Quote Originally Posted by Jet Fixer View Post
bolt is mis-matched (not unexpected)
It sounds like you are looking for a shooter. A collector would only go for a perfect "mum", properly matching parts, including bolt cover and cleaning rod, and ignore a rifle with a mismatched bolt. This is the major worry point. You need to search the forums for measuring "head clearance" (note head clearance, not headspace as measured with gauges). A mismatched bolt, especially if it is from a late-war run when things were going badly, can result in a clearance that is so huge that the rifle misfires.

Quote Originally Posted by Jet Fixer View Post
Description says the bore is strong with a little greying at the base of the rifling
That is the typical seller blah-blah that means just about nothing. Rifling can be "strong" but ruined by pitting and bell-mouthing of the muzzle or a badly eroded throat. Greying can mean that the bore is "leaded" and just needs a very good clean. What is underneath the grey can be shiny steel or rust pits. You can't tell until you have cleaned the bore. But if a seller is too lazy to clean the bore himself, which would make it more desirable (IF it is a good bore underneath) ask yourself "why?". Maybe he would rather not know what is beneath the grey?

This sounds like the kind of rifle that is very risky if you cannot inspect it yourself and make the proper judgements. If it is, for instance, being offered through an on-line auction and personal visual inspection is impossible, do not pay more than a wall-hanger price. Because there is a very good chance that that is what it is!


Patrick