Mauser M94 (1894)

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Bases and Rails

About the Mauser

Back in 1811, Friedrich I of Wurttemberg launched an arms factory in Oberndorf, Germany. Employing 133 workers, the company officially started its business in the following year serving as the royal weapon forge. The initial moderate success of the company was refined in 1867 when Wilhelm and Paul Mauser came up with an innovative rotating bolt system used for breechloading rifles. Most of their rifles at the time were built around a 7.9x57J cartridge which eventually became known as the 8mm German cartridge.

Alongside the Model 93 release, the smaller, 7x57mm cartridge was introduced. The United States spotted the potential of German ingenuity; hence they incorporated many features of Mauser design into their 1903 Springfield and so did the United Kingdom with their SMLE rifle that was the standard of British infantry units up until the 1950s. Soon after, many countries around the world, such as Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Sweden and even China had recognised the outstanding performance of Mauser 93 and began flooding the company with new orders.

Along with their rifle production success, Mauser also broke new ground in 1896 with the introduction of their autoloading C96 pistol that was produced up until 1936. In 1897 the Mauser family were given control over the factory and renamed it Waffenfabrik Mauser AG. Only a year later, one of the most recognisable Mauser rifles of all time was presented by the company – Mauser Gewehr 98. The rifle had been redesigned with some of the noticeable changes being better-ruptured case gas venting, a stronger receiver with a larger receiver ring and an extra third locking lug providing additional safety. In later years, numerous rifles were derived from the original Gewehr 98 design, a lot of them being manufactured by various German contractors.

In the first decades of the 20th century, Mauser introduced a myriad of hunting rifles such as Type A, Model B, Model K, Armee-Model C and Africa Model. Up until the 1960s, various other models were presented including M1916, Mauser 1925 Special range, Karabiner K98, Mauser KKW cadet rifle, Gewehr 41 etc. Alongside their rifle production, the company additionally focused on the production of hand and pocket pistols, with some of the most recognizable models being Mauser 1910, Mauser 1914, Model 1934, and Mauser HSc.

After World War II, when the company was seized by Allied forces and placed under French control, the factory was torn down, and its records were destroyed. The former Mauser engineers Edmund Heckler and Theodor Koch, together with their associate Aled Seidel founded Heckler and Koch arms firm in the following years, recovering some leftovers of Mauser company which remained in the arms of Allied forces until 1952 when it was again permitted to continue manufacturing firearms. In the second half of the 20th century, the company presented some new models such as Model 66, Model 77, Model 86SR, Mauser SP66, Models 94 and 96, Mauser SR 97, Mauser 90SA and Mauser 90DA.

The Rheinmetall Berlin AG bought the firearms division of the company in 1996 and renamed it to Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH. In 1999, part of the Mauser was sold to Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft company often referred to as SIG, which later became known as Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH.

Today, the company is under the parentage of the Blaser Group, which also manufactures rifles under the J.P. Sauer & Sohn brand. Mauser has presented some new models in the last few years, such as Mauser M03, M12, and M18, attesting to the company’s rich and successful history once again.

Mauser M94 (Swedish Carbine) Rifle Review

Mauser M94 is a bolt-action carbine rifle that was adopted by Swedes in 1894 when they purchased around 12.000 pieces from Mauser. Soon after they bought Mauser’s license and from that point on, the rifles were manufactured in their Carl Gustaf factory in Sweden. The total production number reached approximately 115.000 rifles in the following years.

The rifle features some unique elements and upgrades from the previous 1893 model, one of them being the cut out on the left side of the receiver which makes it easier to put cartridges in the internal five-round magazine using stripper clips. There is a machined steel floor plate on the bottom of the forearm. Additionally, the bolt guide is improved for faster and smoother bolt travel. The receiver rear sight is different as well as it is hinged at the front, contrary to the one featured on the rifle’s predecessor.

M94 uses a cock-on-closing action mechanism which allows for the firing pin spring not to be tensioned when opening the bolt. The rifle only cocks when the bolt is pushed into the closed position. The bolt comes with two forward locking lugs that lock up safely into the action's housing. Positioned at the rear top end of the receiver, there is a standard Mauser-type safety lever with its centre position functioning as a disassembly lever. There is no bayonet on the front end; however, in 1914 the M94 was redesigned to fit a bayonet and a reinforcing band was added to the rear of the nose cap. This variant was renamed M94-14.

The possible barrel length for Mauser M94 is 450 mm (17.7-inch).

Rifles that were sold to the US market, feature a 7.6 mm (0.3 inch) extension cap at the end of the barrel due to legal requirements.

Mauser M94, chambered for 6.5x55 SE

Figure 1: Mauser M94, chambered for 6.5x55 SE (Source: https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=7704)

Mauser M94 can be chambered for the following calibres:

6.5x55 SE

The rifle is available in the following variants:

Mauser M94-14
Mauser M94-67
Mauser M94 Skolskjutningskarbin
Mauser M94 Kammarkarbin
Mauser M94/96
Mauser M94 Officers Carbines

Mauser M94 receivers come without holes therefore they must be manually drilled by a gunsmith.

Mauser M94, chambered for 6.5x55 SE

Figure 2: The receiver of Mauser M94, chambered for 6.5x55 SE (Source: https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/catalog/64M94.3.jpg)

A: /

B: /

C: /

BHU: 2.4 mm

Ø: /

R1: R16,5

R2: R14/30°

Which Rifles Have Interchangeable Mounts

Two-piece mounts

All the rifles listed in the category below have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Mauser M94. To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Rifles that meet such criteria are:

Mauser M96
Mauser M38
Mauser M41

One-piece mounts

All the rifles listed in the category below have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Mauser M94. For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that share the same dimensions and mounting surface with Mauser M94 are:

Mauser M96
Mauser M38
Mauser M41

*As the M94 comes without holes on the receiver, the interchangeability conditions depend on the overall length and shape of the receiver.

Our Recommendations for Mounts

Picatinny Rails

The holes on the receiver of Mauser M94 must be manually drilled. This Picatinny rail made by the German company EAW can be of great help in determining the drilling position on the receiver. It is made of high-quality steel and comes with a thirty-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu