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Congratulations to that beautiful Argy M91 ! And for that price...

As JoeACTM already told, your rifle is one of the first ones ('B' series), and has a lot of unusual old features. The Argy M91's underwent a lot of updates and refurbishments from 1892-1895, but your rifle somehow avoided all of them. This makes your rifle something special, cause she seems to be mostly in old 1891-type configuration! These refurbishments were:

• a locking screw in front of the magazine - your's doesn't have
• extractor at 8 o'clock position - your's is the old style one, on 9 o'clock position (view to receiver head)
• the bolt sleeve without 'wings' to the left and right
• bolt knob with a sharp edge between knob and stem

--> these are very old-style features on an Argy M91, which are pretty rare! Most Argy M91 were later updated to the 'new' features.

As Fusil L'Acadienne mentioned, your receiver serial no. looks somehow odd: the number fonts don't look old-style (1891-like). Especially the '3' and the '4' are not correct for a 1891-make.
Possible explanation: your receiver is a spare part, was arsenal-replaced, and numbered to the old serial #, but with new dies. Something like that happened quite often.

hope this is helpful, Chris

 

Nice example you have there. And you got it at a good price.

It is one of the early batches, probably delivered in 1892.

Most of the marks you show are inspection marks used to indicate that a piece was acceptable.

You may wonder about the "B" in the receiver serial number looking like it was re-stamped. That is not a problem. After the first 50,000 rifles had been delivered, Loewe decided to put a little pin into the side of the receiver to prevent the bolt extractor from bending to far out and breaking. The original type bolts have the extractor in the 90 degree position, which your bolt seems to be. The newer replacement bolts have the extractor closer to the locking lug and lower on the side of the receiver when closed. The original type bolts ended up with the pin having to be inserted through the first letter of the serial number, hence the re-stamping of the "B".

One feature of your rifle that I find interesting is that while you seem to have an original type bolt with the extractor in the 90 degree position, the bolt handle stem has the "cap" inspection mark. The original type bolts usually had a "star" inspection mark. The cap inspection mark on a B series original type bolt is something I have not seen before. Would you mind adding a picture of the bolt face straight on so I can confirm the extractor placement.

Another mark on the stock is the AG in a shield. This indicates that the rifle was worked on by an armory in Argentina, probably some routine maintenance. You seem to have the original barrel, since replacement barrels would have the AG in shield on them. The linked ovals on your barrel are a mark that we have not been able to figure out. The other mark is the test firing proof, which you will see on the barrel, side of the receiver and bolt handle stem.

 

Nice example you have there. And you got it at a good price.

It is one of the early batches, probably delivered in 1892.

Most of the marks you show are inspection marks used to indicate that a piece was acceptable.

You may wonder about the "B" in the receiver serial number looking like it was re-stamped. That is not a problem. After the first 50,000 rifles had been delivered, Loewe decided to put a little pin into the side of the receiver to prevent the bolt extractor from bending to far out and breaking. The original type bolts have the extractor in the 90 degree position, which your bolt seems to be. The newer replacement bolts have the extractor closer to the locking lug and lower on the side of the receiver when closed. The original type bolts ended up with the pin having to be inserted through the first letter of the serial number, hence the re-stamping of the "B".

One feature of your rifle that I find interesting is that while you seem to have an original type bolt with the extractor in the 90 degree position, the bolt handle stem has the "cap" inspection mark. The original type bolts usually had a "star" inspection mark. The cap inspection mark on a B series original type bolt is something I have not seen before. Would you mind adding a picture of the bolt face straight on so I can confirm the extractor placement.

Another mark on the stock is the AG in a shield. This indicates that the rifle was worked on by an armory in Argentina, probably some routine maintenance. You seem to have the original barrel, since replacement barrels would have the AG in shield on them. The linked ovals on your barrel are a mark that we have not been able to figure out. The other mark is the test firing proof, which you will see on the barrel, side of the receiver and bolt handle stem.

Definitely looks like a cap vs star

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Very nice find at a great price. Always too bad when the crest has been scrubbed. Either way... still a nice rifle!

I’ve always liked the Argentine Mauser... a thing of beauty! I love my Argentine engineers carbine. Wouldn’t give it up for anything!

 

Nice rifle! Going rate on these seems anywhere from 4-600, so 300 is an unambiguously good deal. Crests were scrubbed prior to export to comply with then-current Argentine laws. Pity, that, but they’re still very nice rifles with lovely lines and beautiful craftsmanship, and the scrubbed mark is as much a part of the rifles history as anything else.

 

Here is a brief overview I copied from a website many years ago:

Manufactured in Germany, the Modelo 1891 Argentine Mauser replaced the .43 caliber Remington Rolling Block rifle as the standard issue Argentine military rifle. Based upon the same Mauser protruding box magazine design as the Belgian 1889 and Turkish 1890 Mauser rifles. The Modelo 1891 had a short service life as it was replaced by the more modern Modelo 1909 Argentine Mauser in 1909. The 1891 is chambered in the 7.65x53mm Mauser cartridge and is a very long, slender, elegant, and beautifully made Mauser rifle.

 

May we see a picture of the bolt face, i.e. where the firing pin pops out of to hit the primer?
Thanks.

 

I’ll try to grab that on Friday.


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Great price. As BP notes the scrubbed crest is part of the gun’s history. Lots of these guns were covertly provided to other South American countries to use against their neighbors who were less than friendly to Argentina. So think of it as an indication this rifle saw action for multiple countries.

Skirmisher

 

Very nice, clean example and danged good price...congratulations!

 

Nice rifle, nicer price, well done! And unless the barrel is roached, the Argentine Mausers are surprisingly accurate shooters

Best reference for Argentine Mausers is Colin Websters "Argentine Mauser Rifles 1871-1959". All of the different stamps seen on Argentine Mausers, and there are lots of them, are discussed (stars, buckles, Phrygian cap, half moons, MB, clasped hands, etc.).

JoeACTM got it right - your rifle was produced in 1892. And according to Webster (and if my math is correct!), your rifle was shipped to Argentina on October 11, 1892 on board the ship Pernambuco.

 

Good point, not sure why the 9430 on the barrel is a different and smaller font? If the barrel font were the only different one, I'd say it was replaced and arsenal renumbered. Not sure Argentina did such things but it is moot - it is the receiver that has the different font.

Might check under the wood line and see if there is an aligned strike mark on the bottom of the barrel that extends from the barrel shank to the front edge of the receiver. If that strike line is a stright line, it's a pretty good bet barrel and receiver have been mated since day one. If barrel and receiver are not aligned, then one or the other may have been replaced for some reason and then reserialized.

 

"...the bolt handle stem has the "cap" inspection mark. The original type bolts usually had a "star" inspection mark..."

I was wondering if it is a replacement bolt body. My B series for some comparison.

OP - nice rifle, great pics! Thanks for sharing.

 

Very nice rifle, and at a very good price. I have several of these yet I would have snapped it up at that price, too. Quality never goes out of style. And I love the cans of fruit on the shelf. Cause you never know if you're gonna need a snack whilst down in the basement gun room.


I'll add my B-series markings for further comparison.

 

Very nice rifle, and at a very good price. I have several of these yet I would have snapped it up at that price, too. Quality never goes out of style. And I love the cans of fruit on the shelf. Cause you never know if you're gonna need a snack whilst down in the basement gun room.


I'll add my B-series markings for further comparison.

View attachment 3872544 View attachment 3872545

Ha! And it hides all the handmade canned stuff the wife made. Lol

I’ll try to get some more photos tomorrow of the bolt and some other stuff people chatted about


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What I find strange is that the bolt has the older extractor position yet the newer cap inspection mark which seems to appear around the G and H series, late 1893 and up to now only on bolts with the newer extractor.

I just took a look at three of the rifles in my picture collection from the B series, and all had the rounded "3" and the closed point top "4" like the OP's rifle has. I will try to look more carefully when I have more time.

 

All of my 1891 Argys have the Phyrgian cap outboard of the MB stamp like the original pics in this thread.

For what it's worth, Webster (page 69) says the Phrygian cap was an inspection stamp used on the bolt and other items as part of the stage one inspections whereas the 5-point star was used on the cleaning rod and fore-end cap (of the rifle only). The MB mark was the test firing proof indicating the barrel, receiver and bolt withstood a 1.5X pressure test round.

When you get to the fun stage - firing your new beauty, I have found the Argy 1891 rifles I own tend to like the heavier spitzer rounds, like the 174 and 180 grain bullets, but my carbines like the 150gr spitzers. And hand loading definitely improves the accuracy and precision of both rifles and carbines.

Enjoy your new Argy but be warned: the 1891 and 1909 Argys are addicting!

 

Any particular brand of ammo?


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I buy PPU with the soft point bullets. However it is now up to $1.50 a round from $0.70 a while ago.

 

PPU seems like the most available but as JoeACTM says, it has gotten very expensive. If you can find it factory loaded, the old Norma loads are great but they are loaded significantly hotter than PPU. If you reload, the Norma brass is quite good for getting multiple reloads out of

 

Barrel

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Argentine Mauser M91 Bolt Handle Rifle - Argentine 1891 you should buy one of these and a new firing pin if you plan on shooting that. Never seen a bolt face that bad . Also does pin in side receiver line up with extractor .It should look like this. 1891 Argentine A-series Rifle

 

Argentine Mauser M91 Bolt Handle Rifle - Argentine 1891 you should buy one of these and a new firing pin if you plan on shooting that. Never seen a bolt face that bad . Also does pin in side receiver line up with extractor .It should look like this. 1891 Argentine A-series Rifle

Thanks, I ordered a new bolt for firing purposes. What do you mean by pin? Can you send a photo with a circle so I can get you that angle?


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1891 Argentine A-series Rifle look inside the receiver the pin in this pic should match up with your extractor on bolt when its in the fully closed position if it does your receiver is probably a replacement one , its the extractor support pin . Or do you mean my comment on the firing pin tip that might be repairable .

 

1891 Argentine A-series Rifle look inside the receiver the pin in this pic should match up with your extractor on bolt when its in the fully closed position if it does your receiver is probably a replacement one , its the extractor support pin . Or do you mean my comment on the firing pin tip that might be repairable .

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Looks like you have a newer replacement receiver so the new bolt will match up. Old style has pin at 3 o`clock from rear view , new style is at about 4 o`clock . The bolt that came with your rifle is newer style I think that explains why it has cap stamp and not the star stamp . 1891 Argentine A-series Rifle heres a pic of original bolt before they changed the location.

 

Dismantling of rifle since everyone had a ton of questions on it.

Found a couple of new markings, as well as my nemesis, cosmoline.

Incan just make out the faint outline of a pin replacement that was evident in the a series link that was posted. Can’t really get a photo of it, but if I angle it in the light correctly I see it. (It’s the last photo)

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I`m going to let some of the other guys comment but if that is a crack running down the side of the receiver in that last pic I would not shoot it I`d be returning it for a full refund.

 

I`m going to let some of the other guys comment but if that is a crack running down the side of the receiver in that last pic I would not shoot it I`d be returning it for a full refund.

Not a crack, it’s a cosmoline line where it meets the wood. See photo below , I rubbed some away with a finger . I’ll have to try and clean the whole Thing in the near future. Just no time right now

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OK good deal better safe than sorry.

 

I totally agree. Did the pin photo works for you? I tried to reference the links you sent me. Looks like it had the work done to it, but this is new to me


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It is hard for me to see the tiny pin inside the receiver in your pictures. Thanks for the bolt face picture. That solved the mystery of the cap inspection mark since you have the newer extractor position.

What is puzzling me now is that you seem to have a new type bolt body and it seems (can't be sure from the pictures) that the tiny pin inside the receiver is under the wood line and lines up with the extractor on your bolt body. However, it looks as if the "B" in your serial number was restamped as if the receiver had the pin in the higher position corresponding to the older extractor position.

Take a look at this thread, post 12 in particular, but there may be more on the pin in other posts. It was a big mystery to us before we understood the pin installation and the restamping of the letter.

1891 Argentine A-series Rifle

I recently acquired an 1891 Argentine Rifle that seems to have retained most of its early production features and did not go through any arsenal refurbishment programs. Those who know me will correctly suspect that I have autopsied this rifle with a fine tooth comb, but won't make you suffer...

www.gunboards.com

Here is a summary of the extractor support pin upgrade.

The original rifles had a problem with the extractor breaking, so Loewe moved the extractor to the position you have on your bolt and started installing a tiny pin in the side of the receiver to keep the extractor from snapping too far out when it is lifted to go over the rim of the cartridge. At this point 50,000 rifles had already been delivered. Around 1899 Loewe sent the machinery to upgrade the pin into the original 50,000 rifles, along with 50,000 free bolts of the new design. However, it seems that Argentina did not just upgrade all the rifles with the new bolts and the lower pin position, but chose to keep some rifles with the original bolts and insert the pin higher on the receiver wall at the spot that ruins the serial number letter prefix.

You mention that you can almost see the shadow of the pin head on your receiver. This is very hard to show in photos. What you need to do is look at the side of the receiver near the "B" to see if you can see the shadow of a circle about 3/8 inch in diameter.

You also need to look lower on the receiver to see if you see the shadow of a pin head that is not just a circle, but is a circle with "ears" or oval bumps on the two sides. This is the type of pin used with the newer extractor position, while the round pin seems to be used in Argentina. I may be mistaken and receivers that were upgraded in Argentina may have the round pin head in both positions, but I have not been able to personally examine any early serial number receivers that have the new type extractor and pin in the lower position.

Given the re-stamping of your letter "B", it would seem that it had had the tiny pin installed in the higher position at one time to match a bolt with the older extractor position. But it seems that now you have a newer type bolt and probably a pin in the lower position matching the extractor on your bolt. Perhaps it got a replacement bolt and a second pin?

So, please try to verify that the tiny pin in your receiver does not line up with the letter "B" and is indeed lower on the receiver wall and would not go through the "B". Also please try to verify which type of pin head shadow you can see or if you can see two pin head shadows, indicating the round higher one being removed and then replaced with the lower position pin.

Thanks for going through all this. You certainly have opened up an interesting can of worms for us.

 

It is hard for me to see the tiny pin inside the receiver in your pictures. Thanks for the bolt face picture. That solved the mystery of the cap inspection mark since you have the newer extractor position.

What is puzzling me now is that you seem to have a new type bolt body and it seems (can't be sure from the pictures) that the tiny pin inside the receiver is under the wood line and lines up with the extractor on your bolt body. However, it looks as if the "B" in your serial number was restamped as if the receiver had the pin in the higher position corresponding to the older extractor position.

Take a look at this thread, post 12 in particular, but there may be more on the pin in other posts. It was a big mystery to us before we understood the pin installation and the restamping of the letter.

1891 Argentine A-series Rifle

I recently acquired an 1891 Argentine Rifle that seems to have retained most of its early production features and did not go through any arsenal refurbishment programs. Those who know me will correctly suspect that I have autopsied this rifle with a fine tooth comb, but won't make you suffer...

www.gunboards.com

Here is a summary of the extractor support pin upgrade.

The original rifles had a problem with the extractor breaking, so Loewe moved the extractor to the position you have on your bolt and started installing a tiny pin in the side of the receiver to keep the extractor from snapping too far out when it is lifted to go over the rim of the cartridge. At this point 50,000 rifles had already been delivered. Around 1899 Loewe sent the machinery to upgrade the pin into the original 50,000 rifles, along with 50,000 free bolts of the new design. However, it seems that Argentina did not just upgrade all the rifles with the new bolts and the lower pin position, but chose to keep some rifles with the original bolts and insert the pin higher on the receiver wall at the spot that ruins the serial number letter prefix.

You mention that you can almost see the shadow of the pin head on your receiver. This is very hard to show in photos. What you need to do is look at the side of the receiver near the "B" to see if you can see the shadow of a circle about 3/8 inch in diameter.

You also need to look lower on the receiver to see if you see the shadow of a pin head that is not just a circle, but is a circle with "ears" or oval bumps on the two sides. This is the type of pin used with the newer extractor position, while the round pin seems to be used in Argentina. I may be mistaken and receivers that were upgraded in Argentina may have the round pin head in both positions, but I have not been able to personally examine any early serial number receivers that have the new type extractor and pin in the lower position.

Given the re-stamping of your letter "B", it would seem that it had had the tiny pin installed in the higher position at one time to match a bolt with the older extractor position. But it seems that now you have a newer type bolt and probably a pin in the lower position matching the extractor on your bolt. Perhaps it got a replacement bolt and a second pin?

So, please try to verify that the tiny pin in your receiver does not line up with the letter "B" and is indeed lower on the receiver wall and would not go through the "B". Also please try to verify which type of pin head shadow you can see or if you can see two pin head shadows, indicating the round higher one being removed and then replaced with the lower position pin.

Thanks for going through all this. You certainly have opened up an interesting can of worms for us.

I did my best, cleaned up the side here a little. I do not see any evidence of repairs in the B. I do see a faint outline below the B that would be in the wood line.

I used the tip of a screw driver to point out the change in coloration. After the quick clean and oil it does pop out a bit better, you can just see the circle outline

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