Antique Turkish Ottoman Mauser 1893 8mm Rifle - Surplus Condition - Incomplete

The Turkish Mauser 1893 rifle is perhaps the most popular rifle to have originated from Turkey. This historic rifle is highly sought after by gun collectors all over the world. Since all Model 1893's were made in 1894, 1895 and 1896 (regardless of what rebuild year is stamped on the receiver), all models of 1893 Turkish Mauser rifles are classified as antique firearms under U.S. Federal law in most^** states and locales.

What We Know

These 1893's have been in U.S. storage for fifty years! That's 5-0. The Last Vestige of Vintage. All combination of cozmoline, cobwebs, and character adorn these Ottoman rifles. We'll send the dirt and elbow grease for free. Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.

Specifications

•  Classification:  Classified as an Antique Firearm under U.S. Federal law^*
• Condition: Surplus - Incomplete — furniture will have cracks, cracked/repaired, and/or possible large fractures/broken
• Please Note: Serial number on bolt and receiver do not match
• Make: Turkish Mauser
• Model: 1893
• Caliber: 8mm (converted from 7.65mm)
• Action: Bolt
• Finish: Blued
• Item listing is for (1) quantity
• Missing: (May or may not include the following) — Barrel band, buttplate, front sight blade, cleaning rod, and stock hardware
• Includes: Complete bolt, action, trigger guard with magazine floor plate and spring installed

Please Note* Firearms are sold as collectables as there is no manufacturer’s warranty and no warranty of performance. Your gunsmith’s inspection will be needed before firing can be considered.

 Requirements to Purchase 

• NO FFL or C&R REQUIRED for transfer^**
• Must be 21 years of age or older and legal to purchase in his/her state of residence
• A picture of a valid Driver's License must be sent to Centerfire Systems
• Centerfire Systems will ONLY ship to address on driver's license
• An adult signature is required upon delivery
• CA, NY, NJ, CT, MD, MA & Cook Co., Ill., and any other state or locale with stricter guidelines that exceeds the Federal laws must have item(s) shipped directly to an FFL.^* Call to order in restricted states to ship directly to FFL ONLY.

History of the 1893 Mauser

In the decade up to 1914, the Ottoman government invested heavily in the modernization of its army's weapons and equipment. This program concentrated on buying materials directly from foreign companies rather than building domestic industrial capacity. As part of this modernization process, the Ottoman government invited a German military mission to advise the army on its choice of modern weapons and how best to use them. Under the influence of these advisers most of the pre-war military contracts went to large German arms manufacturers, including Krupp, Mauser and Rheinmetall.¹

The Model 1893 rifle was one of a series of rifles purchased by the Turkish government from Mauser in Germany. The terms of the contract with Mauser enabled the Turks to change the specifications of the rifles supplied, so as to keep pace with any new design developments which Mauser introduced into its products. In 1893, the Spanish Army introduced a Mauser rifle which featured a number of innovations. As a consequence, the Turkish Army ordered over 200,000 rifles of a very similar design, which they adopted as their Model 1893.

1930's Ankara Arsenal Conversion

1893 Mauser rifles have gone through a series of modifications with the passage of time. The most significant transformation in the configuration of this firearm took place when it was converted to an 8mm Mauser. The conversion took place in the early 1930s at the Ankara arsenal outlet.

Two possible techniques were used to transform the 1893 Mauser into an 8mm rifle. In some cases the old barrel was replaced with a new 8mm barrel, and in other cases, the existing barrel was bored out. The face of the receiver was cut into so as to enable it to load a longer bullet into its magazine. The magazine was then cut off and removed at the right side, and a thumbhole cut-out was made on the left side to facilitate stripper clip loading. Flanges were added to the modified rifles so as to hold the handguard in place. The handguard had retaining clips that would be fixed onto the barrel at the bottom; it was meant to be used when no retaining flange was attached to the rifle.

The magazine cutoff is unique among Mauser rifles to the Turkish model of 1893. The cut off allows the shooter to keep the magazine in reserve while single loading new cartridges. The U.S. Springfield Model 1903 also has this feature. The cut off was a side mounted slide that extended out on the right side of the receiver. This extension was often cut off during the rebuild process. This permitted a normal 1903 stock to be used. If the cut off extension is intact, then the old style, original, straight stock is almost certain to be used.²

Safety

The Model of 1893 can fire before the bolt is fully closed if you pull the trigger too early. Be especially careful to keep your finger off the trigger until the bolt is fully closed. A Mauser Patent of 1892 describes "a stud on upper front end of sear could enter slot in bolt only when action was fully locked. If trigger were pulled when action was not fully locked, stud contacted side of bolt and prevented sear from pivoting far enough to release firing mechanism." If the trigger is modified or worn, then this safety mechanism can be bypassed. This feature was removed in the Model 1898 because of the switch to cock on opening.²

1. https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/ottoman-empire/weapons-of-the-ottoman-empire  2. https://www.turkmauser.com/

*All antique firearms pre-1898 are sold strictly as Antique Collectibles ONLY. Antique collectibles are not warranted as safe to load or fire.

**Centerfire Systems Inc. complies with all State, Federal and local laws. It is the purchaser's responsibility to know and understand their state and local laws.