2231

SUPERBLY CRAFTED & NICELY ENGRAVED CUSTOM MODEL 98

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
SUPERBLY CRAFTED & NICELY ENGRAVED CUSTOM MODEL 98

MAUSER BIG GAME RIFLE. Cal. 404 Jeffery. S# 228321 (stamped on left side of action under wood). Starting with what appears to be an Argentine 1909 Mauser action; this fine classic rifle was created. The 23" tapered rnd. bbl. is fitted with sleeved on island base for 2 folding leaf express rear sight. Nicely shaped front base holding gold bead with flip up night bead is also sleeved on, along with a sling eye. Rear portion top of bbl. is gold inlaid "Cal. 404 Jeffery / NR. 228321". There are 1" triangles of well cut scroll engraving either side. There are also 2 gold bands around breech end. Bottom of bbl. under wood is stamped "Griffin & Howe". Case hardened action has had clip slot welded up, creating a solid left sidewall. Feedrails have been correctly opened up to accept the large diameter of the 404 Jeffery cartridge. Bolt stop is unaltered & a Timney trigger has been fitted. Bolt handle has been turned down & knob has been reshaped, creating a commercial Mauser look. Knob has had end of ball checkered & there is a band of raised small rings as transition. Flag safety has been well checkered & gold inlaid "S". Cocking piece has been fitted with a Rigby type one position aperture rear sight raised by wheel at rear. Custom dropbox bottom metal has hinged floorplate retained by release in trigger guard bow which does not have standard type button. Action & bottom metal are engraved w/ about 60% coverage of very well cut & nicely shaded small scroll. On floorplate, this scroll surrounds a scene of leopard in standoff with snarling baboon. This work is very well done, however no engraver's signature can be found. Action & bottom metal have extensions fitted. Top tang extension runs over top of comb in classic H&H style. Bottom metal tang extends to steel trap gripcap. These seperate pieces are also engraved "en suite". Classically shaped pistol grip stock of dense, somewhat marbled & lightly figured European walnut measures 14 1/4" over black "Old English" pad. Stock features right hand shadowline cheekpiece, engraved steel recoil bolt, ebony forend tip, & very well cut point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip & around forend. CONDITION: exceptionally fine, retaining nearly all fine custom finishes on all wood & metal surfaces with only a hint of edgewear in metal & a few scattered light marks in wood, most notably some vertical scratches above trigger guard bow on left side. Bore is bright & shiny. Mechanically smooth. A well thought out rifle in an iconic all-purpose caliber. (22-3310/MGM). CURIO. $10,000-15,000.