Picked up a Turk

[Jim]

I picked up an old Turk recently for a hundred dollars. The previous owner had cut the barrel down to 19 inches, recrowned it and added a folding leaf rear and ramp front sight. It came on a Butler Creek stock and the guy that sold it to me also gave me the old original stock that was on it when he bought it. I took the Butler Creek stock off and sported the original stock. The bore is in fairly decent condition which surprised me as most of them look like the inside of a hollow log. It'll make a decent 'truck' rifle.

http://floydpics.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dscn0560-e1334525191663.jpg

[RKJ]

Jim for $100.00 I think you did very good. One question though; What is the extension at the end of the barrel?

[Jim]

A lot of old bolt military rifles had staged reductions in barrel diameter rather than tapered reductions. What appears to be an extension there is a bit of the next stage of barrel diameter reduction that was left after being cut. I would have cut it to the end of the reduction myself.

http://floydpics.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dscn0604-e1334925669779.jpg

[RKJ]

I would have too. I still like it. I assume it's a 7mm? My 1st bolt action rifle was an old sporterized 98 8mm (I don't know a small ring from a large ring) that I had drilled & tapped for a scope and the bolt turned down. The work cost me more than I paid for the rifle and more than I sold it for. Ahh, the ignorance of youth. I'd like to have another (just for nostalgia) but for the price I've seen for most of them I could buy a nice new 700 ADL or equivalent.

[Jim]

..... I assume it's a 7mm? .....

No Sir, it's an 8MM. I'm sorry, it never dawned on me to identify the caliber.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

You did good! And, those sights are a lot easier to see than the originals.

[RKJ]

One of these days I'm going to get off my duff and get myself a 7mm Mauser, I've read a lot of good things about them. But that old 8mm I had I sure liked (and every time I think about it I want to kick myself). I had to get an 30/06 though, cause everyone needs an 06. :) Again though, I like that rifle it looks like a dandy.

[excess650]

Jim,
Is that a cock on opening (98) or cock on closing action? How is the receiver marked?

I have a '98 variety K Kale 1944 that I shortened to about 21", added a ramp front, and had a Redifeld receiver sight fit. The stepdown on my barrel would be at roughly 16" so obviously contoured differently. Too, mine still has the bolt handle sticking straight out.

Mine is intended as yours, for a truck gun and other rough use. I have several molds including a Lee 175gr, NOE 185gr(?), 225gr custom from MM, and the Lee Maximum. Both of my heavyweights don't want to feed from the magazine if there is more than 1 round in there. The bore in mine is sketchy, so its rather particular as to what loads I've gotten it to shoot accurately.

[tmanbuckhunter]

Nice turk, and it is a 98 judging by the few details we can see in the pic.


As to the taper on the end of the barrel, many rifles were done like this to accommodate the ring on the bayonet that would slip over the end of the barrel then lock into place on the lug.

[Jim]

It's a standard 'cock on opening' action. The previous owner (who I know, by the way) modified the bolt and installed a Timney trigger in it. I haven't checked the trigger pull, but it suits me real good. Man, I just love old Mausers.

http://floydpics.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dscn0609-e1335040527195.jpg

http://floydpics.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dscn0610-e1335040623507.jpg

[WILCO]

Man, I just love old Mausers.

Me too Jim. Me too!

[excess650]

K Kales are reputed to be the best of the Turks. Ya done good!

Find a Lyman or Redfield receiver sight and swap out that front bead with a green fiber optic and you'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

[Ben]

Jim :

Is that bolt handle actually touching the stock ? Looks to be in the photo ?
If so....that is a NO...No.

Ben

[Jim]

Ben, your question prompted me to go look carefully. Sure enough, it IS touching! I'll cut a notch in the stock to allow the bolt to fully close without contacting.

'Preciate you bringing that to my attention!

[Ben]

Thanks for checking.

That could cause ( and probably would ) the bolt not to fully close and lock up completely.

Glad we caught it.

Best,

Ben

[Buckshot]

...............At first I had no interest is Turkish Mausers. After awhile the idea of being able to buy a high power centerfire rifle for $69 seemed rather appealing :-)

http://www.fototime.com/4081B75BF8E1589/standard.jpg

These are the ones I ended up with. From the top they're: An Imperial German M1888 altered in 1935 via a new stock, and the loss of the steel barrel shroud and a new barrel. Next down is a M1938. This has either a Czech or Imperial German 98 action, trigger guard, & bolt. The next one down is a Turk M38/46 which is their version of the German K98. This has the indigenous K.Kale Arsenal action. The rifle on the bottom is one I made up, having some spare time on hand:-)

http://www.fototime.com/0F9B03F30F585C2/standard.jpg

It started out as a M1938. Sectioned the stock, shortened the barrel, shortened the rear sight, used a carbine handguard, and made the nosepiece. Come to find out later that the Turks actually had something similar to it. It was a M1905 something or other:-)

The first Turkish Mausers were chambered in 7.65x53 (their 1893's). Most of these were later altered to 8x57. They were gifted M1888 Commission rifles by the Germans in WW1, and also some M98's. If the receiver ring is marked K.Kale, (their arsenal in Ankara) they were made in Turkey. Otherwise they're German or Czech made actions. All the Turkish made actions are externally similar to the 98 Mausers, except they take the small ring Mauser diameter barrel shanks.

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

[WILCO]

...............At first I had no interest is Turkish Mausers. After awhile the idea of being able to buy a high power centerfire rifle for $69 seemed rather appealing :-)

Impressive Sir!

[Shiloh]

No Sir, it's an 8MM. I'm sorry, it never dawned on me to identify the caliber.

Weren't all the Turk Mausers 8mm??

Shiloh

[DonMountain]

I have one of these old Turkey Mausers and wondered what the hole in the stock half way back from the rear of the action was for? Most of the pictures above seem to all have them also. And it appears to be bushed with metal to mount something there? :castmine:

[fatelk]

I sure wish I had bought a few more back when Big 5 sporting goods had them for $50 each. One Christmas they had them for $45 each. $99 for two Turkish Mausers and a background check, sometime around 2001 IIRC.

I gave away a couple of them, one to a friend and another to a nephew. I think I have two left, and a receiver that needs rebarreling- a someday project.

[Uncle Grinch]

Weren't all the Turk Mausers 8mm??

Shiloh

The Turks also used the Argentine 7.65x53 in their early military rifles.

[TNsailorman]

I am one of those who wish he had bought several of the old turks when they sold for $59.95. I did buy 2 and turned one them into a 6.5x55 and kept the other 8x57mm. Sold them both and now have the old "wish I hadn't" blues. Story of my life--always looking for something new or different with my rifles.

[Ed in North Texas]

Weren't all the Turk Mausers 8mm??

Shiloh

No, the Turks bought Model 1890, 1893 and 1903 Mausers in 7.65x53 Mauser (AKA 7.65 Belgian and more commonly in the US known as 7.65 Argentine). All the 1893 and 1903 rifles still in inventory were converted to 8x57mm in the 1930s. The 1903 was (to belabor the obvious) a Model 98 derived model, but the 1893 models should only be fired with the lower pressure US SAAMI standard 8x57mm ammo.

Ed

This is what happens when I write an answer before reading all the posts. Sorry Uncle Grinch, didn't mean to double up on your post.

[izzyjoe]

those turks made very good sporter's, i bought a couple back when they were hot. and i too wish i'd bought more! they have all dried up now, to tell the truth there's not many cheap milsurp rifles left to buy. the mosin is about the last of them, and i'm thinking about getting one while i can.

[Multigunner]

Weren't all the Turk Mausers 8mm??

Shiloh

The 98 actioned rifles were originally 8mm, due to the ability of some of these actions to take the small ring barrels many have been rebarreled to 6.5 or 7mm using new old stock replacement barrels or good condition take off barrels meant for the 93,95,or 96 small ring actions.
So despite a Turk rifle you might find for sale having a military stepped barrel checking the caliber is still a good idea, especially if already sportered.

[Ed in North Texas]

The 98 actioned rifles were originally 8mm, due to the ability of some of these actions to take the small ring barrels many have been rebarreled to 6.5 or 7mm using new old stock replacement barrels or good condition take off barrels meant for the 93,95,or 96 small ring actions.
So despite a Turk rifle you might find for sale having a military stepped barrel checking the caliber is still a good idea, especially if already sportered.


The 1903s were 98 actions (and the "1905 Carbines", which weren't really a separate "model") The Turks bought 1903s in 7.65. All still in inventory were re-barreled to 7.92 in the 1930s, but these were originally 7.65x53mm.

Ed

[Uncle Grinch]

You can still find some decent Turks out there if you're look good enough. Some of the earlier ones can make very good shooters. I've still got a couple ('37 and '41) in original condition that are slick shooters. One has a nice stock that appears to be walnut.

My first ones were converted by E.R. Shaw into a 358 Win and a 6.5x55. Gave the 358 to my son and the 6.5 to my great nephew.

Picked up another one in good shape late last year off THR forum that has potential. I'm going to leave as is, but "clean it up" some.

Like Jim said.... "I just love those old Mausers!"

[Junior1942]

Here's three shots @ 100 yards from my Turk Mauser. It'll do this all day. I still have one in cosmoline. Ought to have a dozen but don't :-(

http://www.castbullet.com/makeit/photos/m3832t.jpg

[Multigunner]

The 1903s were 98 actions (and the "1905 Carbines", which weren't really a separate "model") The Turks bought 1903s in 7.65. All still in inventory were re-barreled to 7.92 in the 1930s, but these were originally 7.65x53mm.

Ed

Thats good to know. Wonder if any unaltered 03 or 05 rifles in 7.65 can be found these days?

The 7.65 had such good press in its day, and the modern 7.62 NATO is so similar except in original bullet weights, that its a wonder it was dropped by Spain and Turkey, yet soldiered on in South America.

It would seem the Turks had both 7.65 and 8mm rifles in service during WW1.
Likely availability of German 8mm MGs had something to do with standardizing on the 8mm (7.92) cartridge for the Infantry.

[DCM]

I have one of these old Turkey Mausers and wondered what the hole in the stock half way back from the rear of the action was for? Most of the pictures above seem to all have them also. And it appears to be bushed with metal to mount something there? :castmine:

The bushed hole in the stock is to aid in the disassembly and re-assembly of the firing pin. Place the firing pin in the hole, push the cocking piece and turn it to remove/install the spring.