What is the value of a fair condition Mauser model 1871 rifle?

Question

Built in 1874. All numbers are visable except on the butt plate (heavily rusted). All serial #'s on each part match. It is missing the Cleaning Rod, Trigger Guard and the front site (although the site mount is still in place). I can send pictures if you think you might know.

Answer 1

I have a 8mm mauser,and would love to see pics.
thats a fricken cool rifle! it was my first rifle and my favorite!!!!
I love those things! lets see!
I would take friends out to shoot and wouldnt let them be pussy's with a padded butt plate, and if they didnt hold it right or tight, bammm they would be bleeding from the recoil, haha!
ahhh those where the good old days!!!!

Answer 2

1871s were being sold by one of the distributors that deals in C&R rifles recently. I got one for under $100.... but without a bolt, which was like $45 from somewhere else. So that's over $150 with shipping and it's in fair shape, not rusted or pitted, wood was very oily and the bore looks decent but I did not shoot it. I got a deal wholesale, so it's likely $200 to $250 street if it's not too chewed up. Brown "Patina" is fine, or no finish at all, but the missing stuff would need to be complete to get there to that price.

I need to reload some blackpowder.....(OK, who am I kidding that's not gonna happen until I run out of surplus ammo......)

BTW, don't even think about modern powder in that thing, OK? It's actually probably pretty risky to shoot it at all and you really need to check with some experts on the load and cast bullets.....I know some crazys that do shoot their's but would not recommend it for anyone. If you want a Mauser shooter, pick up a Gew98 or K98 or Turk before I get them all....

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the value of a fair condition Mauser model 1871 rifle?
Built in 1874. All numbers are visable except on the butt plate (heavily rusted). All serial #'s on each part match. It is missing the Cleaning Rod, Trigger Guard and the front site (although the site mount is still in place). I can send pictures if you think you might know.

Answer 4

1871 Mauser

Answer 5

A regular model 1871 mauser. These use the 11x60 black powder cartridges. Prices vary significantly. They were the precursor to the Gewehr 88 Commission rifle, which a short time ago you could get 5 for $100 (The Gewehr 88 that is) from several sources.
As far as your mauser model 1871, without a picture it will be tough to judge value. Since they used black powder and corrosive priming, the bore is probably a sewer pipe. You say the but plate is heavily rusted, I am going to guess that the finish is mostly gone and some rust may be present. The link below will give us a price idea, but you will need to measure overall length of your rifle to find out what variant it is.
If 39" then it is a carbine then see "Mauser M1871 carb. 11x60 39". If it is 49" then see "Mauser M1871 Jaeger 11x60 49" If it is 53" finally see "Mauser M1871 rifle 11x60 53".

Condition wise I am going to ballpark this one and say you are probably looking at poor to fair. I'm not being a jerk here, but here are the standards:

New or Unissued Condition: Not previously sold at retail or issued. In the same working condition as it came from the factory.

Excellent Condition: 80%-90% blue remaining, very little if any marring on the wood. Bores clean without pitting. Complete and in working condition.

Very Good Condition: 50%-80% blue remaining, minor dings in wood from handling. Bores clean without pitting. Complete and in working condition.

Good Condition: 25%-50% blue remaining, stocks marred (several dings in wood), bores slightly worn and dark, no corrosion or pitting that will interfere with proper functioning. Complete and in working condition.

Fair Condition: Very little if any bluing remaining, rough bores unless otherwise indicated, wood heavily marred. May require adjustment or replacement of parts. Metal can be pitted. Must be thoroughly inspected by a competent gunsmith prior to shooting. Failure to do so could result in bodily injury and or property damage.

Poor Condition: Major and minor replacement parts required and extensive restoration needed, metal can be pitted, principal lettering design obliterated, wood badly scratched or bruised, mechanically inoperative. Product is for sale to be used for parts or display value only.


Anyway depending upon model that puts you somewhere from nothing to $500. However, you have to have something unusual and appealing to command a premium. I have seen 3 of these in person. Two junkers that sold for $100 as a pair to maybe make one shooter. One maybe at the high end of fair went for $200 at the local gun store. I believe that one was the 53" variety. It takes someone special to be interested in one, they are usually a wall hanger unless you want to buy a set of reload dies and brass and cast some bullets. I believe midwayusa.com may have them if you have any interest in shooting this one.

DJ's answer reminds me of something. Some of these guns are fireable while a good number are not. I have built some of my own guns, so I forget sometimes that not everyone can inspect a gun and deem it safe on their own. I would highly recommend having somone who knows these guns look it over before attempting to load for it. Of course these will need black powder loads only. Some die makers will provide load data, others do not. This will not be an easy gun to find data for, but I do recall seeing some data once, so it does exist.

Answer 6

First you need an accurate evaluation of the gun's condition. Then you can refer to The Blue Book of Gun Values at your local library for an approximate value. The value given is the retail, value and is what a store would expect to sell it for. It is not what they store will give you for it. They will want to give you the wholesale value. After all, they have to make a profit when they sell it. If you sell it to an individual, they will expect to pay somewhere between the retail value and the wholesale value.

Answer 7

You have a wallhanger for conversation most likely. Anywhere from make an offer to a couple hundred bucks in all reality.