Turkish Mausers etc. have an "Ad Hoc" designation, mostly accepted by most Turk collectors....and these are the fruit of several alrge "Serial Number-Model "surveys on the Web.

The original (7,65mm) Pre- WW I Turkish Mausers have known "Mauser" designations ( M1887, M1890, M1893, M1903, M1905 or 08 Carbine, M1910 Rifle ( German marked M1903).
When these were converted to 7,9mm in the 1930s, the Turks just called them "Tufeki" (Rifles) 7,9mm; the M938 designation was given to "All" Mausers in 7,9mm, but should only be given to the native(Kirikkale)-made Mauser, which is a Hybrid of M1903 and Gew98 and Vz98/22 Features. (And even then, real production of the Kirikkale rifles did not start till 1940...small pre-production lot in late 1939).

With 1928 being the first "Official" year of 7,9mm ammo adoption,( although 7,9 had been in use since 1914), and the change over to Western Alphabet and Dating systems in Late 1928, The pragmatic designations are as follows: If everyone uses them, we all know what we all mean. The "/date" is considered the First year of appearance of a Particular Model; the conversions continued sporadically right up to 1949, and then a break to 1954-56, ("ATF" marked Rifles, converted Gew98s)

Converted M1890s: "M1890/29" (couple of dated examples)
Converted 1903s..."M1903/30"
Converted M1893s: "M1893/33"
Converted German Commission M88/05: "M1888/05/35"
Refurbished Gew98: M1898/37 and M1898/38 (Two Serial Blocks)
Refurbished Kar98a: M1898a/37 Short rifle)
Refurb/rebuild: M1898/37 Short Rifle
Conv. M1903/30/37 Short rifle ( or simply M1903/37 SR); More correctly it could be M1905/37 Short rifle...as the SR sometimes use original "carbine " Bolts, this could be why very few original M1905 carbines survive, and there seem to be NO 7,9mm versions of the 1905 cav. carbine.

"Tufeki M 938" "Kirikkale" Mauser, both Long (1940-46,) and Short (1944-46). All other designations are "Importer's Fantasies"
"Vz98/22 " No change, but Turks probably just called it the "Czech Long Rifle"

"M1938" shoud be considered a "Commemorative" Model Date, rather than actual: It represents ALL Turkish 7,9mm Mauser Style rifles, It signifies the Opening of the new CZ built Rifle Factory ( and Ordnance Complex) at Kirikkale Village, and it commemorates the death of Kemal Ataturk, founder of Secular Republican Turkey, Hero of Gallipoli, and Instigator of the Turkish Army reconstruction program from 1922 onwards (Foundation of the ASFA Ankara, the Military Factories Adminisitration based in the new Capital, Ankara).

That should flesh out the Turkish designation problem.( based on Ataturk's Biography, other Histories, Observation of Rifles first hand, ammunition packets, and older Books, and contacts with Turks in the Ordnance Branch with interests in Weapons History (Both Ottoman and Republican).


Any Questions???

Turkish "Enfauser" ( rebuild of WW I captured Lee-Enfield Actioned rifles to 7,9mm Mauser, with 1903 Characteristics; Only made in 1936. Since several "LE" models were used, and they don't have "Year" date Model ", it's best to just call them "Turkish Enf-ausers" (Enfield-Mauser), M1936.

Turk Orman Berthier Carbine>>M1907/15/48...another enigma....best left to another thread ( has been well worked over already.)


Regards,
Doc AV
AV Ballistics.