December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/16/2021
British proofed Mauser M98 bolt action rifle. Gun has no markings minus commercial British proofs and a large "S" (Spitzer?) on the left side of the chamber. No import marks found. Matching serials on the receiver (on the chamber below the stock line), trigger guard, and bolt. Front sight blade was removed and has no rear sight. All metal components are in the white. Interesting stock with a large butt. No butt plate. In September 1910, Britain's war office began replacing the SMLE and its .303 cartridge, with the testing at Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, beginning with a modified M98 action and a .276 rimless cartridge, eventually becoming formalized as the Pattern 13 and the .276 Enfield. The designs would eventually turn into the British Pattern 14 and the US 1917 rifles when onset of World War I made the proposal of changing over their arms to .276 untenable. In the pre-War period, .276 ammo was only produced for trials and the Oberndorf Mauser records indicated that this lot was produced 1912 making it distinctly possible that this rifle was part of the development process. CONDITION: Metal retains no finish, being completely in the white. There is some brown freckling in areas. Stock has handling marks and scratches. Bore is shiny with crisp rifling. Mechanically fine.