Quick Tip: Remilitarizing a Sporterized Mauser

After World War II, surplus military Mauser rifles were plentiful and dirt cheap. Many folks bought them and converted them into hunting rifles. They chopped or swapped the stock, cut down the barrel, re-chambered for an American cartridge, and turned them into a deer rifles. For many years, Brownells sold all the parts and supplies to perform those sporter conversions. With the supply of old military Mausers now greatly diminished and with a growing appreciation for historical accuracy, a movement has arisen to "remilitarize" those old Mausers. Brownells Public Relations Specialist Roy Hill tells us how he restored a CZ 98k, the Czech version of the Mauser 98k, back to its original military configuration. It came with a stock that was... something. So Ray swapped it for a Minelli Mauser 98 replica stock of beautifully figured walnut, adding the barrel bands, bayonet lug, sights, steel buttplate, and takedown discs. He refinished the replacement steel bits with Brownells Oxpho Blue®, and multiple coats of stock finishing oil gave the Minelli the right period finish. The result is a historically correct-looking military Mauser 98 pattern rifle. There are a lot of sporterized Mausers out there for cheap. Remilitarizing one is a great fun project!

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