Custom 1888 commission Mauser

[David LaPell]

At my local gunshop is a very highly customized and well done 1888 Commission Mauser. I hate to say sporterized, because there isn't much left of the original gun but the action. This gun has a now part octagon barrel, which has an express dual leaf rear sight on it, as well as some very early spots for detachable scope mounts. The top of the barrel has a flat that is very well stipled from the breech all the way to the custom front sight. The receiver is completely stipled except for the area around the proofmarks "2,75 GBP" and about halfway down the barrel in between the stipling there is the owner's name. The barrel is marked "Herstal" so I assume it was done or at least the barrel was made in Belgium. The gun has double set triggers that work very well. Every bolt & screw head is engraved, very nicely. The bolt handle has a well done butterknife style handle and the stock that's on it is checkered and is about carbine length. I would say the gun overall can't weigh 7 pounds at most. The gun shop thinks it is still in 7.92 Mauser but they won't know for sure until the barrel is slugged, also whether it's .318" or .323" bullet diameter as the top of the receiver is stipled, so if it was stamped, that's long gun.
Overall the gun is absolutely gorgeous, it has a little wear on the stock but the bluing has turned to a nice brownish patina, the bore is excellent, but I know almost nothing about the value of guns like this. To make a gun like this now would cost as much as a used car I would have to imagine. So I have two questions, one, would this gun be worth $1,500 and are there reloading dies out there that if need be, would allow to reload 8mm Mauser, if that is the caliber, with the smaller .318" bullets?

[RustyReel]

I love guns like this, but I don't think I'd pay $1500 for one. Just me. Since you are on a cast boolit site you won't be loading .318 boolits no matter what the bore actually turns out to be. Gotta see a pic or two of this one.

[David LaPell]

I love guns like this, but I don't think I'd pay $1500 for one. Just me. Since you are on a cast boolit site you won't be loading .318 boolits no matter what the bore actually turns out to be. Gotta see a pic or two of this one.

I've done some more digging on the gun, and it turns out it was made by German gunmaker Eduard Kettner, which was a pretty high end maker back from the late 1890's up until World War II. I've looked up several online, most are fairly expensive, but I want to know more about the gun before I decide if I want to pay that type of price.

[sharps4590]

Is Kettner the name on the rib? Oh, that's what that flat part on top of the barrel is called. If so, it's just as likely he was only the retailer and the rifle was made in Suhl "for the trade". What many mistakenly call a "guild gun". The proof marks on the bottom of the barrel, in front of the receiver will also tell much about the rifle. The bases are more than likely claw mounts. Newly made rings are expensive, $750.00 +. German set triggers are exquisite, wait till you try a 4 lever set trigger on a Schuetzen rifle. 2,75 GBP is the powder and charge weight the rifle was proofed with. I suspect it's pre 1913-14.

Without seeing the rifle, in hand, it's impossible to say it's worth $1500. However, it's rare you will find one in very good condition for less. It is probably .318 groove diameter which presents no difficulties. CH-4D has dies and in reality, all it requires is the proper size expanding button. The dies will be the same. If need be one can turn down a .323 button. Hawk has .318 jacketed bullets...or at least they usually do. Without looking who can say in this climate. My .318, 8 x 57 likes the Accurate 205-33 bullet and about any 8mm cast bullet from 150 grs. up should work well. .323 jacketed bullets CAN be swaged down to .318 and I have a die to do so for the aforementioned 8 X 57 and my Vierordt double in 8 X 65R..

What you described is a typical German sporting rifle from about 1895 up to WWII. Does the one you're talking about resemble the bottom rifle in the top picture in post #19 in this recent thread? If so, $1500 is about what it would take to buy mine. I wouldn't consider much, if any less. That rifle is in 9 X 57. $1500 wouldn't touch the other rifle in the picture.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...r-marked-7-7mm