The Steyr M1912 Chilean Mauser

Top: M1912 7mm Long Rifle

Middle: M1912 7.62Nato Short Rifle

Bottom: M1912 7mm Short Rifle

Close Up of receivers & bolts

I hope the following observations will help others who are 
contemplating collecting one of the Steyr manufactured Model 1912 Mauser 
rifles (98 Mauser variant) with Chilean crest.

There are 4 variations available.

1) Rifle with 29 inch barrel, 7mm
2) Rifle with 29 inch barrel, 7.62 Nato converted
3) Short Rifle with 21.5 inch barrel, 7mm
4) Short Rifle with 23 inch barrel, 7.62 Nato converted
  also
5) Possible, but not confirmed, Carbine with 18(?) inch barrel.




The front of the receiver is stamped deeply with the 
crest of Chile, on the left of the crest is a standing Huemul 
(the Andes deer), on the 
right a standing condor, in the center a shield with a large 5-pointed 
star and with plumes out the top and boughs underneath the shield.
Modelo 1912 is stamped under the crest on the receiver.




The left side of the receiver side rail is stamped "WAFFENFABRIK 
STEYR" with "AUSTRIA" underneath. 




The crest is also stamped on the left of the stock with 1912 
underneath. This is opposite the stock disk on the right side which 
is stamped with crossed miner's hammers, another Chilean Proof.
(To the best of my knowledge 1912 is the only date appearing under 
the crest on the stock).

The sling is retained at the rear by a quick-release attachment. 
There is a sling attachment in the normal place behind the 
stock's pistol grip. A second possible rear sling attachment is 
in the front of the trigger guard. The front of the sling is retained 
by a loop under the lower barrel band around the fore-stock and 
wooden hand guard, about midway on the barrel. The sling also comes 
with a heavy wire loop which may be used to pull the sling tight the 
length of the fore-stock to a hook which is on the underside of the 
"H" type Mauser nose cap.




The receivers and bolts of these rifles were origonally 'in the 
white'. The 7mm rifle and SR are still that way. It appears that the 
7.62 Nato SR are also still in the white. At least one refinished 
with receiver bluing, 7mm SR is reported, but it appears to be the 
only one.

The 7mm short rifle's rear sight is a tangent type, graduated 
to 14 hundred meters.

The (long) rifle's rear sight is a tangent type graduated up to 20 
hundred meters. This longer (than on the 7mm SR) tangent sight is 
also found on the 7.62 NATO short rifle!

The 7mm short rifle has a turned down bolt, as do the short rifles of 
this vintage from other manufacturers. The 7.62mm SR has a straight 
bolt!

All four variations have a lower  barrel band retaining clip on the 
right side of the fore stock. Both variations of the long rifle have 
a second retaining clip on the right side behind the nose cap.
The 7mm SR does not have this second retaining clip,instead the nose 
cap is held in place by a bolt.  the 7.62 Nato SR has a 
second retaining clip on the left side of the forestock; and its 
noted that the forestock of the SR is not long enough for two 
retaining clips on the same side of the rifle. The 7.62 SR has a 
longer barrel than the 7mm SR.

*I am led to the conclusion that the 7.62 Nato short rifles are 
*conversions from 7mm long rifles.

The 7.62mm SR conversions appear to still be 'in the white'. They 
have the stamp "NATO" underneath the factory "MODELO 1912"
stamp in the receiver. Further, an etch or stamp of "-61" is to the 
right of the "MODELO 1912"; ie: "MODELO 1912-61" The Nato SR's have 
a 2 groove barrel.

The 7.62 long rifle conversions appear to be much more recent than 
the SR conversions. The long rifles have been re-blued, to include 
bluing of the receiver. The rear of the long rifles receiver is 
stamped with "7.62" over an "N" . The long rifles have 4 groove 
barrels. These rifles do not show much wear since conversion.

These guns were all made between 1912 and 1914. Production ceased at 
the outbreak of WWI.


 Ser #'s left side receiver & stock.

The full serial number appears in 4 places on the rifles:
  1) left front of receiver
  2) left side of stock, just under the left front of receiver.
  3) top of bolt handle
  4) underneath the rifle in front of magazine well.

The guns had matching cleaning rods serial numbered to the guns.
The long rifle cleaning rod is 15.5 inches long  as is the rod 
on the 7mm SR. The 7.62Nato SR rod is 10 inches. The cleaning rods 
are standard Mauser-type & function.



Bayonets. The guns had bayonets and scabards serial numbered to the 
gun. The blades measure 10 inches in length. The right of the blade 
has the Chilean shield with star on it in front of the hilt. On the 
left side of the blade is the "OE" over "WG" for Oesterreichische 
Waffensfabriks Gesellschaft. The serial number on the blade is on the 
right side of the hilt. There is a small hole thru the handle, behind 
the hilt which is to help in cleaning the interior of the handle. 
The sheath has the serial number stamped into the button 
for the leather frog. Unfortunately, I have not seen any frogs.

Observations. All serial numbers observed have been between A.nnnn to 
D.719n. All 7mm short rifles seen have been A.1nnn-A.5nnn.
Conclusion; about 38,000 guns were manufactured.

I appreciate any additions that you may make to my observations, and 
I will include them in any update to this information.

The Steyr M1912 Colombian Mauser

Serial number observed in 56nn range.

Crest is an eagle with spread wings within an oval. Ribbon under the eagle's talons with the words LIBERATAD and ORDER on either side of the eagle. Within the oval, under the eagle is a small shield with stars on either side.

Receiver side rail is marked "MODELO 1912" over "STEYR AUSTRIA".