T46 Siamese Mauser Bolt Action Rifle. (f 364)…………(SOLD)

A Type 46 Siamese Mauser with rare Siamese short Bayonet

This is an opportunity for the Mauser or Imperial Japanese Rifle collector to pick up a fairly rare beast in good shoot-able condition.  The Mauser offered here is the full length rifle known as the “Type 46″  in 8mm x 52 mauser.  The rifle is 49″ in overall length from muzzle to center of butt.  59.1/2″ to tip of scabbard with bayonet fitted.  The round blued barrel is  29.1/4″ long.  The blade of the bayonet is 9.5/8” long.

The rifle is fitted with a full length walnut stock and half length hand-guard.  The stock has long grasping groves on the lower half and semi-pistol grip.  The hand-guard surrounds the rear sights completely and there are two sling swivels.  There are no visible cartouches or numbers in the wood work, though it is heavily varnished with an antique lacquer.  This has suffered from the ravages of time or even general heavy military use and is chipped and dented.  This, in my opinion does not detract from the overall feeling of the weapon.

At a relatively early stage in its life this rifle was arsenal altered to the current 8mm caliber, it was at this point that it was refinished.  The blue we see today is from that arsenal overhaul.  Another sign of the change in caliber is the side of the fore-sight ramp, where the old markings are interrupted by the new contour of the ramp.

Standard Mauser bolt system with straight handle and rear flag safety. Blueing most strong on the action, partly helped by the unusual protective sliding cover.  This protects the action from grit, dirt and copious amounts of water.  It is a plain blued half-moon cover which slides forward and backward over the action, independent of the bolt.  Once loaded this cover can remain in the closed position until a case needs to be ejected, then, it would need to be opened manually using the thumb catch on the right.

The chamber is clearly marked with a roundel; the Siamese crest known as the “Charkra” with characters underneath.  On the action side wall is the three roundel mark of the Tokyo arsenal and a further marking within concentric circles, resembling and upside-down question mark.  On the underside of the rifle is the floor-plate and trigger guard with a  “quick release” catch at the front of the trigger guard.  The bayonet clips into place correctly but is a little loose.  The scabbard rattles but is correct with a Siamese character on the mouth face.  The flat of the blade is clearly marked with the same characters as the rifle.  It has all the classic design features of the Mauser bayonet systems with wooden grips.

The action is smooth and mechanically fine and the bore good though a little dark.

Stock No’  f 364

£ SOLD

Comments Off on T46 Siamese Mauser Bolt Action Rifle. (f 364)…………(SOLD)