The Affordable Mauser No One Cares About: Spanish M43

[@zacharywatters1843]

I just bought an M43 at the local gun show last weekend for $250. Numbers matching, missing bottom rear sling swivel, cracked handguard, very filthy. Took a gamble on the bore, it’s very worn but does shoot well (haven’t put on paper yet). Started refinishing the stock, ordering some parts for it, and planning to reblue everything due to unforeseen rust. This is my second Mauser, have a 1909 Argentine I dearly love. Very excited to have the Spanish M43 as I didn’t know they even existed

[@jakearmstrong335]

I'm young and still in college and have only managed to afford a decent condition 91-30 Mosin and my prized piece, a Finnish Sako M39 in excellent condition. This makes me wonder if I should now buy a Spanish Mauser before they too get out off hand price wise. Thanks for the great video and for teaching me something new

[@hobofactory]

Glad ya found it interesting/worthwhile! The risk of getting a Spanish M43 is it may start a whole Mauser addiction and that’s pretty much an endless thing.

[@jakearmstrong335]

@@hobofactory on my budget a Mauser addiction would cause me to run into financial trouble hahahahaha

[@robosoldier11]

if your looking for a more.... quality mauser iteration that isn't the mainline german stuff. I'd recommend a VZ-24 its a czech rifle and managed to get mine in pretty fair condition along with the bayonet for 300 dollars. though this was a couple years ago. But ya check your local pawn shops you'd be surprised the hidden gems they got hidden in there.

[@rickyl7231]

My first milserp was a 1916 from JG Sales 5 years ago in 7x57. It’s beat to hell but it works and is connected to a fascinating conflict, so I’d say go for it if you can find one in 7x57 or a new M1943

[@tylerhelm7902]

I just got an M43 recently from Cabelas for 695 but it's in excellent condition with matching serials and no import stamp. Having a hard time tracing its history though.

[@jebsails2837]

I purchased my 8mm through Sears & Roebuck in the mid 1960's for $29.99 plus shipping, Kept it for 15 years. It was marked at La Caruna (?) 1954, was in great shape, In the "70's ,as is, I bagged a small buck in Idaho. . No complaints from me. Narragansett Bay

[@percy6070]

Late reply I know but that would be from the La Coruña arsenal in far northwestern Spain. Cheers!

[@Antiquefirearms724]

Great video! Man subcribed theirs like no videos on these rifles! Thanks for making it!

[@kaijucifer3544]

Just picked up a unmarked one in fantastic condition at my LGS for 550. Dont regret the price at all.

[@milsurprifleguy7091]

I have two of the Spanish Mausers . The first one is the 7mm Calvary Carbine , date pretty well worn off & has been sporterized , it is from the Oviedo Arsenal . My second one is a short rifle converted to the 7.62x51 NATO . It is dated 1931 also from the Oviedo Arsenal . I have not had problems shooting the NATO ammo . I do want to get a 7mm Spanish short rifle . After seeing your video maybe the M43 also

[@Bidimus1]

have the matched set as well M43 and FR8 with an 1893, Ovedeo Carbine , and a Rolercoaster Spanish 1916 nice old guns.

[@ColonelEagle]

I was in the market for a milsurp rifle (just any) last year and I got a Mauser for $360. What's funny though is that the online auction I bought it from thought it was a Yugo M48, but when I finally got my hands on it and thoroughly inspected it, it was a Spanish M43!

[@treyriver5676]

Both are good guns, sad annoying that you were mislead.

[@343guardian5]

Was it advertised as a Yugo M48?

[@scooter4849]

i bought a pretty nice 1948 dated all matching one of these about a year ago. 225$ otd. great cheap k98 alternative.

[@v1zexvenom691]

Where'd you go to buy it?? I've been itching for a 98k

[@theblindsniper9130]

I've been looking to get my hands on one of these. I have several Spanish 93's, but none of their 98 models. Would do me some good.

[@hobofactory]

Definitely recommend, I think they’re historically interesting, but not so valuable that you worry about shooting them a lot. Also, I’m actually in the exact opposite scenario: I have a few Spanish 98’s but no 93’s and would like one some day. Just don’t wanna pay gunbroker prices.

[@fredferd965]

I would suggest checking any action with a no-go headspace gauge before buying.

[@hobofactory]

Definitely sound advice whenever it’s possible. Of course one may not have that option buying online, and even most gun shops may be a little leery about allowing people to pull off extractors to use gauges and such.

[@Texasmilitarydepartmentvid9654]

There were several countries that copied the design of the German Mauser Ghwer Karabiner M88/98 Kruz Rifle. Czechoslovakia VZ24, Chinese Hanyang Type 88, Spanish M1916 & M43 , Yugoslavian M24/47 & M48 , Turkish M1903. You would think 7.92x57mm would be easy to come by considering that fact but it's not.

[@treyriver5676]

I got on a Spanish kick a while back (ok last 20 years) ended up wth FR-8, 1893 (lowe) Rifle, 1916 1st pattern Carbine 1916 , Ovedo Carbine (1920) ,Destroyer (6 round) Carbine, Astra 400, Astra 600 and a Ruby (french marked) Iike them all. cost was part of the reason but not all of it. The Fr-8 stock was so dry that there was a gap between wood and the reas sling bar, a week or two of feeding it boiled linseed oil fixed that.

[@StampedTomcat50]

The spanish M1916 mauser is another fun, cheap surplus that nobody looks for. I got mine for 200, chambered in 308/762x51. Shoots real nice, with a beautifully tiger striped stock

[@RUSTYSURPLUS]

hobo thanks for that M43 video. i am just now making a video on the FR-7 i just got from Hunters Lodge. I guess the FR-7 and the FR-8 are all repurposed from the 1943 Spanish Mauser. Your video is one of the very few out there on You Tube, i searched and your was the first to pop up.👍

[@hobofactory]

Looking forward to seeing it, both because there are so few Hunter’s Lodge videos out there and because FR-7’s are pretty uncommon! I think the FR-7 might be reworked from the older 1893-pattern Mausers that cock on closing, and the FR-8 is based on the M43… but I could be wrong. I don’t have any experience with FR-7’a and I think they’re rarer than FR-8’s.

[@RUSTYSURPLUS]

@@hobofactory I am taking the FR-7 apart right now and it is not cleaning friendly as you will see in the video. see you soon.

[@Marroyol]

Los FR7 provienen de los Oviedo 1916 y los FR8 de los Coruña M43 Y hacen alusión al calibre de origen FR7 en origen 7 mm y FR8 en origen 8 mm

[@Marroyol]

El M43 es una acción máuser 98 pero no basado en el K98 sino en el checo VZ24 que formó parte del armamento del bando republicano durante la guerra civil 1936/39

[@fritz160wolf]

Actually Federal ordnance made m43 mausers called American eagle Mod 98. Thing is they used idf surplus barrels.

[@marckcarbonelloifveteran410]

I bought a 1916 Spanish Mauser and it shoots very good. These rifles are not "copies" they are original Mauser built under license so they are not copies. The machinery with which they were built was German machinery. German sent their technicians to friendly countries to set up their Mauser factories. The Ottoman Turks had an armory next to the German Mauser factory at Obendorf where the Turks ensured the rifles sent to Turkey were built built accordingly to the Turkish government. People think that Spanish firearms are rubbish because they are stupid. The 1943 Spanish Mauser were built to serve the Spanish blue division that was deployed near Leningrad and fought the Soviets in World war two. the Spanish government wanted at the time for their troops to have a rifle similar than the German K-98. They were built like I have previously mentioned under license.

[@TheSlasherJunkie]

I bought mine at a gun show in 2016 for the same price. I could’ve haggled it down but didn’t feel like robbing the guy.

[@apodacainc]

I just got one of these suckers in great condition, but it is missing the cleaning rod. Do you have any idea which one it uses? I bought one that was the proper length, but the threads are too large for the rifle.

[@hobofactory]

Unfortunately I don’t know.

[@mountainholler290]

Try the Brazilian 98 rod , it should fit perfectly .

[@BM-ru7ef]

First rifle I bought was a 1943 Spanish Mauser in 8mm. So much fun to shoot.

[@noblenumenorean5165]

Was my first gun, great great grandfather got it at a shop for $99 along with 100 rounds of Romanian 8mm. Came with the bayonet and original sling. Early 00s prices

[@rjayschoessler157]

Do you know the history on the policia de hacienda above it gobierno de El Salvador stamped. Mouser rifle chamber in 7x57. P de H stamped.

[@hobofactory]

Unfortunately not; truth be told I’m not much of an expert on Mausers.

[@ehfoiwehfowjedioheoih4829]

Is the action safe?

[@thingthingsss]

How's the wood on these types of rifles? I'm a little dubious on purchasing cheap-ish Mausers now that I've had two of them with cracked stocks, one of them from recoil lug pushback and the other snapping at the side by the cutout for the magazine well.

[@hobofactory]

Tbh I haven’t encountered very many of these in person and I should add given how diverse my collection is and how rarely I get to shoot, I don’t exactly shoot the heck out of most of my rifles anyways. The one I have is in seemingly solid shape but has had a stock repair (seen towards the muzzle end). I haven’t noticed any particular reputation that these seem to have for issues. I will add the stock does seem pretty light compared to a laminate k98 stock, though.

[@lanceroberthough1275]

Where are these made? I have found conflicting information some stating that they were making in Spain another stating that they were made in Germany for Spain as with many other Mausers that were made in Germany but name for the country to which they were sold.

[@hobofactory]

I’m no expert but think the confusion comes from the Spanish Air Force rifles having different origins from the standard M43 rifle. The standard M43, like the one in this video, would generally have been made in Spain by Fabrica de Armas La Coruña and will also have a date of manufacture marked on the receiver. They can also be distinguished for having two bayonet lugs (or at least provision to accept a second lug) and lacking any protection for the front sight. The Spanish Air Force guns on the other hand are reworked/remade from 98-pattern Mausers of a mix of Polish, or German, or Spanish origins. They will only have an air force crest and a serial number but no manufacturer mark or year of manufacture as the original markings were apparently scrubbed... these will have protective ears around front sight, and not have provision to accept the second bayonet lug. The only way one has any chance of determining where a specific Spanish Air Force Mauser is made is by taking one apart and seeing if any original proof marks might be a clue.

[@Macccaroni]

About 4 months ago I found myself buying an airforce m43 at auction for 220$, auction place gave no info other than "Mauser rifle" (Its like a farm/estate auction). I find information for these things to be a little difficult to come by. My big question is identifying the year of manufacture for this thing. Other than the airforce insignia and the caliber, the only info I have to go by is the serial. EA04964. I'd assume its a 1949? But I honestly have no clue with this thing. Any ideas?

[@hobofactory]

First off great find for the price. I also have a Spanish air force model in my collection (it doesn’t appear in this video, of course). To be honest I’m not sure if/how they can be dated reliably... but I’m no expert. From what I’ve read, the air force models were produced separately from the typical M43 because the priority was to provide the army with the new rifle so the air force guns were largely made from re-worked Polish wz.29’s from the Spanish civil war era... but components from other 98-pattern rifles (including German ones) may have been used as well. Most of the original markings probably would’ve been scrubbed at this point... but this is likely why there tends not to be a date or manufacturers mark on the air force guns, they were reworked/assembled by the Spanish but not necessarily originally made by them.

[@Macccaroni]

@@hobofactory Ah, I see. I'm mostly just curious to see if mine is a wartime or post war gun. Not that it really matters, but still. Thanks for the info!

[@Macccaroni]

@Tony Tony Strange, never seen or heard of any of the airforce ones being dated. Youre certain its an airforce one and not army? Whats the date?

[@junkaccount2535]

Would $500 be good if the gun was in excellent condition with over 1,000 bullets included?

[@870wingmstr]

That's a lot of ammo. If you figure 50 cents per round then the ammo comes with a free gun. 😁

[@HectorGonzalez-fz6ws]

Yes!!!

[@papajon6715]

May I ask where you found an M43 fr8 conversion for $250 earlier this summer please?

[@hobofactory]

Apologies if I wasn’t clear (not actually a native English speaker so I’m constantly mentally translating) but I meant to say that it was the M43 I bought for 250, not the FR-8 conversion of the M43.

[@papajon6715]

@@hobofactory Thank you for the prompt reply. I saw an advertisement which included M43s recently, dated from September if I recall, but don't remember the company or where I saw it...

[@vincegiordano1807]

Very informative video! Quick question. Do you know if the Mauser m43 can fit a kar 98k barrel in it?

[@hobofactory]

Thanks! If one has the gunsmithing equipment and know-how it’s likely doable I would think.

[@marckcarbonelloifveteran410]

The 1916 Spanish Mauser fought in the Spanish civil war that was of great importance because the weapons used by the pro-communist and pro-fascist forces were subsequently used in WW2 by both forces, the axis and the Soviets. The 1916 Mauser was also used in the Moroccan campaign from 1900- 1928, starting with the 1893 Mauser carbine shooting the 7 mm round nose ammo. The rifle was improved as a 1916 Mauser whose barrels and tolerances were built to accept the Spitzer round in 7 mm Mauser. In no manner were they cheap guns or were they of inferior quality in comparison to a German K-98 from the beginning of the war. It is mere ignorance to make opinions based in people's rumors.

[@renelopez2244]

Paid 170 for mine but I need to remove the Montecarlo stock

[@jordanmatte1144]

I bought a Spanish Calvery 7mm Mauser with a 16" barrel a few years back for $400.. neat little gun..

[@iananderson1901]

First. Great content

[@hobofactory]

Thanks much!

[@junglehunteryautja5490]

Actually if you can get 2 M43 you even can turn it to standad modell

[@commiesandmums]

I grabbed 2 German K98’s from classic last summer. They were some of those rifles out of Ethiopia and let me tell you, they were a load of crap. Worst bores I’ve EVER seen and were completely rusted to hell. I refused both transfers and returned them along with a 1 star review. They never published my review after multiple tries. Bad stuff, Classic, bad stuff.

[@marckcarbonelloifveteran410]

At least these rifles weren’t built using slave labor!

[@hobofactory]

True, good point.

[@tadeuszbanku2329]

Got one for $600

[@bobjohnson9597]

I PAID $200 MORE THAN YOU WITH NO regrets. Lets say I waited to get one at your price and people like us bought all the good ones and the only ones left are wallhangers for the price you paid. The extra money that I paid would have been waisted at Mc D or BK or KFC. And I would be left regretting that I didnt fork out more for the exceptional Gun that I now own. Im not a gun flipper and they no longer make these. Its not always about money. If you have the cash and you plan on keeping it then I say pay to get a quality example now.

[@Didymus-vz6uy]

Paid 325 for my M43

[@marckcarbonelloifveteran410]

Ethiopian rifles bores are trashed

[@hwystitch]

yea stay away from those ethipoian guns and RTI I bought a carcano and a no4 enfield, both are trash.

[@charlessedlacek5754]

Boy....they screwed you good, didn't they?

[@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu]

Because we all know Spanish Mausers are the lowest quality there is. Buy Carcano, it's better. Unironically

[@hobofactory]

I’m certainly not opposed to buying Carcanos, but the problem here is ammo availability. 8mm Mauser is many, many times more available and significantly cheaper than 6.5 Carcano, and this even more the case when compared with 7.35 Carcano. Although if I might ask; how do you measure quality to establish that the M43 is the lowest quality option out there, and lower than that of a Carcano?

[@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu]

@@hobofactory Spanish rifles are worst Mauser variants. Thats well known fact. But thats no surprise considering that Spain is Mexico of Europe. Everything they touch is horrible. Guns, cars, building, everything

[@monta247]

Mr. Hobo: Quit spreading these European based lie. As a Blackman in American I known Mexico produce more than any European country in steel. Assembly of cars. Produce more fruit and vegetables and pharmaceuticals than you all and they have oil and the original tequila. I still of the raw material and labor you have either stole or unpaid for. Quit being bigots.

[@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu]

@@monta247 Wow that's a lotta words. Too bad I'm not reading em

[@agbcrartsora6918]

@@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu I have to disagree with this comment. Guns? Have you heard about Basque guns before? one of the highest quality and made in Spain mate... Spain has a long tradition making fine firearms.