What does it mean to sporterize a Mauser?

Basically it refers to converting a military arm to a sporting arm. That can involve a very wide range of stock, barrel and action treatments.

Just like Uncle said. To change the original military configuration of the rifle.

This could be a little as changing the stock to a full blown custom rifle on a military action.

Here is a before and after shot of my sporterized .303.

Thanks for clarifying thos one, guys; and thanks IMINRUTfor sharing your beautiful rifle.

Thats a beautififul #4 lee-enfield IMINRUT. Are the canadian/british/indonesian .303 rifle common in the U.S like they are here in Canada? personaly having 17 different .303rifle ranging from a asnew #5 jungle carbinecomplete with an original bayonete to sporterized rifles with synthetic stocks, five round flush-fit mags and scopes. i was wondering this because i have only seen 3 M1 grands, one springfield 1903, a couple of 30-40krags and i have never seen a trapdoor springfeild yet in life. I seem to reason that american militery rifles are scarce in Canada.

This rifle is almost a dead ringer for my first gunsmith project. My grandfather had this old #4 Lee Enfield and we made the stock from a plank of Turkish Walnut. Despite its two groove barrel, the gun shot almost MOA with handloads.

That was almost 40 years ago. I have since sporterized a lot of military rifles - mostly Mausers - in every case, however, the cost to convert the military rifle far exceeded what you could buy a quality sporting rifle for at Gart Brothers. My most recent personal project wound up costing me the same as a new Remington 700; despite getting the Mauser 96 action as a gift and using a barrel I had sitting around the shop. I guess old gunsmiths never learn . . . .

bigmatty,
I usually see a few at gun shows, but not many. I don't know anybody else that hunts with one. I have another one just like it that I inherited from my father. My grandfather had a #5 carbine that went down in a house fire.

Since you own 17, I'm going to assume that you know a thing or two about .303s, so I have a question. On my father's gun, the words "Long Branch" are stamped on the side just under No.4 Mk.1. What does Long Branch stand for?

This means it was made at the Long Branch Arsenal.

Long Branch is one of the Canadian arsenels that made the rifles. Savage also made 303 #4 MK3s and the one that i have is marked U.S property. i also have a a #4 long branch made in 1954 that is in mint shape and shoots 1 moa at 100 yards.