Yeah, after further research, I agree. I wonder if the base was added by a British retailer or done later by a gunsmith? The workmanship around the rear release lever is of good quality. There are no British retailer marks on the rifle that I saw, but will have another look. I suppose another possibility is that the Mauser factory could have added the British style bases as a special order item?

I've contacted New England Custom Guns to see if they can help with the mount on this rifle and also the Lyman 35 issue on my 7x57.

Trouble with the scope mount is I wouldn't recognize the correct original mount if I saw it.

thanks