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Well, not exactly "End of Story".

Moving ahead - 4 months later, out of the clear blue, the seller emails and asks if my offer still stands. Although by now I had moved on, I reluctantly said I would honor my offer, and I purchased the rifle. This was more out of curiosity, than need. (I had since filled my 416 Rigby wants with a Ruger RSM77) However, I was very curious about this Mauser Magnum rifle and I wanted to know what it really was. By buying it, I could examine it in hand and hopefully find answers to my many questions.

These are some pictures I took when it arrived.

This was a pretty nice rifle - what ever it was.

A close examination showed that this was a "stretched" action from a time when Magnum length Mauser actions were not as readily available as they are today. When rating the work on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the work as an 8-1/2 to 9. It was very good.

Features included;

Barrel-Band Ramped Front Sight with a push-button Removeable Hooded
Dovetailed Interchangeable Front Sight Blades - (now with an ivory folding Moon Bead)
Express Rear Sight with 1 standing and 3 folding leafs.
Barrel Band Sling Swivel & eye swivel in stock
Drop-Box magazine with 5 shot capacity (4 plus 1)
Double reinforcing bolts in the stock
Figured Black Walnut Stock w/ "under-wrap" forend, & "over-the-top" wrist checkering (very difficult to do well)
Steel Pistol Grip Cap with hinged compartment for extra front sight
Silvers Red Recoil Pad with "widow-peak" inletted black spacer
Black anti-glare, rust-oxide finish on all the metal

This was a serious, no-nonsense, Safari Rifle. And, this rifle was really cool .....!

And ..... it looked virtually new - never hunted.

Proof marks and inspection stampings on the action showed this to be an original Standard Oberndorf Mauser "Banner" action, but not an original Square Bridge Magnum. This was an all custom Mauser by S. King & E. Atkinson, ... who ever they were?

Now the researched started, and the story continues.

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"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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