doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com Zella Mehlis 98 LR Mauser

I recently purchased the above rifle in 9,3x57. I believe it is a pre Anschutz. I was impressed by the finish of the action inside , out and under - it is all very smoothly finished. My question is where did the various "makers" source the actions from. There is a 84 on the action flat, nothing on the back of the magazine box, the serial # on the barrel is 20xx. Any info. will be appreciated. --- John Can.

John Can.
Pre WW1, 98 mausers came from Mauser.Post WW1,used actions were avaliable from many sources and didn't have to come from manufacturer.These actions were often re-ground to remove original markings.The Mauser commercial actions usually had the Mauser number(not always the same as the serial number)on the back of the magazine box.Also commercial actions usually had the set triggers(when furnished)built into the mag.assy.,whereas surplus actions had set triggers in a separate assy.,let into the mag. assy.
Mike

John Can.
Pre WW1, 98 mausers came from Mauser.Post WW1,used actions were avaliable from many sources and didn't have to come from manufacturer.These actions were often re-ground to remove original markings.The Mauser commercial actions usually had the Mauser number(not always the same as the serial number)on the back of the magazine box.Also commercial actions usually had the set triggers(when furnished)built into the mag.assy.,whereas surplus actions had set triggers in a separate assy.,let into the mag. assy.
Mike

Seems as if you are studdering there Ford. Boy these Mausers seem to be coming out of the closets here as of late. Curious what you mean by pre-Ansch�ltz.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Correct me if I'm wrong but it was my understanding that a gun with the name Germania Waffenwerk A G Zella Mehlis became Anschutz circa 1939, albeit that GWAGZM was / is still owned by the Anschutz "family". It also has the pine in heart mark on the barrel, how long did GWZM use this mark? It might give me an age idea.

This rifle has a single military style trigger rifle but I understand what you are saying about the DSTs, I have both versions.

The bottom metal has a narrowed trigger bow and no locking screws as one would find on a military rifle. --- John Can.

Julius Gottfried Ansch�tz(son of master gunsmith Johann Heinrich Gottlieb Ansch�tz) of Mehlis hung out his shingle in 1856 and I'm not sure when they marketed with the name Germania-Waffenwerk. The fir tree is the stamp of the Z-M proofhouse post 1939. Let me see if I can round up an image.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

""Germania Waffenwerk A.G." was noone else than J.G. Anschuetz, Reissmannstr.(a�e)22, Zella-Mehlis, after WW2 refounded in Ulm, renowned for their target rifles."
Axle of Shotgun Charlie's notes.

I think they had a trademark change or addition in the late 1890s but J.G. Ansch�tz received protection "Germania" or "Germania Waffenwerk" under Nr. 50666 in 1907(1901?).

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Seems that Julius Gottfried Ansch�tz of Mehlis expired in 1901 and that same year J.G. Ansch�tz found protection for their trademark Germania Waffenwerk of a winged female depiction(art nouveau) of Germany standing atop a globe in that same year.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Typically craftsmen work about 40 years in their craft. So assuming that applies here, then in 1896 J.G. would have sought retirement and it was in 1896 that there was a large expansion in an old railroad facility of some sort and from this point forward the facility was known as Germania Waffenwerk.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse