ExSarge

Can anyone tell me what the on/off tab function that is shown in the picture?

Click to enlarge.

Snake45

I'm no Mauser expert, but would that be the magazine cutoff switch?

ExSarge

That might be so. What's the best way to test it? Maybe just push it down with my finger and flip it? It's on "ON" right now and if I push the follower down it just pops right back up.

t-star

yea, that's what it is- if you want to test it load 5 in the mag, put it "on" and fire it- it SHOULDN'T pick up the round from the mag, and you should have to put one in through the ejection/loading port- with it off, it should just feed normally- however, sometimes the other half of the"wing " has been cut off and the button doesn't do anything- - btw, that's not a standard mauser, but probably a springy, or enfield or something- the german mausers had no such magazine cut off

phantom4570

If it's a Mauser the markings would be in German and probably an abbreviation. I don't see a Mauser or aftermarket safety on the bolt which makes me wonder if this is a Mauser or some kind of Frankenrifle.
I have handled a rifle with that tab and vaguely remember that when engaged in some combination of the bolt being open or closed then the bolt can be removed.

It's a 1903 Springfield. http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/M1903_Springfield
It's part of the safety lock assembly according to this picture: http://historywarsweapons.com/wp-con...ieldM1903y.jpg

Snake45

Springfield with the cocking knob removed?

t-star

more likely the whole back end changed- one piece firing pin, and if the threads match, just screws right on- lots of folks didn't care for that 3 piece of the springy , nor the cocking knob left over from the krag

Charlie Petty

Did any of the Mausers even have a magazine cutoff?

The bolt latch on Mausers is normally where the cutoff is located on a Springfield. Put the cutoff in the middle and see if the bolt comes out.

Steve M1911A1

During the 1920s and '30s, and into the early '40s, it was fairly common to have a "sporter" built from privately acquired Springfield '03s.
It was fairly normal that the gunsmith, for instance Sedgely or Griffin & Howe, would either remove the Springfield's cocking knob, or replace the entire firing-pin assembly with a proprietary, knobless assembly.
The magazine cutoff had to remain, of course, in order to allow one to remove and replace the rifle's bolt.

guntotin_fool

It's an 03 with a buehler safety replacing the cocking knob.

ExSarge

Thanks guys. I got it in an estate sale. There are no markings visable except what
appears to be a serial number that is partly covered by the stock. I really don't want to
take the stock off to see what's underneath it. I might have it sold since I'm a lefty and
don't take to bolt actions very well. I'll post another picture of it which will probably help
identify it.

ExSarge

Full view

[IMG][/IMG]

ExSarge

ExSarge

Snake45

If I'm not mistaken, the dovetail sight base seems to indicate that it is (or once was) an 03A3 Springfield.

The work looks nicely done, but I couldn't be seen in public with those rococco diamond inlays in the stock. I'd have to restock the thing in a more classic manner, and until I got that done, I'd have to hit that stock with some matte-black spray paint or something.

If the bore's good, and the headspace is good, and everything seems to work, and you got it for $350 or less, I'd say you did okay.

bearcat6

It's a typical sporterized 03A3 Springfield. Back in the 1950s when these surplus rifles were cheap thousands of them suffered this fate which is one reason the unmolested ones are scarce now. Some were done better than others. Yours looks to be a pretty nice one, it would be a good deer rifle for someone.

ExSarge

Thanks again folks. So I can now call it an 03A3 Springfield for sure and not be lieing
to anyone about it.

phantom4570

More accurate to describe it as a sporterized 03A3.