M1912 Chilean 7mm

[Greasemonkey]

This is a Austrian Steyr M1912 long rifle, a contract of 38,000 rifles split between Chile, Mexico and Colombia. The long rifle is not as common as the shorter carbine or M1912-61. The carbines were shortened long rifles, the M1912-61 were converted to 7.62 Nato, in 1961. It's based off the K98 3 lug design, and were built between 1912 and 1914. The Mexican variant is the most uncommon of the bunch, followed by the Colombian, but when there were only 38,000 made, all are pretty uncommon.











This is the bore, it's got pretty decent rifling for a South American rifle.

[Phosphorus32]

That's a fine looking Mauser!    Beautiful stock, nice Chilean crests on the receiver ring and the stock.  All matching? 

How's the 7mm handle?  I would expect it's relatively mild, especially in a long rifle like this. 

[Greasemonkey]

All numbers do match.

A 7mm is a mild round, I have several variants in 7mm, a Brazilian M1908 and a M1908/34, a Spanish M1916, M1895 Chilean and this one. None are objectionable and all are easy to handle.

And if you step into the 7mm, go for the heavier 168-173grain ammo, its much closer to the original loading than the lighter weight bullets.

[Blicero]

That is a damn beautiful Mauser. Mercy. 90% of South American guns I see look like they've been to hell & back. Honestly, I never realized Steyr was mixed up in the S. American export business.

Where do you recommend I start with 7mm, which nation?

A friend and I are both lusting after a Mexican Mauser. I would've never thunk it but they produced some on their own, didn't just strictly rely on Loewe or Oberndorf or whoever to send the material. Clever bastards. They're beautiful rifles too. You have any Mexicans?

[Blicero]

Wait, I retract that. I know Steyr sent out versions of the Luftwaffe Carbine/G29O to...I want to say Venezuela or Colombia. I think I've only seen 2 or 3 of them though, and I'm not sure what they called the export version.

[Greasemonkey]

Which type action for a 7mm?  M1891/95 or 98, either is capable of the 7mm round. Makes the decision easier.

FMM or Fusil Mauser Mexicano made a M1910 and the M1934, these are in country builds, not contract. They used the M1912 Steyr due to slow production of the internal factory.  There is also a Model 1936/54 or Model 1954, they took the 34 and changed from 7mm to .30-06.

Off the top of my head, there are some South American rifles that are deemed intermediate actions, small rings with 3lugs, basic small version of a K98. Something along the lines of the Yugo Mausers, but its a different variant.