Was up visiting in Palm Beach and saw a big Gander Mountain flyer in the paper with all kinds of ammo priced very well.

Drove over to have a look and prices for what they had was almost pre hysteria. But I really didn't need anything.

Swung over to the used gun section and saw a very long Mauser that was familiar as many have passed through my hands since you could go into Sears and there would be a barrel full for $35.00 each.

Asked the salesamn to see it. Had is been a Gustav, I would have passed but it had the magic words on the receiver ring, all real matching numbers and wood, that under 117 years of grime and dents was very nice mineral lined European Walnut. The credit card took a beating and it came home with me.

Bore is excellent and everything works as it should.

The wood will take a lot of steaming and TLC to get out the bumps and bruises, but it's not Beech.

Some "as bought" photos, perhaps in several months the stock will be standing tall. (It WILL NOT be "sporterized" !)

One question: On the stock on the off disc side, is stamped C7900 in an old fashioned well worn font. Assume it's a rack # but ?????