Tell me about this rifle?

My dad passed and in his stash there was this older rifle. I know it came from my Gpa and he was a career navy guy that traveled the globe. Im not a huge gun guy, but I do I have my share of home protection and plinkers :thup:, but know nothing about older guns.

Can you tell me what it is and how to decipher the date, it says 1951....dont know if thats a actual build date or just a patent date? It has the FN markings and Belgium on the right side. Its .257 roberts caliber.

Whats a gun like this worth?

Here are a couple pics and I can provide more if needed. One thing I noticed that I have not seen on other rifles that look like this is the double trigger. Havent seen that before. Im guessing its to set a hair trigger option?

Thanks for any help you all can give me, it is greatly appreciated. :wave:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-2.jpg

Thanks again!

It is a commercial F.N. M98 Mauser. http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/the-fa...user-1598.html
http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazin...allpartial.pdf

Thanks for the info.

I also have another one, looks the same, has NO markings anywhere as to what caliber it is, where it was made and by who, but it does have a Hensoldt-wetzlar 4x scope and sling mounts on it. Ill post up some pics of that one a little later.

Handsome stock....

Yeah, Gpa used to carve his own stocks and that might be one of his. Unfortunately he is long gone and with dad gone there is no one in my family left to fill me in on the history of these.

Here is the other one. This one has NO markings anywhere, no makers marks, no caliber, no dates....nada. Its noticeably larger caliber than the 257.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-3.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-4.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-5.jpg

Thanks again for any info guys, it really is appreciated. :thup:

The second one isn't a M98, looks like a sporterized "United States Rifle, cal .30, Model of 1917" a.k.a. the "P17".

I agree, M1917.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by engineboy

Yeah, Gpa used to carve his own stocks and that might be one of his. Unfortunately he is long gone and with dad gone there is no one in my family left to fill me in on the history of these.

Here is the other one. This one has NO markings anywhere, no makers marks, no caliber, no dates....nada. Its noticeably larger caliber than the 257.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-3.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-4.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-5.jpg

Thanks again for any info guys, it really is appreciated. :thup:

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Could also be a Pattern 14, have a smith check to see weather it is .303 or .30-06

I can tell you how to tell...........Is the bolt face flat or does it have a ridge half way around it ?............Flat face is .303, ridge .30-06 !.............

It has a ridge halfway around it.

Show us the boltface, .303 has a ridge too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Show us the boltface, .303 has a ridge too.

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Bolt face of the .303 British is as flat as Kansas !...............or has ridge all the way around..................

Here this is better, the .30-06 is on the left & Attachment 56160the .303 on the right !................

Here is the one I have. Sorry about the dirty gun, it hasnt seen daylight in over 30 years.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._itemId1-6.jpg

Even if it looks like a M1917 bolt, that doesn't mean your rifle still has the original barrel chambered for the .30-06. You said it didn't have any markings. Take it to a gunsmith, it's better to be sure than sorrow.

Or could it be original caliber...? .276 weren't they?

Yes like I said in the beginning have a Smith check it out good before you shoot it !..................

It sure looks like a very nicely done .30-'06 to me. Somebody spent real money on that stock and checkering and the whole rifle looks high quality. A gunsmith will likely offer you nothing on a real keeper. Hang on to it. it looks like a late 1940's or early 1950's job. Also lots of gunsmiths do not work on '17's anymore and checking the headspace is tricky. I guess the headspace is just fine, good luck and do hang on to it.

I would never sell it to a smith....they are in the biz of buy/resale and Im real familiar with that game. BUT. Im torn on possibly selling them private party. I know they have been in the family for many many years, but Im not a sentimental guy. I keep nothing. Sell everything. To me stuff like this is just an object.

I will take it to a smith and see what caliber it is, I dont plan on shoving a 30 06 in there and hoping for a good outcome :lol:

I did keep, and plan on keeping, another rifle from his stash.

Its an octagon barrel lever action 1894 winchester 30/30 that is in pristine shape. Its dated IIRC in the 1930s, I will have to run the serial to verify. Its a beauty and it does get shot regularly. ;) That one is going no where because I like the gun.

These other 2 are of no special interest to me, and they will live their life in the gun safe forever if I keep them. I have no family to pass them to, so I will be the last owner in this family.

Decisions decisions .....thanks for all the info though, it has been greatly appreciated.