Mickey,

Thank you also.

Just to throw a little more fat on the fire, here's a pic I snapped the day I got it home. It has its original Zeiss Zielklein scope of 1 1/2 X.

I read on the threads that scopes on DR's are very controversial. Nevertheless, the Germans loved them. I'm just glad this one survived the years in good servicable condition and still with the rifle.

One blessed thing about this rifle is that nobody has buffed the action, reblued the barrels, and refinished the stock.

The old German hunted with it and took good care of it. It shows honest wear, but no abuse or neglect. He put it away in good order. It probably came to the USA in 1945 as war booty. The GI had no idea what caliber it was. No cartridges from the hardware store fit, so he shoved it back in the closet and forgot it.

When I found it last year at a gun show it was still in an ancient leg-of-mutton case, and the scope was still in its original side-carry leather scope case. The guy I bought it from had no clue what it was or even what caliber it was. There are no caliber markings on the barrels at all.

I had the impression he snagged it first out of the closet. That made me second out of the closet - a good position in the food chain. I knew at a glance what it was and what caliber it is, and I think I am the first person since the old German to make use of the rifle.

The barrels had some very old cupro-nickel fowling which cleaned right out. No corrosion. Very fortunate. They are 60 cm (23 5/8"), chopper lumps, best Krupp steel.

The rifle is well balanced and handy - 8.76 lbs. with scope attached.

When I hunt with this rifle I think about the old German. I touch it where his hands were so many years ago. No doubt my thoughts while in the woods are near to what he was thinking as he carried it in search of red stag. I believe he would be glad to know the rifle again travels in hands that know how to use it as intended.

I also wonder about what hands will carry this rifle, and the others I own, several generations from now.

There are spirits in these old firearms that link us to the past and to the future.

Aye, the mystique; the fascination!

CptCurl