December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2024
During World War I Steyr continued the development of the Mauser rifle with various improved features, although production of the standard Austro-Hungarian M1895 rifle took precedent and the novel Mauser was not put into production. With post-WWI restrictions, the design and tooling were sold to Chinese Warlord Zhang Zuolin who set up production at the Mukden Arsenal in Manchuria, which ran from 1924 to 1931. Rifle is fitted with a lustrously blued 8mm barrel with blade front sight and tangent rear. Correct in-the-white receiver and bolt featuring a shrouded firing pin. Importantly, this rifle retains its original, seldom seen blued sliding dust cover which runs along rails in the receiver much in the style of the Japanese Type 38. Classic 2 piece hardwood stock with blued mounts and a flat in-the-white butt plate. Externally visible numbers matching. CONDITION: Very Good. Barrel and mounts retain nearly all of their bright blue with some scattered freckling and light thinning, especially on the bottom metal. Dust cover likewise retains the vast majority of its arsenal blue with some minor losses and freckling. Receiver and bolt remain largely bright. Stock shows various dings, nicks with a few larger gouges, rating somewhat less than metal finish. Butt plate has developed a brown patina with some oxidation at the heel. Fine bright bore. Crisp mechanics. A nice example of a very scarce, seldom seen interwar rifle with even rarer dust cover.
Caliber/Bore
8x57mm Mauser
Manufacturer
Mudken Arsenal