Westernfield Mauser

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  • Last Post 04 April 2018
Scearcy posted this 02 April 2018

Many of you guys are better historians than I so I am hoping for some input. My local gun store has a bolt action 3006. It is on a Mauser action - 98 I believe, The barrel is stamped Westernfield along with the obligatory small print. The stock has a fairly pronounced pistol grip and no checkering. I say a similar stock once on a factory 8MM hunting rifle of pre war vintage. The rifle has very simple iron sights which are attached with a small block screwed to the barrel rather than a dovetail.

The rifle still resides on the dealers rack so I have no pictures. Any ideas out there? I was not aware that anyone ever marketed a Mauser 3006. Westernfield would be Montgomery Wards wouldn't it?

Jim

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Scearcy posted this 02 April 2018

I am sure it has been reblued as every identifying mark on the action, other than shown in the picture above, has been wiped off. It is not the original military barrel. The barrel is a sporter weight labelled "Santa Fe mauser sporting rifle" and "Golden State", etc. The stock is a factory sporter rather than any version of the original military stock. 

I have looked it over 3 times now and decided to pass. New safety, drill and tap, and new trigger as the current one is heavily rusted. The price of the rifle begins to increase quickly. I don't think I would care to have much over $150 in it.

Thank you everyone for your interest and the information.

Jim

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R. Dupraz posted this 02 April 2018

As did Sears & Roebuck after WWII. At least for a while, Sears used  FN actions after the plant got  running again for the commercial trade on the HP rifles that they cataloged.. I have only seen the Sears rifles with the long commercial FN actions in "06" and 270. 

Sounds like that action is a military style 98 Mauser which FN did manufacture for a while after WWII before eliminating the loading cutout and going exclusively commercial.. Many went to Israel as complete 98 Mauser infantry rifles and many were used by commercial venders such as those above as well as Husqvarna   I have a military style 98 chambered in 7.62x51 NATO that was built by FN for the Isralie army after WW II.

Even though that rifle was marketed by Western Field, I would guess that if it has an FN action, their proof stamp would be on it somewhere.

 

R. 

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Scearcy posted this 02 April 2018

I am headed down to the LGS in an hour or so. I'll try to get a picture of the markings. After inspecting the bore I am seriously considering making an offer. I think their asking price ($300) while not crazy, is somewhat high. Loaded with RCBS 180 FNs this old girl should be very serviceable next fall. Heck it could be made ready for this springs ground hog shoot.

Jim

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Scearcy posted this 02 April 2018

MY BAD! It is not a Western Field. It is Golden State imported by Santa Fe Arms. One should not rely on the price tag for info. I have attached a picture of the action. The action is not drilled and tapped nor has the safety been converted for scope use. There also are no markings on the barrel to indicate that the rifle is indeed a 3006. The bore looks very good.

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R. Dupraz posted this 02 April 2018

If this action has any identifying marks and it may not, they will most likely be stamped on the bottom. And, if it is an FN action, it will be proof stamped with the letters E,L,G and small star inside of an oval with a crown top. For Liege Belgium. Or If the word Belgium is found any where, it is an FN action. Fabrique Nationale, FN for short.

On of the finest 98 Mauser actions made.

R.  

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R. Dupraz posted this 02 April 2018

A DWM.There were a number of arms manufactures in Germany that made the Mauser 98 rifles for Hitler's army when he decided to go to war and they produced them by the millions. Some were known to be better than others. And the quality gradually declined as the conflict went on to the end. Especially the heat treatment.  

However, DWM has been regarded as one of the better companies. They made the Argentine 1909 on contract " before"  WW II and is fairly highly thought of. Would be interesting to see this rifle. Had one of these actions once and the quality was very good.

But one thing that you have to be aware of with these old military 98 Mausers is lug set back. That occurs when the bolt locking lugs set back into the locking shoulders of the action because of poor metallurgy or heat treatment or both.. Then the action becomes nothing more than a good door stop.

If it was me, I would certainly take a good look at this old beast but not for $300.00. And a deal only if with return privileges after having it checked by a competent gunsmith.

As far as value, I would hate to hazard a guess with out having it in my hands, Realistically, right now it is nothing more than a old sort of sporterized 98. 

One after thought. You might check and see if the last digit of the serial # is stamped under the bolt handle. If so, that usually means that the bolt is original to the rifle. 

 

R.

 

 

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Scearcy posted this 02 April 2018

I should also mention that there is a thumb cutout in the rail on the left side of the receiver. A quick search came up with either E. Heim or FN as the possible sources for this rifle. Early 1960s vintage?

Jim

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RicinYakima posted this 02 April 2018

Monkey Wards did market these from the 1950's at least through the 1970's. All that I remember seeing were made on Spanish Santa Barbara 98 actions of new manufacture. But other runs could have been made by others. They were plain simple rifles made for the mass market trade.

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Scearcy posted this 02 April 2018

There are no other visible markings on the action. There certainly could be markings under the stock. The is a series of letters in a vertical column on the barrel just ahead of the action. R. do you care to hazard a guess as to value?

Jim

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Scearcy posted this 02 April 2018

R.

Thank you for all of the info. I am going back down to look at it one more time. Ah yes, I know I should walk away but it has  something that feels right when I pick it up. I am sure that in the long run I would be way ahead with an old Remington 721 but where is the fun in that?

I agree that $300 is too much. Shoot they have an as new Weatherby Vanguard for $399 which would be a very nice rifle.

Jim

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R. Dupraz posted this 02 April 2018

Well, if  the action is nice as you say it is and appears not to have been messed with, drilled and tapped, etc..,etc., I would go back and deal. Have an affliction for those old Mausers anyway.  

Good luck. Post some pictures.

R. 

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45 2.1 posted this 02 April 2018

Imported and re-blued (wipe marks above letters on action). Does it have the stepped military barrel? Three countries had the 30-06 in the Mauser as service cartridges, Belgium, Colombia and another I haven't had. Look them up on the net. If it is reasonably clean (with a good barrel and crown), even with a hurried re-blue and in military configuration, I would buy it.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 03 April 2018

good deals:: .... ... we recently bot a used howa in 25-06 at sheels for $325 mint ....shoots under 1 moa ... even tho scope screws are slightly off these are a bargain  ....  the howa is probably the best buy since ruger american went to $400 ...

but yeah everybody should have a mauser ....  my commercial fn mauser supreme magnum action that i weak-mindedly sold is my " rosebud " ...    i am still in therapy over that one ...  why?... why? ...

..and i hope to shoot my remmy 722. 300 savage.... in the groundhog shoot as soon as i can locate some herter's dies ... period correct, ya know ... ... ....  wonder if i can get into my old leisure suit to be * lookin' good  * ... ?

ken

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BigMan54 posted this 04 April 2018

Hey Guys, for those who don't live near one, what is LGS ?

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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Scearcy posted this 04 April 2018

LGS=local gun store

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