Why was the Springfield 1903 30-06 made to cock on opening ? ...

[dogtag]

All the other battle rifles of the period cocked on closing.
I've never been able to figure out any advantage, not that I've
really given it that much thought. Easier to close the bolt, but
that's not such a big deal whereas the chance of it snapping shut
while out of the rifle would seem to be a drawback, especially
in war time. Hopefully it wasn't merely to be different. Was it
a way to not pay Mauser royalties which they never did.
I'm all ears.

[pcox]

Does the Mauser cock on opening?

[Hal O'Peridol]

The Model 98 does. Earlier models were cock on close.

[EO1]

Because the Krag was CoO. Same for the magazine cutoff, cocking knob, and 2 piece firing pin.

[JimF]

Does the Mauser cock on opening?

Actually, the M98 Mauser only cocks HALFWAY on opening . . . .
The other half when closing.

[Merc]

According to this, the Feds did pay Mauser royalties.

http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...an_Doc0016.pdf

[Art]

Because the Krag was CoO. Same for the magazine cutoff, cocking knob, and 2 piece firing pin.

Correct. Add to that the cone shaped breach and the safety lug. The M1903 is actually a Mauser Model 95 / Krag-Jorgensen hybrid.

[Art]

According to this, the Feds did pay Mauser royalties.

http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...an_Doc0016.pdf

Yep, and we took it all back, plus some as war reparations after WW I.

- - - Updated - - -

Actually, the M98 Mauser only cocks HALFWAY on opening . . . .
The other half when closing.

How does that work, I've sent my share of rounds down range on Model 98 style Mausers and feel no resistance at all on the bolt's closing stroke. Ezell's "Small Arms of the World" indicates the striker of the Model 98 is cocked on the opening stroke of the bolt only. So let me know.

[JimF]

. . . .How does that work, I've sent my share of rounds down range on Model 98 style Mausers and feel no resistance at all on the bolt's closing stroke. Ezell's "Small Arms of the World" indicates the striker of the Model 98 is cocked on the opening stroke of the bolt only. So let me know.

Art . . .It?s good you have a M98 . . . .

Carefully look at the cocking piece as you open and close the bolt.

Notice how much it protrudes out the back of the sleeve when bolt handle is raised . .

Now, observe how much MORE it protrudes when the handle is lowered to the locked position.

See the difference?

[Art]

Art . . .It?s good you have a M98 . . . .

Carefully look at the cocking piece as you open and close the bolt.

Notice how much it protrudes out the back of the sleeve when bolt handle is raised . .

Now, observe how much MORE it protrudes when the handle is lowered to the locked position.

See the difference?

Yup. However the cocking motion (nitpicking here) is not completed on the closing stroke but on the locking motion when the bolt handle is turned down.