the world are not pro human .
@USOG, nice rifles, you don't see these in this condition everyday. I can see your Peruvian FN Mauser has the reversed safety. Do you know any details, why these guns were build with the reversed safety instead of the "normal" one?
As legend goes, one of the colonels on ordering commette was a target shooter and normal safety was to close to his nose for comfort, so he insisted on a reversed safety.
I’m thinking of buying an fr7. It’s got a crack behind the bolt but it looks like someone did a good repair job with epoxy. We’ll see if it holds
Hi Kevin - If the crack is in the stock - epoxy usually holds very well. Nice rifle.
A question for you or for the community, I have a 1950 numbers matching FR 8. The metal finish is excellent and it shoots better than my abilities to aim it. Question is, I would like to refinish the stock. Steam out the dents, strip, sand, stain and oil. Will I be destroying historical value in doing this. I have experience in wood finishing and won't "bubba" it up. Your thoughts please.
Quick Question, would you consider doing a video discussing your opinion and ideas on the current atmosphere of gun control/debate, the NRA that’s supposedly running out of funding, etc I’m not asking you to get political, and I hope that it wouldn’t make you uncomfortable but it would be understandable if you didn’t want to . I’m a young man, that’s unsure of the future of firearms , and am just looking for some advice and wisdom. Thanks for all your content sir
Such a wonderful suggestion. I will make a video on that subject for sure. Thanks for suggesting.
Something I love about the old 3rd world military rifles is that they are often better guns than their more Western contemporaries. I have 3 theories to this
1. They had smaller armies than nations like Germany and the US so they could afford giving their infantry better small arms (think Switzerland historically with guns like the K31 and Vetterli or New Zealand today with the Lewis Machine and Tools ARs)
2. The design is already made for them by the western super powers, once they ordered the tooling for their Rolling Blocks and Mausers, the only place to go was up.
3. They often had access to larger amounts of higher quality raw materials, this is especially true for Latin America which had access to far better Timbers for stock making on adverage than the Western powers (Brazil in particular has some of the best wood in the world in it's rain forests)
This is unfortuantly no longer the case with modern firearms as their more complex automatic actions give these poorer countries more places to cut corners that the super powers wouldn't have. We thankfully still have these beauties.
These rifles were made in Germany or Belgium, not in Peru or Brazil, he went over that in the video.
Hi Frank - we're on the same page. There is more quality and character in the military rifles of yesteryear, from Lee Enfields, Enfields, Mausers and Arisakas to Springfields and others - then just about any modern rifle. We just don't seem to know how anymore. Fortunately, the used racks are waiting for those who know and one can go home with 3 better rifles for the price of one, or one for one third of a plastic whatever.
Thank you as always for sharing. I always learn from your videos. I have a question. I've been looking into buying a 1884 Springfield trapdoor as an investment, but also to shoot. How much does restoration help or hurt the value. I don't think I would attempt to completely restore the rifle, but would really just do a high maintenance. Getting rid of rust, repairing stock damage, and possibly rust bluing.
As far as possible I try to leave rifles as they are, but I do brass brush away rust and wash stocks with mineral spirits; anything that doesn't change the rifle - but cleans it - to me - is a good thing. I hope you buy that Springfield - legendary rifles and a unique and practical action. I wouldn't worry about the rust blue - the gun will shoot just the same with or without it. Hope this helps and God Bless.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Thank you, and yes it helps. The only reason I had thought to do any work at all is what I had thought of purchasing is a project gun. I'm always working on something, and I had thought just like a home, possibly sweat equity would increase value. Now I may just look at rifles in better condition.
Again thank you Mike, your advice means a lot to me.
Generally, from what I have seen of the Antiques Road Show the less is more rule is the best when it comes to restoration. In the case of doing rust bluing not only would you lose the 100+ year old patina and honest wear that the firearm has, but it will likely cause a loss in value from the investment/collector standpoint. How much I don't know, but likely depends on the future potential buyer more than anything else.
As to a good general resource on trapdoors I recommend trapdoorcollector.com. It has information pertaining to disassembly, restoration, production data, etc.
With regard to the 1884 model you may also want to check out the 1888 model that is mostly distinguished by its ramrod bayonet. I should also mention that the Model 1888 comes with a breech block that says it is the U.S. Model 1884, but it isn't. As such, sometimes sellers will mistakenly list the 1888 model for sale as an 1884 model so it is useful to know. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck in your search for a Trapdoor.
Be wary of South American surplus guns from tropical climates. The condition of the metal under the wood is likely to be in very much worse condition than that which is visible, due to the condensation of moisture and the difficulty of cleaning and oiling it there.
Wise words. Thank you!
Why does the Spanish FR8 have a M14 looking style gas port?
The video game nerds are the ones that destroyed the surplus market
What is the tube under the barrel on the FR8? It looks like it belongs on a semi automatic.
Mine had a cleaning kit and a small screwdriver.
Word of warning. Only use military grade 7.62mm NATO in the Spanish FR8 carbine. The pressures of the .308 exceeds the chamber pressures for the receiver. The head case of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge is much thicker for safety measure, the .308 head case is thinner. Only use military spec ammunition. I have seen one bulge on the receiver and crack the stock where the magazine is by the reinforcing cross bolt. Spanish style Mauser 98 receivers are softer than any other style of Mauser 98 rifles of carbine made by CZ or FN. The Spanish didn't have the technical package to build them. The Spanish government built and copied these during WWII and didn't have the quality control as the Spanish 1893 style made before the Spanish Civil War. The M93s were built on the Mauser technical package and quality control specified by Mauser in their government arsenals. The FR-7s were built on older receivers from existing 1893s and M1916 short rifles and carbines.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I like the FR-8 and the FR-7 ; both hard to find in better condition. Good shooting.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Spanish military ammunition have always been loaded to less pressure than the standard US and NATO specs as in the M80 Ball. The FR8 and FR7 were transition rifles for the Spanish Army in the late 1950s till the 1960s when the Spanish Army adopted the CETME 58 service rifle in 1957. Designed by former Mauser employees who escaped to Spain after WWII and employed at CETME by Franco to design weapons for the Spanish Army. Later production CETME 58s were made stronger by better steel pressings and barrels to handle the US M80 Ball cartridge. The German Army then adopted the CETME 58 to be produced by Rheinmetall and H&K in Germany as the G3 because the Belgians wouldn't let the Germans produce under license the FN FAL as their G1. All Spanish military produced 7.62mm reduced load were used to fire the FR8 and FR7 for transition phase marksmanship training for the Spanish Armed Forces through the 1960s and 1970s. I remember back in 1987 when I was in Barcelona Spain the Guardia Civil and some local police were armed with FR8s,FR7s, and Destroyer Carbines strolling on the sidewalks near the beach armed with these rifles. Back then I knew the Spanish loved their Mauser rifles and I was fascinated to find out why they carried these till the then in the 1980s? I found out in the 1990s when they were first imported into the US from Shotgun News in an article. I bought an FR8 because I loved Mauser action rifles. I read the article and found out about the precaution about firing .308 in them. One day at the range a guy bought one of these FR8 rifles and he loaded them with Remington .308 hunting 150 grain soft point hunting ammo and blew up his rifle. His left hand got cut from the stock splitting after 15 rounds. I had no problems using surplus Spanish military Santa Barbara ammo made in 1970. I bought 3000 rounds of it for $180.00 back then. These rounds sucked in my Armscorp M14 and didn't properly cycle and I nearly had to close the gas regulator on my Century British parts kit L1A1. The Spanish Santa Barbara ammo was not powerful enough. But it worked in my buddy's H&K 91 with no problems and ejected the rounds normal like a G3 to the next galaxy. The following week a gunsmith who looked at the guy's rifle and took it home to do a Rockwell hardness test on the receiver. He said that the receiver was soft and heavy Spanish steel and made at the La Coruna Arsenal. My FR8 was made in Santa Barbara Arsenal. Santa Barbara I think was a powder arsenal and artillery facility for the Spanish Army. I think that quality was better there in my opinion because Spanish arms quality control were very shoddy at that.
@@reddevilparatrooper "Spanish military ammunition have always been loaded to less pressure than the standard US and NATO specs as in the M80 Ball" That is incorrect. All ammunition was loaded to NATO standards and even the pre-adoption 7.62 "CETME" cartridges had similar chamber pressures to 7.62 NATO - imgur.com/a/j3lS2
- "One day at the range a guy bought one of these FR8 rifles and he loaded them with Remington .308 hunting 150 grain soft point hunting ammo and blew up his rifle" Do you know if it was a commercial loading, or a reload? Did he check the headspacing of the rifle? Did he check it for prior damage? The only recorded proof of blown-up Spanish Mausers I have seen were through reloads and, in the case of the FR-7, Pakistani ammunition loaded with cannon powder.
@Superdude70 I saw a friend of mines FR-8 with the receiver crack, bolt stuck, and stock crushed from the center and back. His FR-8 was in good condition imported into the states by SAMCO from Florida back in the early 1990s. The ammunition he loaded into his carbine was Remington 180 grain soft point hunting ammo. I know the pressures on hunting ammo are higher than the SAAMI specs than a standard military 7.62MM NATO round and the inside case dimension. 7.62mm NATO military casing has a thicker wall at the bottom near the base up a 3rd from the extractor groove intentionally designed from having case head separation. He had fired 15 rounds out of the box and the 16th blew his carbine up. I looked at his empty cartridges and found that all the primers were almost crushed flat. His cases had cracks and splits from the case, shoulder, and neck which indicates the FR-8 has a 7.62mm NATO style chamber which has a loose tolerance for thicker walled military cartridges. Hunting rifles in .308 have tighter dimensions in their chamberings like Winchester Model 70s and Remington 700s. Therefore he used the wrong ammunition in a Spanish surplus military rifle. Spanish made military Mauser rifles from 1892 to the 1930s have used the technical data package from the 7mm Mauser. The conversions or large ring Mauser production FR-8s were done in the 1950s. The M1943 is an M98 action made in Spain made during WWII and after for the Spanish Army and Air Force. I think that they made these rifles to the German TDP for 7.92X57 using the 198 grain heavy spitzer in 198 grains. These FR-8 and FR-7s were made to only fire military ammunition not commercial grade high pressure hunting ammo. Of course you will know the difference. I am not that idiot that don't know the difference. That I am not being a smart ass to you. I do hand load and know not to exceed the limits of all calibers by their loading charts an SAAMI specs. I know a few hand loaders who have tried to do beyond the specs with older and modern firearms. They have injured themselves by destroying their firearms. Not good. I don't think it's foolish to give a warning than not give a fuck at all.