GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
RARE SIG-NEUHAUSEN MONDRAGON MODEL 1908 SEMI-AUTO RIFLE.SIGMONDRAGON29377MM MAUSERMODERN; C&RCal. 7mm Mauser. Standard military issue rifle with 25" tapered rnd bbl. Square based barleycorn front sight and 2000 M ladder rear sight. Bottom of bbl has a bayonet lug. The bolt operating handle has an unusual catch that allows the shooter to select semi-auto or manual action on the bolt. Bottom of rifle is fitted with, what appears to be, a 10 rnd box magazine. Left side of magazine box has electric pencil number that appears to be a property number. Rifle SN is 2924 and the bolt assembly is all numbered 2937. Mounted in uncheckered light European walnut stock with upper hand guard and a middle band with sling loops on the buttstock and middle band. Accompanied by copy of a letter on SIG SWISS INDUSTRIAL COMPANY letterhead dated November 2, 1979 which gives a brief history of the Mondragon rifle. It states in effect that in 1902 they were licensed by the Mexican government to build 4, 000 of these rifles in Cal. 7mm. However, prior to delivery, the dictator Porfirio Diaz was overthrown and only a few of the rifles were delivered. The majority were stored until 1914, when they were purchased by the German Air Force. Given that this rifle has neither Mexican nor German markings, one could assume that it is one of the rifles sold to Germany. The Mexican issued pieces were all marked with the Crest of Mexico while the German items were not marked at all. Mismatched parts on arms brought to the U.S. after WW I & WW II are quite common. A G.I. would find a firearm he wanted to bring home with him and if it was missing a bolt or other part he would simply replace the missing item with one that fit from a pile of like parts, without paying attention to matching numbers. It was common practice that when a German Soldier was surrendering he would remove the bolt or breechblock from his weapon and discard it, thereby rendering it useless. CONDITION: Fine, mismatched as noted. Metal parts all retain about 97-98% strong orig blue showing wear on the magazine base plate and light sharp edge wear elsewhere. Stock has a crack at the tip, otherwise the wood is sound and shows a coating of applied varnish. Recoil spring is missing, otherwise mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore. 52750-2 JRL (15,000-20,000)