.22LR my grandpa brought back from WW2 Europe

[Reconman0321]

I am new here, signed up because I am trying to find where my grandpas rifle might have come from. He has passed away a few years ago but the story I was told was he took the rifle off Nazis who were using these for Sniper practice.Attachment 64657

Please email me for more pictures...For some reason I can't upload the others (better pics)

jbrown@reconsniperfoundation.org

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I don't think they were exactly for sniper practice, but they would have been used for practice because the sights resemble the full bore rifles and so does the manipulation. It was a common practice to have small bore and full bore rifles that resembled each other. Send me pics by Email and I'll post them for you... Welcome to the forum. Nice little rifle...can't wait to see the rest of it.

[browningautorifle]

Here's Reconman's rifle...

[vintage hunter]

From what I can see I believe you have a Mauser Model ES350B single shot .22 target rifle made in Germany prior to WWII.
A buddy's father-in-law was in Germany when they surrendered and sent home 4 grates full of guns, swords and all kinds of other ''souvenirs'' he'd ''liberated''. Contrary to what some believe Hitler never disarmed the German population. Perhaps this is how your grandpa got it. The vets brought home all sorts of guns, not just military stuff.
OH BTW, from what I've seen on auction sites your rifle could be worth as much as $3000 to the right person. Depending on condition of course.

[browningautorifle]

your rifle could be worth as much as $3000

So much for it ain't rare or scarce...?

[vintage hunter]

I haven't done a whole lot of research on the ES350B other than to correctly ID the OP's so I can't comment on how rare or scarce it is. There's also an MS350B. MS=repeater. A buddy has one and according to some research I did for him a couple years ago they are considered to be very rare and worth a good bit more than the ES single shots.
I've had the opportunity to shoot my buddy's MS on several occasions and found it to be exceptionally accurate, even with cheap Wally World ammo. He made the deal of the century on it, got it for $100 at a yard sale.

[browningautorifle]

I first looked it up for him and didn't see anything odd or rare. If someone just paid around $3000 US for it...that tells me I'm on the wrong track...

[Reconman0321]

Thanks for the input gents. My grandpa was in the battle of the bulge and was sent home after catching a mortar round in the legs. I have tons of his writings about his experience if anyone's a history buff.

M not really wanting to sell the .22 but knowing its value and heritage is important.

Thanks again,

RM