Mauser Cocking Piece

[Al_Messer]

Anyone got any idea how they machined the interrupted square threads inside a Mauser Model 96 Cocking Piece?

[GeorgeStringer]

I don't believe they were machined. I think they were cast using cores to form the inside. George

[Al_Messer]

Must have been cast out of "fluid steel" then because the rear end certainly doesn't machine like any other castings I've ever cut.

[John]

Just looked at one, I beleave it was machined. Some sort of broach to cut the ovol shape.

[Butch]

I have often marveled at how they did some of the machine work on those rifles in 1896. They did not have the tooling or machines that we have today, and the quality and precision is amazing. Some real craftsmen, and many of them were slave labor during the war.

[Heavysteamer]

I'll make a guess, Al. I think they broached the oval hole then used a series of rotary broaches or a step rotary broach to cut the rest. With a stepped borach you could stick it in a ways, make one turn, step in one thread pitch, make a turn cutting in two places, etc. Boy, I'm never going to get beyond chip sweeper in here.

[Al_Messer]

I'll buy that as it is the only logical way I can see that they did it. If'n anyone knows for sure, I'd sure like to know!