M14 Forum

gregaba · December 30th, 2011, 04:49 PM

Hi
I just bought a Turkish mauser. I was told it was a 7mm but can't find any caliber stampings on it any where.
It has stamped on the top of the receiver
TC- first line
ASU with a half moon laying down then FA- second line
ANK ARA- third line
1937-forth line
Anybody know what caliber this is? I don't want to buy the wrong ammo and have something I can't use.
Thanks
Greg

willriskit · December 30th, 2011, 05:22 PM

I thought the Turks were using the standard German 7.92X57 (or 8mm Mauser) then. Bore diameter would be .323 or if it's an 8.

losok · December 30th, 2011, 05:37 PM

Got a pic of it? If its got a 1937 stamp with that lettering its one of two or three types that they reworked in the 30s to what they called the 1938 standard. It could be a model 93 small ring reworked to take the 8mm, it could be a 1903 large ring intermediate action reworked to 8mm, or it could be a rework of a WWI german or interwar period BRNO rifle that was worked over at the Ankara arsenal. It it reads K-Kale anywhere its Turk made action made at the K-Kale works near Ankara. They are unique actions with a large ring diameter with small ring barrel thread, which was also shared if I remember correctly with the 1903 model turk mauser. If there is a semi circle cut in the middle of the front ring of the action its a rework of a 1893 or 1903 action. All the reworks were done to take the 7.92X57 in lieu of the 7.65X53 that they used prior to WWI and during the war alongside the 7.92X57. Once the war was over they decided to standardize all their rifles. Interestingly you will even see other types of rifles made over to use the ammo and look like the mausers including 1888s, enfields, and Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifles. The Turks made use of every rifles they had.

I have a really nice all matching Turk here that shoots very very well, and has the original 29 inch barrel and turkish walnut stock, Its a beautiful rifle.

losok · December 30th, 2011, 05:49 PM

Did some digging, found out that should be a 1903 rework, if so it should have higher than normal stripper clip slot and the ejector box tab should wrap up and over the side a bit.

Seventh Fleet · December 30th, 2011, 06:09 PM

I have one of the Turkish Mausers with a date of 1943 and it is definitely 8mm Mauser. The serial number range on mine is 485X.

7th

gregaba · December 30th, 2011, 06:19 PM

Hi
Thanks for the replys. I took some pictures but can't get them on here. I went to the FAQ and couldn't find out how to do it.
I am starting to think it is an 8mm.
I am going to tear it down to clean and will try to take some measurements.
Thanks
Greg

gregaba · December 31st, 2011, 07:40 AM

Hi
On teardown I found 8mm marked on the front of the barrell in the smallest stamping I have ever seen.All most needed a magnifying glass to see it.
Thanks for all the help.
Greg

losok · December 31st, 2011, 01:36 PM

7th Fleet yours is probably a K-Kale or BRNO rework, if it says K-Kale, its a turk made action on machinery provided by BRNO prior to the war, and set up by the Czech machinists and engineers so that Turkey could make their own rifles. The K-kales were pretty good rifles, and the barrels were top notch on most of the ones I have seen showing very little use.

Seventh Fleet · December 31st, 2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by losok

7th Fleet yours is probably a K-Kale or BRNO rework, if it says K-Kale, its a turk made action on machinery provided by BRNO prior to the war, and set up by the Czech machinists and engineers so that Turkey could make their own rifles. The K-kales were pretty good rifles, and the barrels were top notch on most of the ones I have seen showing very little use.

Thanks for the information. I bought three of the Turkish Mausers on my C&R license from AIM Surplus for very little money IIRC around $60 bucks or so back in the late 90s or early 2000's ,for myself and my two sons.

Back then AIM also had WW2 Nazi 8mm and Turkish 8mm ammo with late 30s head stamps on sale at the time for a nickel per round. I bought thousands of rounds of it and I wish that I'd bought more. I have yet to have a misfire with any of it that we've shot. It's still hot ammo and goes bang every time you pull the trigger. It is corrosive and you have to properly clean your rifle if you don't want it to turn rust in a hurry. The barrel on my Turk still has deep, well defined rifling but it is a little dark from having been fired and not properly cleaned in the past.

7th

gregaba · December 31st, 2011, 08:20 PM

Speaking of barrels mine is the worst I have ever seen. The patch wouldn't even go though when I first tried to clean it. Looked like it hadn't been cleaned since 1937.
I pluged the barrel and filled it up with brake cleaner and let it soak for 3 hour's and I could get some patches though it and they were filthy so I soaked it with PB blaster for another 3 hour's and it got better but I had to quit when I ran out of patche's and wore down all my brush's.
I will keep trying but think it will need a new barrel.
Greg

losok · January 1st, 2012, 08:04 AM

Is yours the long or short barrel? The long is 29 the short is around 18 or so. I have both here in very very good almost new condition bore wise. The blue is kind of aged looking of course, but the bores are near new. If you need one, just let me know I can send it to you. I will sell it to you for $20 plus shipping. I will confirm today that I have both, but I am pretty sure I do.

gregaba · January 1st, 2012, 11:22 AM

Hi
I have the long barrel. If it will fit I will take it. I am going to have the whole thing parkerized anyway.
The only question I have is are the threads the same on them. I have been reading on the net that there are 2 thread sizes on these rifles but don't know how to tell what size I have.
Thanks
Greg

losok · January 1st, 2012, 02:02 PM

From the description of yours, it should be small ring thread large ring receiver, intermediate length. The barrels I have here should fit, if they dont just send them back.

gregaba · January 1st, 2012, 03:40 PM

Ok
No problem but for the money I will just keep them for the future.
Thanks
Greg

losok · January 1st, 2012, 03:46 PM

No problem, I have a bunch of mauser take off barrels, most are turks, and Brno Vz22 29 inch barrels with a few K98s, I also have a lot of other mauser parts I should put up for sale one of these days.