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Anyone ever heard of one and what exactly it is? It has a full length stock but no bayonet lug. Appears military and has some proofs on it. It is dated 1909. The thinking is it is a contract rifle of some sort but for who?
Not mine so no pics.
Further research shows it is most likely a Chinese contract rifle that was never delivered. Used in very limited amounts in Germany during WWI. Should have a bayonet lug however so it appears to have been modified.
Many did make it to China just prior to WWI. I saw several about 1990(?). They were then fresh off the boat. Not common at all these days.
This one doesn't have the two stars stamped on it that I could see. Will look again. It's also been altered. It is the carbine so it has the bent bolt and they aren't supposed to have a bayonet lug but they cut an inch off the end of the stock and put a round end cap on getting rid of the end cap with the sight protectors. Aggravating that someone would do something so minor that so irreversibly ruins the rifle. It's in very nice shape otherwise.
Well, it sold for well over $400 which surprised me a bit all things considered. Military stuff wasn't going as high as normal today. Still high, just reasonable high. I realize it is probably rare in it's original caliber but being cut down, hard to restore.