Johann Springer Rifle with Kahles H/4 x 60

I was looking through some old posts and found some discussion on a 03 rifle that had been customized in Vienna and had a Kahles H/4X60 scope. I have been trying to identify and value a similar gun. It is a Mauser Action with no serial numbers. It was made for one Paul Gaudette US Army. It has the number 34 on the underside of barrel in front of the receiver. It has couple of crown proof marks along with the #57 on the bolt stop and trigger group.

I would like any help I can get to identify the action and the scope and place a value on this gun. The owner would like to sell it but we have been unsuccessful in valuing the gun. I have been in touch with the Springer store and believe the gun to be manufactured post WWII. The scope seems to be a commercial version of a sniper scope manufactured between 1939 and 1948. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Tom
twines1@comcast.net

Welcome to the site Tom .. :wave:

You might want to try our VIP Interviews (click here) area of the Milsurp Knowledge Library.

Besides well known authors and members of our Advisory Panel, some recognized expert collectors and other special guests have also graciously accepted an invitation to answer your questions.

Michael Petrov is handling questions about pre-1940 American custom built sporting rifles and the various gunmakers who produced them and John Beard is answering questions about U.S. M1903, M’03-A3 and M1917 rifles.

I would bet that either or both of them can help you out a lot, whether it be in this post, or part of the interview area. :)

By the way, beautiful looking rifle ... :thup:

Regards,
Doug

Springer is still in business. If you google them, you can get their e-mail address and contact them. I had a rifle made at the turn of the century and they still had the description and sales record on file. If the rifle has a number on it, they may be able to tell you when it was done and for whom. They were very helpful and courteous.

I've had multiple communications with Springer. This gun has no serial number I can find, in or out. The scope has no serial number. They only keep the sales records for 7 to 10 years so the Paul Gaudette doesn't come up in their records. The historian at Springer is a lovely woman who has been with the business her whole life. She really tried but bupkiss is what I got so far. Thanks for the suggestion!!!!

Doug,

What a good suggestion!!! I contact Michael Petrov who gave me a great reply. I knew a bunch of information but it was pretty scattered. His reply tied it all together. I am waiting to here from John. This is a great forum.

Tom

It's got a "Wiener Schnäpper" mounting which was quite popular among Austrian hunting weapons for some time. For Springer it depends upon who you are dealing with, they got quite a new and young team in some of their stores, so don't expect too much. Also, the Kahles H4 was a popular scope for hunting rifles. It seems to me that your combination is an afterwar-conversion based upon an K98k Mauser action. What is the caliber of the rifle?

The worth of this combination would not be a lot within Europe, you probably won't get more than 1000€ over here.

And btw, if you need another scope for that rifle - got a military Carl Zeiss Zielvier with the Wiener Schnäppermontage and "Joh. Springers Erben" engraving lying somewhere around...

Thanks for the response. I am so impressed with this forum. The responses have been fantastic. Your pricing is consistent with Michael Petrov. I wish the gun were mine. I have been it for researching for a friend. Now that we are honing in on value he is going to sell it. He picked up by chance and had no idea of the value. If this were my gun I would be hopping on your scope.
Tom

Nice rifle indeed.

jt

Beautiful old rifle. I own the 03 sporter from Austria you referenced. I'm trying to find a Kahles H4x60 scope for parts - not easy.

Could these be the Paul Gaudette who had this rifle made?

Paul Gaudette Obituary: View Paul Gaudette's Obituary by The Republican


BBC - WW2 People's War - XXCORPS G.I.

Good luck with the sale.

I am an incessant research addict. I actually read that obituary and emailed the paper asking them to forward my request to any of the family members. I did not think it was proper to try and track them down over a rifle. I also found a Paul Gaudette publishing company that publishes military books. I had no luck with either place. Thanks for the suggestion you must have the same obsession with research. If you have any more inspirations pass them along. I would sure like to find out who he was.

I just went to the BBC sight and read the story with Paul Gaudette mentioned. I have a great new bookmark. I will follow up with that one. I have to edit this post to say thanks.

2aimtrue, try and search on eGun , the biggest german gun auction platform. If they don't want to ship to the US, tell me. I'll then have it being shipped. Kahles H/4 scopes usually sell around 100€ here in mint condition.

Promo, I wish I had this information 2 weeks ago. I found one on egun and sent the money but the seller, who is in Linz, Austria, could not send it to the US. He only tried DHL, who originally took the item (very expensive) but then said they would not ship gun parts here . He has already refunded the money - sent both ways via wire transfer, which is costly. Dang!
I'll certainly keep this in mind while looking around. You're right about finding deals in Europe. Please PM me with details about your shipping when you get a chance.
Thanks for the offer.