http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/22009267
I went to a local gun show today about two miles from home. I had NO intentions of buying anything since money is tight, very tight. There was a gorgeous 1912 M96 Swedish Mauser that I would have grabbed if times were really good but I couldn't justify $400 for it. As I wandered around my eye caught something really strange. It was a 1903 Turkish Mauser modified to 7.92 x 57 in an M96 Swedish Mauser stock. The guy had it marked down already and then said $150 and it's yours. I said I'll think about it and wandered back to the table where my friend had the $400 Swedish Mauser and asked if he knew anything about Turkish Mausers and he said he didn't. I have a lot of Turkish Mausers of many configurations but I'd never seen anything like this. I then assumed it was a Bubba job but very nicely done. I have several Turkish Mausers of that vintage purchased form Century for $25 a piece at least ten years ago that don't headspace but have very serviceable stocks. I could switch the barreled action to one of those. So I bought it, brought it home and completely disassembled it. I assumed I would find the stock chewed out with a Dremel tool but that wasn't the case. There were some remnants of cosmoline between the metal and the stock. The front sight is also very unusual, too. It has a very good bore with wide land rifling.
What do I have? A clever fake of some sort? A very good Bubba job? The work of some half crazed Turk? I'm stumped. It's actually an attractive rifle if nothing else. I'm going to post this on the Turkish Mauser forum, too, but I've posted it here because I thought more people would view it. Carl
I went to a local gun show today about two miles from home. I had NO intentions of buying anything since money is tight, very tight. There was a gorgeous 1912 M96 Swedish Mauser that I would have grabbed if times were really good but I couldn't justify $400 for it. As I wandered around my eye caught something really strange. It was a 1903 Turkish Mauser modified to 7.92 x 57 in an M96 Swedish Mauser stock. The guy had it marked down already and then said $150 and it's yours. I said I'll think about it and wandered back to the table where my friend had the $400 Swedish Mauser and asked if he knew anything about Turkish Mausers and he said he didn't. I have a lot of Turkish Mausers of many configurations but I'd never seen anything like this. I then assumed it was a Bubba job but very nicely done. I have several Turkish Mausers of that vintage purchased form Century for $25 a piece at least ten years ago that don't headspace but have very serviceable stocks. I could switch the barreled action to one of those. So I bought it, brought it home and completely disassembled it. I assumed I would find the stock chewed out with a Dremel tool but that wasn't the case. There were some remnants of cosmoline between the metal and the stock. The front sight is also very unusual, too. It has a very good bore with wide land rifling.
What do I have? A clever fake of some sort? A very good Bubba job? The work of some half crazed Turk? I'm stumped. It's actually an attractive rifle if nothing else. I'm going to post this on the Turkish Mauser forum, too, but I've posted it here because I thought more people would view it. Carl
It does have a very good bore however that measures .311" at muzzle, where it should be, and has no muzzle wear. I did send a link with the pictures to
my Century Arms rep and he said he forwarded to customer service to trace the serial numbers. If they actually do it, they'll be on a wild goose chase
with serial number 4037! 
This has been an enjoyable experience and
certainly has stirred some interest on this board and Gunboards. 
