Simply put, they do not appear straight on to each other on my rifle. I thought I was 'seeing things' but it is quite evident in the picture below. I was disassembling my new M48 purchase to clean the cosmoline off, when I noticed that it looked like my barrel was cross-threaded into the receiver. No matter how I looked at the assembly, the barrel looked 'cock-eyed' to the receiver. I put the action back into the stock without the handguard and snapped this pic... is something amiss, or are Mauser receievers mounted with a slight cant to them?



The receiver looks as though it cants slightly to the right... out of the stock, and the action placed upside down, the cant is opposite and very apparent... is this normal with a Mauser, or is this a defect?

It's a defect. It's either crossthreaded, or bent. I vote for bent receiver. Your rifle saw some action (probably in the 90s), and something drove over it. I am also thinking that the stock is non matching? A battlefield pick up, that was restocked? Where did you get it?

Send it back.

_________________
Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club '70-72
GMCM(SW) USN 68-89
1776-2012 USA RIP
President NM MILSURPS

The stock serial number matches the barrel and receiver serial numbers... there does not appear to be any kind of damage.

I purchased the rifle from Widener's who have a strict no return policy, but I will give them a call tomorrow and plead my case...

Take some clearer pictures from multiple angles...you know they'll ask for them, I'd like to see, too. I think I see what you're talking about. I assume you paid with Visa or Mastercard. If you did, keep in mind a "chargeback" if Widenere\'s stonewalls you in anyway. Ive never had to do that but I guess you just report it to your card issuer, defective merch and they refuse to exchange it but I think it's only $250, with Mastercard, anyway. You might google it a bit so that tomorrow all your ducks are in a row when you call them.
If you mention that it might be easier to deal with you than Mastercard and sound nonthreatening, you might get somewhere, but I'd be pretty hot about that if what I see in the picture is true.

Here are some pics. I received a hint about how to check the action; and that is to take a 5/16" wood dowel and run it down through the barrel into the action... this confirmed my observation, that I do indeed have a bad marriage between the barrel and receiver... have a look:

Action out and upside down on white paper...


Now hanging by the rear tang against a white door... the lines in the door help to find what is parrallel and what is off...


More door...


Now with the 5/16" dowel through the barrel...


...and through the receiver. The bolt keep had to be propped open to let the dowel rest naturally...


I had to support the action to get a better pic...


I believe the darned thing is bad ju-ju...


I have sent Widener's an email and some pics, asking them to tade me out for another M48, we'' see what they come back with. I hope they will do right and exchange it, but their website says they do not take returns...

Good detective work...looks pretty conclusive to me!

Widener's is sending UPS out tomorrow to pick up the rifle, and they are replacing it... the weight of my small world has been lightened to say the least...

while that lightens your heart that it didn't become a headache or a battle, it does the same to me about doing business with Wideners

Amen to that!

i'm glad they're sending you a new one!

Now i have to make a decision about getting one or not.

As promised by Widener's, the man in Brown picked up my M48 and whisked it away today... now the waiting begins all over again. Widener's has really won me as a repeat customer with their diligence in making sure I am taken care of.

I am frankly surprised. Their guy ABSOLUTELY REFUSED in October to even consider letting me swap out a M57 that had corrosion on it.
i'm glad your experience turned out better.

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My sons & I combined
1891 Argy;YugoM48;Turk Kkalex2;Steyr M95;Ishapore2A;Oviedo 1893;91/30x5;98Krag;Swiss K31;M38 Carcano;1893 Turk;Spanish 1916;No.1MkIII;M1895 Nagantx2;Brazilian1908;P64;StarB;YugoM57;Taurus 82;Austrian capture m91 Sestroryetsk

out on a limb here but I'd say that corrosion is a lot different than a bent rifle. Not to minimize you're being upset about your problem but the two are a tad bit different.

You are right, of course. I'm glad they didn't give you trouble, nonetheless.

_________________
My sons & I combined
1891 Argy;YugoM48;Turk Kkalex2;Steyr M95;Ishapore2A;Oviedo 1893;91/30x5;98Krag;Swiss K31;M38 Carcano;1893 Turk;Spanish 1916;No.1MkIII;M1895 Nagantx2;Brazilian1908;P64;StarB;YugoM57;Taurus 82;Austrian capture m91 Sestroryetsk