Mauser sniper rifle

[Patrick Chadwick]

A correct German rifle should have the full serial number on the barrel, receiver and bolt body.

Well. that point has been cleared. The conversion was not done by a gunsmith in Germany. The barrel and receiver ring are marked with the British nitro proof (BNP) and the caliber. The finish appears to show bluing over rust pits.

My guess at present: a beater 98 that was rebarreled to make use of the action. Scope looks good, for its age, and is in much better condition than the pitted action. So IMOH most definitely never a sniper, just a good scope fitted to a run-down 98 that was sporterized, and rebarreled by heaven knows who in the UK. If it shoots well, be happy and leave it as it is. Collector value of the rifle is nil. But the scope would be worth 3-4 hundred over here, if the optics are still good.

Patrick

[jerry10]

Hi Patric, my feelings the same, though I was told by the previous owner that the rifle had no proof marks until he had it rebarreled and refinished in ealy eighties. I am trying to remove the scope bases at the moment and refitting with weaver type mounts - the bases are soldered and screwed in place. I presume the bases will add to the second hand value of the scope?

[Patrick Chadwick]

I presume the bases will add to the second hand value of the scope?

Most definitely so!

[Calif-Steve]

Not so sure I would add Weaver bases to anything I own. I would leave that rifle alone. It has a history to it, putting on Weaver bases makes it a bubba-gun. Certainly reduces its value by half.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Certainly reduces its value by half.

Half of what? Half of 1000, or half of 100? Could you please be a bit more specific about that? But I agree with leaving it alone if it is a good shooter.

[jerry10]

It is a very good shooter, is capable of just over 1" at 100yds with a five shot group from a rest. For a rifle this age, I find that surprising. Action has been bedded and barrel free floated, the loading had been given to me by previous owner. For a military trigger it breaks well. Beneath the front mount was a serial number (still trying to remove solder with wick to get a better look). There is a 3 letter code, but does not match the scope (blc) - looks like byf, but could be wrong. Does seem to be made from different makers' parts.
I am putting on a period scope, a nice Pecar from just after the war and I will machine the new bases to line up with the existing screw holes - not sure of thread, but I will make some up on my lathe. I am an engineer by trade and I will not be attacking it with pry bars! My machine shop is extensive - I make model steam engines for a hobby.
I plan to recoup quite a bit of the cost of the rifle with the sale of the scope and mounts. The main reason I asked about the rifle was because I did not want to damage any history. With it being a made up piece, I am now happy to split it back into the component parts.
Many thanks for all the help.
One final thing, anyone know anything about French sniper scopes?

[Calif-Steve]

Weaver bases do not add value to a nice period Mauser rifle. I can not guess at the value of this rifle until all of the conversion work is completed. Not sure this work will raise the value of the rifle. I am certain things are very different in the UK. Supply and demand are certainly different. A nice Mauser sporter is worth $750 and more here. A cheap bubba-gun can be had for $125. and up. I see nice FN 1960's Mausers going for $700-$900 at the big shows. Again, supply and demand.

[jerry10]

Hi Steve, Not planing to sell rifle, just the scope and mounts. The rifle will be used for target shooting and will not be sold on in my lifetime. The bore really is mirror and I will only be firing in the region of 100-200 rounds a year, so it will see me out. I was only making sure that I would not be damaging anything that may have had history to it - I did not want to break up the scope from an original receiver, which this clearly is not

[Patrick Chadwick]

There is a 3 letter code, but does not match the scope (blc) - looks like byf, but could be wrong. Does seem to be made from different makers' parts.

I would never have expected them to match. Rifles and scopes were made by completely different companies. blc was the manufacturer's code for Zeiss, Jena. byf was the code for Mauser-Werke, Oberndorf.

I was interested to see Steve's comments about value, as seen from the US. The market is completely different here. There is a glut of sporterized military rifles, and they bring very little. Licensing regulations mean that you don't want to block your licence (and your gun cabinet) with a very ordinary sporter when that is going to stop you getting the all-original, all matching, highly desirable service rifle with a perfect bore that you are just bound to see a week later! (Murphy's law).

So curiously enough, although Steve does not agree with what Jerry is doing, it would make perfect sense here to sell the "Zielvier" with bases to a collector and fit another scope, if you have one available. And a Pecar is a perfectly acceptable "period" scope for this rifle.

BTW, it's good to see another model engineer on this forum. As one who has a well-equipped model engineering workshop, I can reassure Steve and any other worriers that if Jerry can make model steam locos, then he has the know-how and equiment to do a proper job with the scope mounting.

Patrick

[Calif-Steve]

In the USA, we have a glut of nice Mausers cut up, cut down and generally ruined rifles. They are common at all of the gunshows. I see Weaver bases on nice rifles all of the time. Basic hunting rifles, not keepers, just cheap hunters. When I see a nice keeper in Europe I am surprised by the use of Weaver anything. I guess this one turns out just fine. No flames intended, by the way. Happy hunting.