PDA

View Full Version : 91 Argentine question



Char-Gar
12-22-2005, 02:48 PM
I stoped by Ye Olde Hock Shoppe and eyed a 1891 Argentine in the rack. It has a price tag of $135.00 (pre-dicker) and also a sticker that said "needs repair".

The rifle has had the barrel cut to 24", rear sight removed, Bushness Banner 3X9 scope mounted in Weaver Mounts, Bolt lower for scope and low safety for scope installed. It was set into a plain but servicable American walnut stock and the job lookes pretty good. The metal had no pits, but the blue is turning to brown, but the bore was shiny and pit free. All in all the work looks pro or a knowledgable amature.

Now to the "needs repair" issue...The extractor was missing and the firing pin tip had broken off leaving just a sharp nub. It might pop a cap, but shure as shooting it is going to pierce a primer.

I can pick up the parts from GunParts Corp. for a hair under $40.00 and install them with no problems.

This sounds like a deal from the headwaters..but I am troubled by what caused the problem in the first place. My best guess is metal fatigue set into the firing pin and it broke off and somebody tried to fire a round and the primer was pierced and some gas came back and in the process the extractor went by-by.

Any thoughts from you guys? I doubt if it is going anyplace soon. I do have cases, dies, molds etc for this round.

StarMetal
12-22-2005, 03:02 PM
Firing pins breaks, fact of life. Who knows, maybe the previous owner dry fired it alot. 91 Arggies don't have a history of breaking firing pins.

Joe

felix
12-22-2005, 03:30 PM
Firing pins are another bummer. They seem to be too hard (Rossi), or too soft (everybody else). I have no idea on what is a correct composition/treatment for our normal applications (standard internal lock time, standard pin inertia). Too hard, vibration kills them; too soft, a pierced primer kills them. ... felix

45 2.1
12-22-2005, 03:35 PM
Sounds like a find, don't leave it there too long. 100 year old rifle, what doesn't have something break in that time period.

Buckshot
12-22-2005, 05:42 PM
..................Charger, Springfield Sporters can probably beat that price and they are well stocked with M91 parts. I'd suggest buying 2 extractors. These are one of what I consider 'consumable' parts and the rifle is practicley worthless in the field without it.

These extractors are fragile when compared to the heavy claw type of the later Mausers. Of the 3 M91's I have I've never broken one yet, but as I mentioned above, the lack of one will render the piece pretty useless. I think they're about $12 apiece.

For all my old milsurps I try to have these parts on hand. They are firing pins, extractors, ejectors, and cocking pieces. The prices aren't real high, they're a comfort to have on hand and these parts are subject to wear in the normal use of the thing. Add in the fact that manufacture stopped 100 years ago and their worth and possible utility goes up as each year passes.

................Buckshot

StarMetal
12-22-2005, 06:01 PM
All that Springfield Sporters has the 91 that Charger could use are the extractors at $6 apiece. No firing pins and most the other parts are stock fixtures, you know like swivels.

Joe

Char-Gar
12-22-2005, 07:00 PM
Does Springfield Sporters have a web site? $6.00 beats the $16.00 that Gunparts Corpu wants. They want $22.00 for a firing pin, but I will pay it, if I can do better someplace else.

StarMetal
12-22-2005, 07:29 PM
Here it is:

http://ssporters.com/

Joe

Buckshot
12-23-2005, 03:47 AM
............Joe, they're showing this for the 1891 Argentine. Did you call them up to find out all they had was stock metal or what? I would think this listing is complete since they don't have all thier rifle models listed on the web yet. If they didn't have all this stuff why list it?

91 ARGENTINE MAUSER Parts Listing

Item # Description Price ea.
FRONT SIGHT BLADE $1.50
FRONT SIGHT BASE 3.00
REAR SIGHT BASE 5.00
REAR SIGHT LEAF WITH SLIDE - RIFLE - NEW 12.00
REAR SIGHT BASE - CARBINE 5.00
REAR SIGHT SPRING 5.00
REAR SIGHT PIN 3.00
EJECTOR 3.00
SEAR 3.00
SEAR SPRING 2.00
SEAR PIN 1.00
TRIGGER PIN 1.00
TRIGGER 3.00
TRIGGER/SEAR ASSEMBLY 5.00
REAR GUARD SCREW BUSHING 2.00
BUTTPLATE SCREW 2.00
BUTTPLATE - RIFLE 6.00
TRIGGER GUARD - NEW WITHOUT LATCH 20.00
REAR GUARD SCREW 2.00
FOLLOWER SPRING - LONG 5.00
FOLLOWER ARM 5.00
FOLLOWER SPRING - SHORT 4.00
BUTT SWIVEL 2.00
BUTT SWIVEL SCREW 2.00
REAR BAND ASSEMBLY- RIFLE 7.00
STRIPPER CLIP 1.00
REAR BAND - CARBINE 7.00
BAND SPRING -RIFLE, REAR 2.00
FRONT BAND - RIFLE 7.00
HANDGUARD - RIFLE - NEW 15.00
HANDGUARD - CARBINE - NEW 15.00
CLEANING ROD NUT 1.00
EXTRACTOR - NEW 6.00
BOLT BODY - RIFLE (NEW) 10.00
BOLT BODY - CARBINE (NEW) 15.00
BOLT SLEEVE 6.00
SAFETY 4.00
SAFETY DETENT 3.00
SAFETY DETENT SPRING 2.00
MAINSPRING 3.00
COCKING PIECE 7.00
SADDLE BAR - CARBINE 5.00
BRASS CLEANING JAG 5.00
MUZZLE COVER - RIFLE 5.00

.................Buckshot

StarMetal
12-23-2005, 12:38 PM
...which is what I basically said, mostly stock furniture (except for the sights). No firing pin tho.

joe