Hello,

Thanks to those that answered my want ad for a 10.75x68 Mauser. I finally got one.

Here is what I found and how it was advertised. (no photos were available)

I have never purchased a rifle without seeing photos, but I thought to take a chance on this one as the seller offered a 3-day inspection / return. The seller is the first U.S. owner who had it brought back from Africa with 2 other Rhodesian Game Department rifles. Here is what I got.

The rifle dates to 1924 and is all original, and has all matching serial numbers on every single part. There is evidence of much hard use, but not abuse. Just what you might expect from a rifle that had been dragged through the jungle on a daily basis for about 90 years.

As you can see, the butt-plate has been missing for a very long time, and I doubt it made much difference to the user. The edges are worn "rounded." The stock repairs are limited to both sides of the forward part of the forend, having splintered or rotted away, and then repaired. You can see the right side repair in the 4th picture from the top. This was definitely a working gun.

All the metal is brown with salt & pepper surface with hardened oil turned to a scale varnish. The tangent sight looked like it hadn't moved in 50 years, and required soaking and heat to restore its function. The bore has strong rifling but is yet undetermined as its being soaked with bore cleaner and scrubbed daily. I expect with modern jacketed bullets it should shoot just fine.

Brass and bullets are on order, dies are in hand.

So, if any of you would have a suggested starting load, please let me know as there is virtually no loading data available for this one.

Awaiting your reply.