Local shop has a really nice 1891 Argie carbine, nice wood, lousy (expensive) 7.65 x 53 caliber, bent bolt, etc. Shop owner had it locked up with cable and shop was busy so I didn't give it the full look, but it looked pretty nice. Had one before, let it go (dumb me). Asking $299 but possible negotiable. If S/Ns match and check out and the crest is intact, I'm thinking this might be a nice collectible. Opinions?

I don't think that they are all that collectible. I also had one and sold it. I didn't do what I wanted to do and that was to build it into a Custom Rifle.

I'm quite a fan of the 7.65x53, and find that brass is easy to form from 8x57, a bit less so from .30-06. I've had several 1909 Argentine Mausers, but only one 1891. The comb of its stock battered my cheekbone mercilessly. And don't sell the cartridge short - in the 1909 action with handloads, it's the full equal of the .308 and only a small step below .30-06. If you can get it down closer to $200, buy it.
Boxer primed sporting ammo can be had from Norma, Sellier & Bellot, and Prvi Partizan.

Larry

What might not be collectable today may very well be tomorrow. Back in 1956 my Grandfather purchased a beautiful, as issued 1903A3 from the govt for a whopping $15.00 + $2.95 shipping. At that time they were a dime a dozen. Had he known the value today I'm sure he'd have bought a truckload of them. Value and collect-ability today??About $1,000.00 I think you get the point. Military arms are always increasing in value. If it's nice I'd go for it.

$299 for a 1891 carbine with unmolested wood? That would be at my house by now.

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Release the Kraken

I'm with LVSteve! That carbine is well worth the price, even better if you can get the price done.. but I'd get it one way or another!

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Old paratrooper in NC

I have several of the Argentine Mausers, one carbine and one rifle. They are well made rifles and the 7.65 Argentine is an accurate cartridge that is easy to reload. I think these are still a bargain.

The 1891 Argentine mauser was my first high power rifle way back in 1963. Back then $20 bucks plus shipping to NYC and reliable mil surp ammo was $10 a hundred. Norma ballistics at the time were printed on the box 150 grain bullet @2920 feet per second. They have since lowered the velocity and pressure. Have a couple sporters and the carbine. If the bore is in nice shape will make a great shooter. Frank

I had one of the 1891 rifles in very good condition back when I had no money. Never should have traded it. Plus, I like carbines.

Walk in with cash.

Any good condition mil surplus has only gone up in price during my time.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

I plugged the barrel of my Argentine and determined that the groove diameter was .313. The .311 military ammo that came with my rifle shot patterns, not groups. The .313s went into 5/8" on the 100 yard bench, with scope sight.

This was a while ago. I no longer remember the exact load but I did virtually all of my rifle loading with IMR 4350 and 4320. I don't know if .313 bullets are available from anyone. Incidentally, .312 diameter bullets shot to 1.5" at 100 yards.

I slugged the barrel of my Argentine and determined that the groove diameter was .313. The .311 military ammo that came with my rifle shot patterns, not groups. The .313s went into 5/8" on the 100 yard bench, with scope sight.

This was a while ago. I no longer remember the exact load but I did virtually all of my rifle loading with IMR 4350 and 4320. I don't know if .313 bullets are available from anyone. Incidentally, .312 diameter bullets shot to 1.5" at 100 yards.

If the '91 Carbine is still all orig Military,,crest in tact (many were ground), no sight or scope mt holes, no alterations in other words,,and a nice bore,,the price is good IMO. Hard to find unmolested rifles anymore and the Carbines seem to bring a premium.
Speer(?) used to make a .314 for the Ar/Mauser but I don't think they do anymore. I used a lot of them in SMLE's w/ slightly over size bores to get accuracy.
There's 32-20 cast bullets in that .314dia that'd work nice over 10 to 12gr of RedDot if you're in to that sort of thing. Don't know what's offered in jacketed for the 32-20. I shoot a lot of light loads in centerfire calibers and find them a lot of fun on the range.
Most bullet casters will size rifle bullets to what you want so you may be able to get full weight (150-170gr) bullets in .314d. and run them at decent velocity.

while I never had a carbine the one 91 argentine I had was a very accurate rifle with factory ammo.

the gun was sportarized way back in an earlier time by a smith that knew what he was doing, the military stock was shaped in a very elegant way and the gun had a set of 1920 era peeps on it, it had the straight handle and the only issue I had with it was the ejector was bad it would extract but not eject spent ammo

I bought it for less than the sights were worth and kept it for a few years before giving it to my late brother

he got in a tight spot and sold the gun,

Did my research, went back for a hand's on look. It turned out to be a cut-down 1891, wrong nose cap, wrong stock, no S/N on the bolt or mag plate, nor on the butt plate. Everything that could have been wrong was. Didn't even scope the barrel, couldn't care less. Guess it will continue to gather dust until someone with less knowledge comes around. Thanks for all the help from the foru members!.

You actually did yourself a favor. Why spend the bucks for someone else's rendition of a wanna be 1891 carbine. You could check the various auction houses like gunbroker and others a look at their descriptions on their carbines then see what they are asking for them. I would love to have one of the Persian M30 or M49 czech made 8mm carbines in 8mm mauser. But cannot swing for the asking prices. What I do have is a fairly decent 1937 VZ-24 action and one of the Persian carbine barrels. So when I can get the money will have me a faux Persian carbine. Keep looking they are out there. Frank