Argentine Mauser 1891 (7.65x53mm Arg)
Kim du Toit
July 30, 2005
1:07 AM CDT
In 1890, Argentina decided to adopt the Mauser for their main battle rifle, and ordered it in the then-unknown caliber of 7.65mm (actually, the 7.65x53mm, or 7.65mm Argentine). The Mausers thus chambered were known as the 1891 Argentine Mauser, and were made by Ludwig Loewe and DWM (Mauser).
Here’s an example of a pretty one:
The action of this rifle is based on the 1871 Mauser (aka. the 71/84), and even though I think the 1909 is a better rifle (because it’s based on the better M98 design), this Argy rifle is a peach nevertheless.
I’ve talked about the 7.65mm Argy cartridge, and about the 1909 rifle, over here.
I have to tell you, I’m looking at this old girl with longing in my heart, especially when I look at the action close up:
Any 1891 Argy is likely to have seen quite a bit of action. During the last decade or so of the nineteenth century, Argentina was at war with just about everyone on the sub-continent, so there’s a good chance that your 1891 is a combat veteran, and may be quite worn as a result.
Not that this is a Bad Thing, of course—to my mind, that just adds to its allure.
Collectors has this fine old rifle on sale for just under $400, and if it’s still a shooter, it’s worth more than just a cursory look, especially if you already own another rifle in this caliber, like the 1909. And, of course, if you reload, the 7.65mm Argy Mauser case can easily be made from a .30/06 case. Just run the ‘06 through a 7.65 Argentine Mauser FL size die, then trim. The bullet diameter is .311, as I recall.
For the above reasons, I’d go easy on the loads—unlike the M98/1909 action, which can handle just about anything, the 71/84/1891 is just a little more fragile.
The 1891 is, of course, classified as an antique, so you Crufflers (Curio & Relic Firearms Licencees) can just have it delivered to your houses.
Lucky sods.
(Incidentally, for those who want to argue that the Argentine Mauser caliber is really 7.65x52mm, save your energy. The Argentine 7.65mm cartridge is actually 7.65x52.5mm, so we’re both right, or wrong.)
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