TexasJohn
.300 member
Reged: 06/04/10
Posts: 174
Loc: Texas
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I just aquired this "Suhl" type Mauser. It was proofed in 1933 and sold in South Africa where it lived until recently. It is not marked with any maker's name. It is in 8x57 with a .323 bore. The rib tapers down very narrow and then flares back out for the front sight base. It comes to the shoulder really well and shoots right to the irons at 100 yards. I did not shoot the flip up sight, but I assume it is a 200 yard blade. If it was marked with a famous English retailer it would have been worth much more than I paid. I think it was lovingly and lightly "restored" at one point; however they did a really good job - especially on the wood. The bore is great in it. Even though my eyes don't work as well as they once did with iron sights, I will not put any holes it this piece. I only wish it could tell about the African adventures it has been on during its 70 plus years on the dark continent.





Any ideas as to the maker?
John
-------------------- John
"In the Texas Oilfield, everything that does not kill me today, gets another chance tomorrow."
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500Nitro
.450 member
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Superb
I love the way they did those ribs.
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3614
Loc: Colorado
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Very nice rifle!
Welcome to Nitro Express!
-------------------- He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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mehulkamdar
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
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Texas John,
Who cares if there is no name on the rifle? You have a most beautiful piece and that is what matters! And you must congratulate yourself that there is no name on her, because that would have made her very expensive, and not really better to shoot and hunt with. The fact that you will not mar her with a scope also shows that you are a man of good taste. 
Congratulations, sir, and good hunting with your African Queen!
-------------------- The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.
Mehul Kamdar
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TexasJohn
.300 member
Reged: 06/04/10
Posts: 174
Loc: Texas
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I thought this old piece was both a beauty and a bargin at $1100. I took it pig hunting Easter weekend to see if it could handle American game; however, when I did walk right into a bunch of pigs I was carrying a Brno .22 rimfire............such is hunting. One thing that I like very much is that there are no side panels on this rifle, the forend is fairly short with a sharp taper and is very British whereas the butt is not very British. It has a very nice feel to it. I will take it back a harvest game with it for it deserves to be used (with care).
John
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88MauSporter
.375 member
Reged: 06/06/07
Posts: 530
Loc: Alaska / Texas
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TexasJohn: I do love a classic mauser action hunting rifle. I like the stock as well as the rib. The 8x57 is such a versitle caliber. I use mostly 185 gr or 200 (198) grain round nose in my S bore rifles. though I like the stock style of yours, I DO like the germanic side panel stocks of my older rifles. Congrats. Texas piggies are such good game when it is hunted on foot and not just over corn or feed as seems to be Texas hunting anymore. Enjoy your classic African!
-------------------- "A hunter should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everthing goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." 88MauSporter
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A10ACN
.300 member
Reged: 30/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: USA
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Nice looker! It appears that someone took a German Sporter and gave it an English makeover. The stock looks like its had a London style finish while the metal has been reblacked in the Brit style. Often those Suhl sporters have a case colored action and the spoon bolt handle looks to still have some remnants of that. That rib appears to be added vs milled with the barrel. I don't care for spoon bolts but I think this rifle looks great with the Germanic-English look. Bet it handles as well as it looks!
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lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9515
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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very fine
I think it was build this way for the british market in suhl.
-------------------- Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40649
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Very nice.
-------------------- John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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