June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
This finely crafted rifle is featured on Stephen Billeb's website, which relates that the action metalwork is by John Westrom, and the barrel is by Jim Baier. Billeb did the stock work which is his specialty. Lightweight 22" barrel has banded-on sling eye with caliber engraved at left rear. Model 98/09 action has been nicely polished. Bolt with traditional pear-shaped knob and low handle has shroud fitted with Model 70 type safety. Bolt body is polished and extractor is temper blued. Original bottom metal has had bow nicely thinned and shaped and is color case hardened. Hinged floorplate is retained by button in trigger guard bow. Very nicely marbled and fiddle figured European walnut steel trap capped pistol grip buttstock measures 13-1/2" over Neidner checkered steel buttplate. Stock features traditional styling with nicely shaped shadow line right hand cheekpiece, ebony forend tip, and exceptionally well cut 32 lines per inch point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip and forend. A Leupold M8 3X scope with duplex reticle is in case hardened Leupold rings and bases. Excellent, essentially as new with all very fine custom finishes on wood and metal, with a few slight handling marks. Scope is excellent. Weight with scope: 8 lbs 0 oz. From the G. Thomas Puett Collection. CORRECTION: This gun is described and picture in Gun Digest article "Gunmakers" page 104, lists the rifle from the shop of Steve Billeb with metalwork from John Westrom. Barrel by Jim Baiar. European style stock witht rpa grip cap and pancake cheek piece, checkered at 32 lines per inch. Metal finish done by Keith Killby of the Ballard Rifle Company.
Manufacturer
Stephen L. Billeb. DWM Mauser Action.