Czech made Mausers

[MissouriCZShooter]

Hey guys! I'm sorry if this is the wrong place for this. But, I got a call from my guy at my gun shop asking me if I would be interested in a Czech made Mauser to which I responded "YES!". I do not have much info other than it is "from the 40's" and that it is in pretty rough shape. Apparently the previous owner tried to re-finish it (painful face expression here) and really did a number on it.


 So I guess part one of my question is does anybody have a good source of info about the Czech flavor Mausers and part two, is it worth either re-bluing it myself or having it done? I am sort of a purist when it comes to old firearms and just like em left un-touched (especially when it comes to WWII firearms).


If it is worth re-finishing, what products do you recommend?

I will have some more info once I go pick it up tomorrow. Thank you all! I'm sorry if these are dumb questions, just want the best source of information! Thanks guys!  (also sorry if this is the wrong place for these questions)

[Tanners Owner]

First off - there are no dumb questions- it’s how we all learn.

Secondly, if I understand you correctly, the gun was previously refinished. If so, there is no collector value now, so my vote is refinish it if it suits your fancy

My 2 cents

Looking fwd to your reply after seeing it

[MissouriCZShooter]

First off - there are no dumb questions- it’s how we all learn.

Secondly, if I understand you correctly, the gun was previously refinished. If so, there is no collector value now, so my vote is refinish it if it suits your fancy

My 2 cents

Looking fwd to your reply after seeing it

That’s kind of my thoughts too. But sheeeeesh it pains me to even think about doing it lol. I will def have some more info tomorrow when I get it in my hands. But the way I see it, i don’t have hardly anything in it so even if it’s just a piece I can admire then it’s worth it.

[eastman]

the truly important things are how is the bore and does the bolt lock well.

since it has already been modified, most of the collector value has left the building. As said above, if the bore is good then refinish and have yourself a good shooter. 

[MissouriCZShooter]

the truly important things are how is the bore and does the bolt lock well.

since it has already been modified, most of the collector value has left the building. As said above, if the bore is good then refinish and have yourself a good shooter. 

Bore and bolt is my biggest fear honestly. Anxious to see what exactly it is and how good/bad of shape it is in. Like I said, for what I’m giving for it I’m not going to complain one bit either way.

[rdcinhou]

I also like to have my C&R's in near-original condition.

It breaks my heart to see what some have done to the older CZs.

My vz 24 Mauser was in original condition (although an obvious factory overhaul in the 1920's) and I had only a little difficulty finding missing parts and a "true" bayonet to complete it.   https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=85019.msg888575#msg888575

While not many on this board have Mauser's, you might also look here: https://www.gunboards.com/forums/the-czech-weapons-board.12/ for more information.

Finding the right 8mm stripper clips was the last hurdle to overcome with mine.
I had to buy several types at gun shows before finding ones that work properly and even then a few required some "tweaking" to work well.

Good luck!

[MissouriCZShooter]

I also like to have my C&R's in near-original condition.

It breaks my heart to see what some have done to the older CZs.

My vz 24 Mauser was in original condition (although an obvious factory overhaul in the 1920's) and I had only a little difficulty finding missing parts and a "true" bayonet to complete it.   https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=85019.msg888575#msg888575

While not many on this board have Mauser's, you might also look here: https://www.gunboards.com/forums/the-czech-weapons-board.12/ for more information.

Finding the right 8mm stripper clips was the last hurdle to overcome with mine.
I had to buy several types at gun shows before finding ones that work properly and even then a few required some "tweaking" to work well.

Good luck!

That is a gorgeous piece! Thanks for sharing! I have a 1940 k98 and that I haven't shot it in all the time that I have had it. For the longest time that was my "bucket list got to have" piece and finally got me one, now it's onto a Garand.

 I do have a question for you though and hopefully you will be able to answer and it's not a dumb question. So the one you have, was it made by what we know as CZ today or is it just sort of like its a firearm made in Czechoslovakia so let's just call it that and move on?

[MissouriCZShooter]

I also like to have my C&R's in near-original condition.

It breaks my heart to see what some have done to the older CZs.

My vz 24 Mauser was in original condition (although an obvious factory overhaul in the 1920's) and I had only a little difficulty finding missing parts and a "true" bayonet to complete it.   https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=85019.msg888575#msg888575

While not many on this board have Mauser's, you might also look here: https://www.gunboards.com/forums/the-czech-weapons-board.12/ for more information.

Finding the right 8mm stripper clips was the last hurdle to overcome with mine.
I had to buy several types at gun shows before finding ones that work properly and even then a few required some "tweaking" to work well.

Good luck!

That is a gorgeous piece! Thanks for sharing! I have a 1940 k98 and that I haven't shot it in all the time that I have had it. For the longest time that was my "bucket list got to have" piece and finally got me one, now it's onto a Garand.

 I do have a question for you though and hopefully you will be able to answer and it's not a dumb question. So the one you have, was it made by what we know as CZ today or is it just sort of like its a firearm made in Czechoslovakia so let's just call it that and move on?

[rdcinhou]

Summary:

In 1918 the armory in BRNO was stated-owned by Czechoslovakia.
During WWII it was taken over by Nazi Germany.
After liberation, it started making other things besides guns.
Later they sold their gun making equipment to Ceská Zbrojovka Uherský Brod.

So while not exactly the same company, the soul of the armory lives on.

More detailed history:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbrojovka_Brno

For some reason, the Forum editor is changing the capital "C" with an inverted caret into a question mark!

[MissouriCZShooter]

Summary:

In 1918 the armory in BRNO was stated-owned by Czechoslovakia.
During WWII it was taken over by Nazi Germany.
After liberation, it started making other things besides guns.
Later they sold their gun making equipment to Ceská Zbrojovka Uherský Brod.

So while not exactly the same company, the soul of the armory lives on.

More detailed history:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbrojovka_Brno

For some reason, the Forum editor is changing the capital "C" with an inverted caret into a question mark!

Thank you! I was just kinda curious on that part. Pretty interesting. I knew the Germans had occupied it and were making weapons out of it but wasn’t sure if the Ceska Zbrojovka we know today was the same. Interesting thank you very much!

[Psyop96]

Last I read, the original factory complex was undergoing demolition and renovation for non-industrial usage. There was a public open house for people to look around before the re-development was to start a couple years ago. I haven’t been to Brno in a while so haven’t seen what’s been changed. This photo is from Dec 2019. I believe the stack and entrance to the main building will be preserved. As a subsidiary of CZG, Zbrojovka Brno/Brno Rifles since 2004, it concentrates on higher-end hunting rifles and shotguns (not the CZ Turkish sourced ones) and handles the custom configurator for CZ pistols.

Here’s the future of the factory complex…
https://novazbrojovka.cz/index_en.php







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[MissouriCZShooter]

Last I read, the original factory complex was undergoing demolition and renovation for non-industrial usage. There was a public open house for people to look around before the re-development was to start a couple years ago. I haven’t been to Brno in a while so haven’t seen what’s been changed. This photo is from Dec 2019. I believe the stack and entrance to the main building will be preserved. As a subsidiary of CZG, Zbrojovka Brno/Brno Rifles since 2004, it concentrates on higher-end hunting rifles and shotguns (not the CZ Turkish sourced ones) and handles the custom configurator for CZ pistols.

Here’s the future of the factory complex…
https://novazbrojovka.cz/index_en.php








Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

awesome pictures!

[MissouriCZShooter]

I guess I am going to go ahead and start getting a plan made out to refinish this thing. What kind of bluing do you guys recommend? I've seen the birchwood casey products at my LGS, has anybody used it? Should I look elsewhere? Appreciate it guys. Thank you for all of the info

[MissouriCZShooter]

To my surprise the barrel came clean after about an hour of working on it. Rifling looks as good as it can for the age of the thing. I'm excited. I think I lucked into a pretty fun project. Got it completely apart and going to start cleaning on parts tomorrow. Got some pretty heavy oxidation on most of it, but I think I will be able to get it cleaned up.

It is a k98, 1945 DOT stamped rifle. Ethiopian contract.



Would love to share some pictures once I am completed if I can figure out how to get them uploaded.

[Tanners Owner]

Congrats & keep us informed of your journey with it