TURKISH MAUSER M38 SHORT
For this 38 short model (or 38/46), the information is not legion. It was built alongside the standard Model 38.
It takes up the concept of the German Model karabiner 98 of the First World War. It is significantly shortened, has an angled breech lever and it is possible to attach a side strap to it for better comfort (e.g. riders). Chambered in 7.92x57 (8x57is) too, it comes in addition to the standard 38 models.
These M38 rifles, standard or short, are equipped with 98 large ring cases of different origins. Some of these boxes have German imperial markings and were probably dismantled on the Gewehr 98 which the Turks must have had following the First World War. Others have Czechoslovakian markings (difficult however to have sources.) We sometimes find the marking "K" "Z" (VZ BRNO) under the case. On the breech slide on the right side, the marking "A". Like the standard 38 model, it will be difficult to establish a fixed list of specificities for this model given the multiple provenance of the parts and the Turkish remanufacturing of specific parts sometimes machined in brass.
Like all other "38" rifles the same marking is affixed to the thunder. However there will be no primitive markings as sometimes encountered on modified German models due to their late manufacture. Like the standard 38 model, these boxes have sometimes badly stamped markings. Indeed, the date is often difficult to see and sometimes not aligned. Same for the Ankara marking which will sometimes end up askew. We can therefore assume that the Turks did not use the same machines (or techniques) as the Germans whose markings are very clean.
The cylinder head, most certainly made in Turkey for certain models, has no specific markings apart from the last digit of the serial number. It was originally made straight and bent later to adapt to this short specimen, so that the weapon is less bulky like the karabiner 98 cavalry rifles. However the ball of the lever will not be checkered like the K98 but only machined on the surface to allow a good closure against the stock.
The rise foot is specific, the blade of the front sight is protected from shocks by two lugs in relief on either side These cavalry carabiners designed to be mishandled during transport, had to have this protection to avoid the risk of moving the handlebars in the event of an impact. We find this specificity on the Argentine model 1909.
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For the record, I happened to get lost on this type of handlebar. Indeed, when the visibility is not optimal, it happens to confuse the sight with its lateral reinforcements.
On photo 1, you can see the elevation cursor well above, the centered sight and its two side reinforcements. On photo 2, the sight is well positioned in the rear sighting is good. On photo 3, the left reinforcement of the sight block is aligned with the rear sight and will induce a consequent shooting error. On these clear photos, the error seems obvious, in a covered shooting range and not necessarily well lit, it is a little less so. Needless to say what it is on a battlefield at dusk.
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The rear sight is identical to the other 38 models. The board is graduated from 100 to 2000 meters. It has a hollow at the front which is probably machined to be able to disassemble the board more easily. The serial number is stamped on the slider and on the back of the board.
Just like the receiver, the guard also comes from several origins. That of our model is certainly a Turkish manufacture. No Imperial German markings, no osmanli markings of the 1903 Ottoman models which would be too short for this 98 case anyway. Only a simple marking and two fixing screws. Remember that on our standard 38 model, the guard comes quite simply from a gewehr 98 with German imperial markings whose counter screws are present.
On our model, the stock seems quite enigmatic or atypical. This is a bit what characterizes all Turkish models, modified or not.
Note a lateral sling of the grenadière machined in karabiner 98 type wood. However, the sling passage of the grenadière at the front is not lateral. In addition, a strap passage is additionally screwed under the lateral passage in the rear part of the stock (the two screws, quite rough and without markings, are surely late Turkish manufactures). The spring of grenadière seems to have been moved. A machining with the same shape is sealed 1cm further than our spring in place.
The butt plate of our model has 3 fixing screws, two of which have a German imperial marking and the last, raw, flat and without marking. These data should therefore not be taken as an exact science because several short models do not have all these characteristics (lateral strap passage, spring hollow, butt plate with 3 screws). The mouthpiece is the same type as all other Turkish/Ottoman rifles
This short model is the one that will come closest to the most famous Mauser rifles (98k). It has an angled lever, a side strap passage, originally chambered in 7.92x57 and a 98 large ring case. They are of a level of completion noticeably lower than the German rifles but remain nevertheless very robust on all the points. The slide is on par with any German, Czechoslovak or Yugoslav equivalent and will make any amateur Mauser shooter happy. The short version is not very common unlike the standard model but it is less bulky and lighter.