doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The 98 Mauser GEHA shotgun conversion

I've always believed these things were a quick way to get a Mauser bolt in the brain. I have been told the GEHAs and Hart to Harts were properly built and not dangerous.

I dunno they look pretty scary to me.

Not so. I remember seeing a pic of a dozen of these guns leaning against a fence in a pic of the Depression, poor folks on a rabbit hunt, none of those blew up neither did my 12 ga and ultra rare 20 ga, the pride of my collection!
Do not believe all you are told, Poochie!

It is not uncommon here to find old Chassepot needle fire guns converted to shotgun and I recently sold a Mauser model 1871 converted to 12 bore. Most have Belgian proof marks and the 1871 Mauser even had 3 inch chambers. They seem to be able to stand the heavy proof charges. Lagopus.....

Hi:

This subject has been kicked around for a long time! The opinion that I have gleaned from all of it was to never fire these things!

Of course there will be those who insist that they are safe but it is your brain! Why take the chance?

It reminds me of the smoker who claims that smoking is safe by stating that he knows of a smoker who is 95 years old and it has never hurt him!

These things come up for auction around here for about $135.00. If you wish, buy one and take a walk on the wild side! Lol

Be well,

Franchi

I have several of these guns and used one for many years, scary - why? , a Mossberg etc. only has the bolt handle root as the locking lug. These Mausers came in the following, Remo Popular, a 71 / 71-84 mauser in either single shot / two shot with one in a internal clip . Geha & HH both are 98 Mauser conversions, very basic & similar. Last but not least the Remo in 98 Mauser, very nice, with a German style sporter stock and several mechanical advances over the Geha. This model is quite scarce and rarely seen, I believe they all came in 12, 16 & 20 gau. albeit I've never handled a 20. On my 16s the front lugs still engage but not by much. Great and cheap additions to a Mauser collection. --- John Can.

There's an extensive article on the Geha/Remo/Hard Hit Heart shotgun conversions posted as a "sticky" at the front of www.gunboards.com/forums "Commercial and Military Sporting Arms" forum, which is 'way down on their forum list. The most information I've ever seen in one place about these. Just FYI; never had nor shot one myself.

When I was a boy a kid brought one to school and we all played with it. I don't remember if he had shells with it but it wouldn't have been unusual in those days. It was a 410. He said some uncle had brought it to him. This was in '52 so it was not too long after WWII. It looked for all the world like a Mauser 98 rifle but took shotgun shells.
In those days we played with war trophies instead of cap guns.

drduc,
Do you think you could find your friend now? What he had may have been a 410(rare) or it may have been a 10.75mm rifle.They were sometimes confused because a 410 would "go in".
Mike

I've had a couple of the ones just built on sporterized military Mausers. Both 12ga. I've seen ones in 16 and 20's.
I past up a beauty of a 12 with a custom sporter stock as nice as any rifle. Stupid me,,one of those moments.

The 12ga guns shot fine. The 98 bolt safety lug is the locking lug. The front lugs are gone in the conversion to make room for the 12ga shell.

The front portion of the 98 bolt is cut off and a larger separate shell head of a diameter suited for the 12ga fits into the front of the bolt.
The only thing that holds it in the bolt is the original 98 extractor, slightly modified itself,, as it snaps into a groove in the outside edge of this new bolt head.
That's all that holds it in place That allows the bolt to still rotate.

Here the problem can occur. The shotgun can still be fired with out that bolt head in place. Put a shell in the chamber, close the bolt and the firing pin (it's the original 98 bolt FP) reaches the 12ga shell and fires it with a pull of the trigger. Nothing in back of the shell but your face, as the bolt head is missing.

The bolt heads are often missing from these guns. They can also pop right out during use if a sloppy or worn fit.
During operation the ejection of a spent shell can also cause the bolt head to eject with it if poorly fitted. Chambering and firing another is as above noted.

One of mine had a habit of tossing the bolt head away during quick bolt manipulation. Trying for that double on Skeet,,that idea was quickly put to rest and a Mossberg 185 does the trick now.

In good condition,,these are perfectly fine for use with low pressure loads,,that is my opinion of course.

You have to be alert and attentive to what you're doing,,but that comes with any firearms use.

Many rifles have separate bolt heads and will fire w/o them in place. SMLE, Steyr's, GEW88, ect. They just don't have a habit of spitting them out as easily during use as the Mauser shotgun! ,,and are very well fitted to begin with in original design.

The 16 and 20 ga conversions still have some of the front bolt locking lugs for engagement. But if they still engage and how much is to be determined,,so don't count on the fact that they do w/o some investigation.

It's that Mauser 98 third safety lug that's keeping the bolt locked,,and it's as much or more than most commercial bolt action shotguns made.
Examine carefully though as the history of the guns are largely unknown. Many were built from nothing but war scrap.

Very interesting article on the gunboards site mentioned above, well worth the read. GEHA was among those that kept the German gun industry alive between the wars. Because the owner of GEHA was a Jew, he was stripped of his assets and they were given to one of the industrialists in more favor. The GEHA story is a look into Germany between the wars.

This has been most interesting and educational for me and I want to thank all those who have contributed. I understand the GEHA story, the guns and their appeal much better now. But I still don't want to shoot one.

Thanks