M48 Mauser Serial Numbers
Posted : admin On 06.01.2020| Puška M.48 7,9 mm (Rifle M.48 7.9 mm) | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Place of origin | Yugoslavia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1950–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Lebanese Civil War Yugoslav Wars |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1948 |
| Produced | 1950–1965 |
| No. built | 1,224,000+ |
| Variants | M48, M48A, M48B, M48BO |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.9 kg (8.6 lb) |
| Length | 1105 mm (43.5 in) |
| Barrel length | 597 mm (23.25 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.92×57 mm IS (8 mm Mauser) |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Muzzle velocity | 760 m/s (2,493 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (547 yd) (with iron sights) 800+ m (875 yd) (with optics) |
| Feed system | 5-round stripper clip, internal box magazine |
| Sights | rear: standard V-notch, adjustable to 2,000 meters in 100 m increments front: hooded, inverted V |
The Zastava M48 (Serbo-Croatian: Puška M.48 7,9 mm / Пушка M.48 7,9 mm, 'Rifle M.48 7.9 mm') is a post World War IIYugoslavian version of the German Karabiner 98k designed by Mauser and the Belgian designed M24 series.
The M48 was designed with a stock similar to the 98k, but it has a shorter intermediate-length action and receiver, as does the similar M24 series Mauser. The M24 series Mausers were built from prewar Yugoslav Model 24 Mausers and then refurbished with newer Belgian parts, and usually have straight bolts, while the M48s have curved bolts. I have recentlyy purchased a very nice Yugo m48 rifle that I will hopefully get to shoot this weekend, once i give it a good cleaning. My question is on serial numbers.
History[edit]
After World War II, the Yugoslavs took this design and incorporated minor modifications. Although very similar to the German rifle in general appearance, many of the parts of these two rifles are not interchangeable,[1] especially the bolt and related action parts. M48s are usually distinguished from the 98k by the top handguard, which extends behind the rear sight and ends just in front of the receiver ring, although this feature exists on other models as well. The M48 was designed with a stock similar to the 98k, but it has a shorter intermediate-length action and receiver, as does the similar M24 series Mauser. The M24 series Mausers were built from prewar Yugoslav Model 24 Mausers and then refurbished with newer Belgian parts, and usually have straight bolts, while the M48s have curved bolts. Most M48 stocks are made from thicker Elm or Beech wood and have a thick stainless steel butt plate at the rear of the stock. The M24/47 stocks are mostly made of thinner Walnut or Beech wood and do not have a milled stainless steel 'cupped' butt plate. The M48 was also designed to remove the follower from stopping the bolt from closing when the magazine is empty. M48's are regarded as a military surplusfirearm and can be collected in the United States, Canada and Australia at a generally cheap price due to the plentiful numbers recently imported from Europe, most of which had never been used in combat.
Variants[edit]
There are five main versions of the M48.
M48: 1950-1952- The initial version of the M48, with full crest and all machined steel parts.
M48A: 1952-1965- Inclusion of stamped parts. the M48A used sheet metal stampings for the magazine floor plate. These changes sped production while lowering cost.[2] The critical bolt and receiver which contain the pressure of the burning propellant within the cartridge case retained the same material requirements and design tolerances (i.e. were machined from forged steel) in the A and B variations.
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M48B: 1956-1965- Additional sheet metal stampings incorporated. The most critical factor to understand about this model is that it continued to be stamped on the receiver ring M48A. There was no change in markings. The specific changes in parts is unverified but include stamped barrel and H-bands and the magazine spring follower. The most significant change and external appearance whereby the M48B may be identified is the trigger guard. Whereas previously, the trigger guard/mag well were machined from a solid billet of steel, it was changed to an assembly fabricated from stamped parts. The new trigger guard has a rib running around the exterior of both sides. While the exact number of changes made to this model have not been specified, the impact on production in 1956 were extensive and drastically reduced the number produced that year. There was a specific reason for this. From 1956 on, all M48 production was intended solely for export.
M48BO: 1956-1965- The 'bo' stands for 'bez oznake' and translates roughly as 'unmarked' or 'without markings.' These were identical to and manufactured concurrent with the crested M48B but were not stamped with any national or manufacturer's markings.
M48/63:Zastava Arms manufactured the M48/63 sporting rifle which is a short barreled variant of the Model 1948 rifle.[3] The production stopped as of 2013.
Combat use[edit]
Most M48s that are encountered in the United States and Australia today show only slight wear—usually from storage. Many rifles are sold with accessories, including bayonet, bayonet scabbard, leather bayonet frog, ammo pouches, cleaning rod, and field cleaning kit. The rifles are normally sold coated in the protective grease 'cosmoline' which needs to be cleaned out before the rifle is fired. The condition is frequently excellent due to a Yugoslavian maintenance program that cleaned and inspected the stored rifles in rotation every 5 years until that nation's breaking up.[citation needed]
As such, the M48 saw use in the Yugoslav Wars, thousands being used by various militias[4] or paramilitary forces.[5] Often the M48 was used as the basis for a sniper rifle, drilled and tapped for the ZRAK 4x32 telescopic sight and mounts.[6] However, other than an experimental batch of approximately 4000 rifles, no official M48 sniper rifle was ever fielded by the Yugoslav Army.[7]
Egypt bought M48As to diversify its suppliers in the 1950s.[8]Syria purchased M48A[9] and M48BO rifles.[10]Indonesia, Iraq, Burma, Algeria and Chad also received some.[2] In the 1980s, Syria sent surplus M48s to pro-Syrian Lebanese factions during the Lebanese Civil War.[11]
In 2018 Polish Border Guard obtained 44 rifles for ceremonial purposes due to its physical similarities with Polish pre war Kb wz. 98a.[12]
Users[edit]
- Algeria
- Burma
- Chad
- Egypt
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Various Lebanese militias
- Poland
- Yugoslavia
References[edit]
- ^Ball 2011, p. 332.
- ^ abScarlata, Paul (October 15, 2013). 'Yugoslavian M48A Yugo M48A Mauser Rifle'. Military Surplus Magazine.
- ^'SPORTING RIFLE M48/63'. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012.
- ^Grant, Neil (2015). Mauser Military Rifles. Weapon 39. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p. 50. ISBN9781472805966.
- ^Krott, Rob (October 2003). 'Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights'. Small Arms Review. Vol. 7 no. 1.
- ^M48 Mauser Sniper Rifle
- ^Serbian & Yugoslav Mauser Rifles by Branko Bogdanovic, North Cape Publishing, 2005[page needed]
- ^Scarlata, Paul (March 2013). 'Military rifle cartridges of Egypt from Khartoum to the Sinai'. Shotgun News.
- ^Ball 2011, p. 369.
- ^Philip Peterson (20 July 2011). Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide. Gun Digest Books. p. 160. ISBN1-4402-1451-4.
- ^JWH1975 (June 23, 2017). 'Syrian Civil War: WWII weapons used'. WII After WII. WordPress. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^Wilk, Remigiusz (30 October 2018). 'Mausery w Nowym Sączu'. milmag.pl (in Polish).
- Ball, Robert W. D. (2011). Mauser Military Rifles of the World. Iola: Gun Digest Books. ISBN9781440228926.
- The Serbian & Yugoslav Mauser Rifles, Branko Bogdanovic, North Cape Publishing, 2005
- Personal communication with the author, Branko Bogdanovic.
- Article, The Anonymous Yugo- The M48B, Military Rifle Journal, July 2008, Michael Cornell & James Golub
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zastava M48. |
(Mfg by Preduzece Crvena Zastava (Red Flag Factory)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Caliber: ............. 7.92 x 57mm (8mm Mauser)
Rifling: ............. 4-groove, RH Twist. 1 Turn in 240mm (9.4 in.)
Barrel Length: ........ 23.24 in. (590.2mm)
Overall Length: ....... 43.1 in. (1095mm)
Weight: ............. 9.0 lbs. (4.1kg)
Magazine Capacity: .... 5 (staggered column)
Qty Mfg: ............ 238,515
Source: ............SERBIAN AND YUGOSLAV MAUSER RIFLES (2005) by Branko Bogdanovic - ISBN:1-882391-35-7
Canadian Collector Market Value Estimate: $
1950-52 Model 48 Mauser Rifle
(34 picture virtual tour)
Observations: (by 'Claven2')
Note: Pics of rifle provided courtesy of Milsurps.com moderator Claven2.
During the second world war, Germany had absorbed the Yugoslavian government's inventory of Mauser rifles into its military and had stripped the Military Technical Institute, Kragujevac (fore-runner to the Zastava factory complex) of most useable machines for use elsewhere in the Reich's armaments industry. After the war's conclusion, Yugoslavia had effectively no remaining capacity to build complete rifles and the technology to do so would have to be re-developped and relearned by its craftsmen.
Re-armament began by refurbishing the German K98k rifles on-hand at the time of the German surrender. These rifles provided the Yugoslavian armed forces with the backbone of their equipment until a longer-term solution could be found. Beginning in 1947, many of the old rifles and barelled actions on-hand were upgraded and rebuilt into serviceable arms to further bolster the military and satisfy their need for equipment. The guns were converted using new and old parts and were stocked in new and used wood identical to pre-war Model 1924 rifle stocks. In the cases where older stocks with VZ24 type side-swivels were used, the side-mounted hardware was removed and the holes plugged with dowels. These became known as the Model 24/47.
Despite the continued availability of refurbished German K98k and M24/47 rifles, the further need for arms continued. Many of the necessary machines to manufacture rifles were acquired abroad, most notably from stocks of captured German machines in the Soviet Union. Based on prototyping begun in 1948, in 1950 the Model 48 Mauser was finalized and adopted for service. The M48 borrowed on pre-war M1924 and wartime K98k features and combined both in the finished product. It was made entirely out of milled steel parts with wood stocks (walnut, beech and elm were used throughout production). The bolt handle was turned down like on a K98k, but there was no dish cut in the side of the stock. Instead, the bolt handle bend was less severe and the bottom of the bolt handle knob was flattened to give the fingers room and purchase on the handle during operation. The receiver was shortened by 6.35mm to minimize bolt travel and the bolt stop was redesigned such that the ejector spring was integral to the bolt release spring. The K98k type of band and spring arrangement was used and no provision was made for a bolt-takedown mechanism in the stock.
The M48 remained in production for only 3 years before being supplanted by a simplified version, the M48A. M48 production is broken down by year as follows:
1950: 52,002
1951: 92,037
1952: 94,476
The M48A which replaced the M48 was essentially the same basic rifle, but with production time saving changes involving the use of stamped sheet steel parts. The M48A's chief difference from the M48 was the use of a stamped metal floorplate. Production of the M48A ran from 1953 through 1956 when it was replaced by the M48B. M48A and M48B rifles both have the same receiver crest and are both marked M48A on the receiver. M48B's differ only in the use of additional stamped parts, the most obvious part being the trigger guard.
The receiver side wall of the M48 series rifles will be stamped Preduzece 44 which is the marking used for the Preduzece Crvena Zastava (Red Flag Factory) and the cyrillic FNRJ which is an acronym for the Federal National Republic of Yugoslavia. Most parts will be stamped with a 'BK' surrounded by a circle. This is an acceptance/inspection stamp meaning 'Military Control' to ensure quality of manufacture.
The issue bayonet was also marked Preduzece 44 and was carried in a blued steel scabbard with a leather frog. Although the first batch of M48's was stocked in walnut (only a few thousand rifles), the expense of the wood blanks forced a change to more affordable species. The majority of M48 series rifles will be stocked in either beech or elm.
All models of M48 can sometimes be found completely lacking all markings aside from the serial numbers. These models are collectively referred to as M48BO. BO = 'Bez Oznake' Which translates roughly to 'without markings'. These guns would have been sold or given as foreign aid to countries and organizations with which Yugoslavia did not want to be publicly associated.
Collector's Comments and Feedback:
1. Most Yugoslavian rifles the collector is likely to encounter in Canada were brought into that market by Marstar Canada in the late 1990’s, though the bulk of Marstar’s Yugoslavian rifle inventory was subsequently retailed in the United States through large Military Surplus retail stores and importers. Later exports from the former Yugoslavia have been, for the most part, exported directly to the United States by a variety of companies. Though some of these rifles showed considerable wear, excellent condition examples are not difficult to locate given that the majority of the import of these rifles lasted from the late 1990's through to about 2005. Some dealers still stock a few models, often in like new condition, but be forewarned - Yugoslavian arsenals were VERY fond of liberal application of cosmolene and it can be a real trial to remove it all. Special attention should be paid to leeching the preservative grease out of the woodwork to prevent damage during firing.
Many Yugoslavian rifles have been refurbished once or even many times. The easiest way to determine if your rifle has been refurbished is the remove the barreled action from the stock. On the barrel near the receiver will be a 3 or 4 digit number. This is the assembly number. The same number should be repeated on the underside of the bolt handle. If both numbers match, the rifle has its original bolt. If not, then the bolt is a replacement, even if the serial number on it matches the receiver (it's been renumbered). If there is a punch mark after the assembly number, the rifle has been refurbished. If there is more than one punch mark, then the rifle has been refurbished more than once. ...... (Feedback by 'Claven2')
2. I am the Moderator of milsurpshooter.net's Yugo Mauser forum and my user name there is nothernug, but I'm registered here as Jim. I was reading the write up on the Yugo M48 series. It's good as far as it goes. but this comment struck me..
All models of M48 can sometimes be found completely lacking all markings aside from the serial numbers. These models are collectively referred to as M48BO. BO = 'Bez Oznake'
An acquaintance had conducted a study on these rifles and after reviewing over 2,000 assorted Yugo Mausers, observed that no BO's were configured as the model A. Plenty of M48 and more M48B's but not one M48A. Since he gave me that observation, I have been watching and have not seen one either. Many have been reported but upon examination, all were misidentified M48B. If you know of a verified M48A-bo, we'd sure like to know about it.
If, upon reflection, your observations match mine, you might want to edit that portion of the report.