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This rifle is quite enigmatic. The barrel was made and proofed in Suhl. The Ks in ratchet are marks of a then barrelmaker, Klett. As the CROWN – crown/N proofmarks show, it was proofed using the pre-WW1 “4000 atm Special Proof Powder”. As the bore/land diameter is still marked with an old gauge number, it was proofed before 1912. But as the gauge number 172,28 stands for a diameter from 7.62 mm = .300” to 7,87 mm = .310”, it was originally proofed as an 8x57I. As it is in 9.3x62 now, it was rebored and rerifled sometime, but not properly reproofed afterwards. The large ring action without a thumbhole is of much later, most likely post-WW2 make, Zastava or Sta.Barbara. It lacks the prescribed proofmarks on receiver ring and bolt handle root, as well as the pre-WW1 service load informantion. Can you post photos of any markings on the underside of the receiver? The engraving seems to be quite “new” to me too. The signature “Schwarzel Höffen” is in modern letters. I never heard about that name. As Höffen is a village near Lohmar, home of the upgrade gunmaker T. Jung https://manufakturtjung.de/en/ I will ask them about Schwarzel soon. Maybe one of my gunmaking friends in that area can shed some light? The scope bases are for a modern, less than 30 years old, pivot mount by either Recknagel or EAW. Fitting tops may be available through NECG. |
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