Mauser Guns Collectors Forum

Rifles => General Mauser Rifle Questions => Topic started by: TN Knight on August 16, 2016, 11:01:32 AM

Title: Belgium Mauser "missing link"?
Post by: TN Knight on August 16, 2016, 11:01:32 AM
Hey guys, I'm new here, and looking for mauser experts.

This rifle was given to me a number of years ago, and i have tried numerous times to identify it. I've never seen another rifle like it. It's a military rifle, not a commercial one. (slot for stripper clips)

Is apparently been in the states for a long time because it has no importer mark. The markings on the left side of receiver and barrel are Belgian, made in Liege, to my understanding. To the right side the serial number matches on barrel/receiver. It's a very low number with a circled z or n. I was told that meant it was a Czech rifle but that source was questionable.

On the bottom of the receiver is a "2 inside a square" and some other underlined letters that i don't know what means.

The bolt (which appears was originally a straight handle that was turned down) doesn't have a serial number but has the same 2 inside a square found on the bottom of the receiver.

But now to the biggest puzzlement - the top of the receiver has been peened, but you can still make out slightly what the markings looked
like. From the pictures, it looks like the first letter is a "Z" followed by maybe 3 more letters.  It almost looks like it says "ZOLL" but it's very difficult to tell about the last 3 letters. What strikes me is that I've never seen another Belgian mauser mark that would even fit in the spot currently peened. The top of the barrel has been peened over too.

Also, does anyone know why they peened rifles? It looks pretty well done.

Any help would be appreciated. This is an excellent gun. Perfect bore, and is the smoothest, tightest action I've ever felt. It shoots 8mm, and with European ammo, shoots 2.5" groups at 200 yards.

Thanks for reading!