While not a Mauser, the cheapest rifle that I still have is an 1891 Carcano (1918 date). I bought it in about 1960 at a local surplus store for $7.50. It was filthy and marked as unserviceable. Well, after taking it apart and cleaning all of the dirt and grime off of it I bought a clip of WWII surplus ammo, took it out to the country, tied it to a tree, loaded it and stepped way back with a cord around the trigger. Fired all 6 rounds with no ill effect so reassembled it and it was good to go.