I have a 1908 in the drawer. It is also a DWM Mauser but mine was made at the DWM plant in Berlin while yours was made in the DWM plant at Oberndorf. Mine was damaged when a shade tree mechanic figured a crescent wrench was the perfect tool for barrel removal. The damage was cosmetic and the action is still sound.
In 1977, I was gunsmithing at a shop in British Columbia. We had two sealed cases of 1908 Mausers. They were packed 25 to the zinc-lined case. These rifles were brand new and unissued. Each rifle was complete with sling, bayonet, and test target. They were 7x57's. I kept one 1908 and one 1935 (made by Mauser Werke in Oberndorf. We had two cases of those too). I sold the '08 and built my own 35 Whelen on the 1935. The 1908 actions were in the white; the 1935's were blued.
Your action does appear to have had something done on the face.
While these are easily trued using common machine techniques, I have to confess that I often just true the face with a file! I would take measurements around the c-ring with a depth mike, and simply file until it measured the same all around. It took less time to do this than it would have taken to set up in the lathe, and I could easily get well under a half thou, and usually, it looked like zero. I like to seat on both surfaces. I don't generally mess with the threads, because that would mean setting up in the jig. I seat the barrel on Mausers damn tight. Probably around 250 LB or so.
I like the original triggers and my Whelen is so equipped. The second stage breaks at three pounds even. I put a 3 position safety on it at some point, so it would be like my Winchesters. I had it in my head that this would keep me from fumbling when presented with a shot. Didn't work though. Turns out the fumbling had nothing to do with anything but my tendency to seize when I saw a big (insert animal here, the specie didn't matter. A choke is a choke).
In truth, I like the Beuhler-type safety just fine and all of my other Mausers have them. WH
In 1977, I was gunsmithing at a shop in British Columbia. We had two sealed cases of 1908 Mausers. They were packed 25 to the zinc-lined case. These rifles were brand new and unissued. Each rifle was complete with sling, bayonet, and test target. They were 7x57's. I kept one 1908 and one 1935 (made by Mauser Werke in Oberndorf. We had two cases of those too). I sold the '08 and built my own 35 Whelen on the 1935. The 1908 actions were in the white; the 1935's were blued.
Your action does appear to have had something done on the face.
While these are easily trued using common machine techniques, I have to confess that I often just true the face with a file! I would take measurements around the c-ring with a depth mike, and simply file until it measured the same all around. It took less time to do this than it would have taken to set up in the lathe, and I could easily get well under a half thou, and usually, it looked like zero. I like to seat on both surfaces. I don't generally mess with the threads, because that would mean setting up in the jig. I seat the barrel on Mausers damn tight. Probably around 250 LB or so.
I like the original triggers and my Whelen is so equipped. The second stage breaks at three pounds even. I put a 3 position safety on it at some point, so it would be like my Winchesters. I had it in my head that this would keep me from fumbling when presented with a shot. Didn't work though. Turns out the fumbling had nothing to do with anything but my tendency to seize when I saw a big (insert animal here, the specie didn't matter. A choke is a choke).
In truth, I like the Beuhler-type safety just fine and all of my other Mausers have them. WH
-Al
