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LOT 406
Extremely Rare Mauser Model 1916 Aircraft Selbstlader Semi-
Automatic Carbine - Serial no. S414K, 7.92 mm Mauser cal., 24 inch barrel
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is an extremely rare and exceptionally
high condition example of a Mauser Model 1916 aircraft variant self-
loading (selbstlader/semi-automatic) carbine. This is a half stock carbine
version of the Mauser Model 1916 self-loading rifle. Very small quantities
of these carbines were manufactured by Mauser for the German Air Corps
during World War I, and were apparently intended to be issued to aircraft
crews in the days before machine guns were fitted to military aircraft.
These rifles were found to be finicky due to being made with such tight
tolerances that they were prone to dirt catching in the action, causing
them to not operate properly, and lubrication was used on ammunition in
order to aid in functioning. Upon examination of the complex machined
internal parts in the action viewed with the top cover off, one can see
that this rifle is constructed similar to that of a high end watch; it can be
deduced that this high quality rifle was simply over-engineered in relation
to its intended purpose. This specific example appears to be a commercial
carbine and the stock has a large, post-World War I, Mauser ‘Banner’
trademark stamped on the right side of the butt. Features a 24 inch round
barrel and 20-round detachable box magazine, inverted “V” front sight
blade is adjustable for windage with a fine adjustment screw, tangent
rear sight calibrated up to 2,000 meters with a fine adjustment screw.
This carbine has a highly figured, oil finished stock and hand guard with
bright buttplate. The barrel, trigger guard, and receiver have a rust blue
finish. The front sight blade, barrel band, band spring, safety lever, trigger
magazine release, extractor, fine sight adjustment screws, and various
small components have a fiery niter blue finish. The bolt and magazine
follower are bright. The sheet metal magazine has a dull phosphate finish.
The left side of the receiver is marked “Waffenfabrik Mauser A.G. Oberndorf
a.N. Mauser’s Patent 1916” in a single line. The serial number “S414K” is
located on the top of the receiver. The partial serial number “414” is visible
on the bolt, various internal components, trigger guard, and buttplate. The
rear sight and barrel band are stamped with the partial serial number “14”.
The magazine is numbered “434” on the left and marked “4/909” on the
rear. A “crown/eagle” military proof mark is stamped on the left side of the
receiver above the bore diameter “7,90” and on the top of the bolt handle.
The buttplate is stamped with a “crown/gothic letter” proof or acceptance
stamp. The individual letters “P” and “V/E” are stamped on the buttplate
above and below the buttplate screw. The carbine has a detachable rear
sling swivel and is equipped with a commercial leather sling.
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