Help with information - Waffenfabrik mauser A-G Oberndorf a/n 1910.” Model B commercial sporting rifle

[Eastcoastboy]

Hello,

I am helping a close family friend sell a firearm that was a prized possession of her husband that was handed down to him by his father. It is a “Waffenfabrik mauser A-G Oberndorf a/n 1910.” Model B commercial sporting rifle. All serial numbers match. The rear sight was milled off, but a Lyman #35 was an ordered option. I was told the rifle was original and unaltered but where the rear barrel sight was milled is unknown.

I had it to a local gunsmith and he stated that it was chambered in 8m Mauser. He also stated the stock was unoriginal and had been sanded down. He thought someone had converted it into a sporter. There are so many variations of these rifles that it is hard to know without extensive research.

I have gone to the Mauser forums and I believe I have confirmed it is in fact a Model B comercial Mauser. Attached you will find pictures of the rifle and a picture of a Model B for comparison. I am requesting your assistance in what the current market value is of this gun. If this is not the appropriate section of the forums for this post, let me know. Thank you.

 

[Eastcoastboy]

More pictures

 

[scotteboy]

I believe you can look up the serial number to confirm what it is. Not positive but worth a try.
You could contact Mauser directly too.
Good luck.

 

[Dosing]

Try the hunting gun forum

 

[mark k]

Yes, it is a Mauser B sporter. The stock looks like it was thinned down in the front. The butt plate is original Mauser and made from horn. Price is strongly connected to condition. I’d call it Good condition, but being altered, I’d put it in the $900-1200 range. The sight would likely attract someone on its own.

 

[SaddleTramp]

It was a military issue at one time and made into a sporter. The slot on the back rear of the receiver for inserting stripper clips and the thumb notch on the left side of the receiver are military. Sporters made by mauser didn't have these.

 

[Dosing]

It was a military issue at one time and made into a sporter. The slot on the back rear of the receiver for inserting stripper clips and the thumb notch on the left side of the receiver are military. Sporters made by mauser didn't have these.

Actually they did, common early sporter features.

 

[Eastcoastboy]

If you look at this example of a “Type B” sporter, you can see the front of the stock was not altered. There were several types of stocks offered. A gun smith I took it to tried to tell me that because of the cheek rest it was aftermarket. This example shows the exact same stock. The Lyman sight was offered as an upgrade option from Mauser. I have been told by a Mauser enthusiast in the last week that the only alteration appears to be the rear sight milled off the barrel. The stock was also sanded and refinished. He said some collectors wouldn’t care about this. What would your opinion be on the value of the rifle on the Canadian market? I was told in the US it would be worth approximately $1500 USD ($2000 Canadian) maybe more at the right auction

 

[Eastcoastboy]

Forgot pictures

 

[babine_lake]

Sure looks like an original Type B. The floor plate is the military push button release kind, rather than the under lever or type with the release in the trigger bow, but I believe some of the early Type Bs had that. That would be a big draw back for me as a buyer. The Lyman 35 is a great feature though. They are worth a few hundred alone. The condition is not great. I tend to agree with the above post, probably $800-$1200 ish. There is an “Oberndorf Mauser” thread on the Hunting and Sporting Arms forum where some of the Oberndorf collector guys could weigh in. Try posting there. Who knows, maybe it is some rare and highly desirable configuration that the real Obie snobs would all want.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

was told in the US it would be worth approximately $1500 USD ($2000 Canadian) maybe more at the right auction

US prices have no connection to CDN prices. Totally different market.

 

[Eastcoastboy]

Sure looks like an original Type B. The floor plate is the military push button release kind, rather than the under lever or type with the release in the trigger bow, but I believe some of the early Type Bs had that. That would be a big draw back for me as a buyer. The Lyman 35 is a great feature though. They are worth a few hundred alone. The condition is not great. I tend to agree with the above post, probably $800-$1200 ish. There is an “Oberndorf Mauser” thread on the Hunting and Sporting Arms forum where some of the Oberndorf collector guys could weigh in. Try posting there. Who knows, maybe it is some rare and highly desirable configuration that the real Obie snobs would all want.

Do you mean the forum on CGN?

 

[babine_lake]

Yes. https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/oberndorf-mauser.1473833/page-8#post-21237436

 

[DGY]

Nice one, the wood has definitely been played with at the forehand, the is some deep pitting just in front of the forehand, the rest seems in decent shape, bluing is thin or none existant.

 

[9.3mauser]

It's an early commercial sporter. The serial number should be stamped on the stock somewhere, probably in the barrel channel. Small parts will have the last two digits stamped. It would be a tough sell at $2000 in this country. 1500 might be realistic. Bore diameter might be .318" rather than .323". Have the bore slugged before putting rounds through it.

 

[cam1936]

It was a military issue at one time and made into a sporter. The slot on the back rear of the receiver for inserting stripper clips and the thumb notch on the left side of the receiver are military. Sporters made by mauser didn't have these.

This is a common misconception.

 

[babine_lake]

Nice one, the wood has definitely been played with at the forehand, the is some deep pitting just in front of the forehand, the rest seems in decent shape, bluing is thin or none existant.

Regarding the forend of the stock, altered or not, I am thinking it is original, if you are referring to the thin tapered tip as opposed to the usual schnabel tip. Maybe you are talking about something entirely different which I have missed. The pictures posted in post #9 of a Type B from Dorleac do not support this theory of mine, as that one clearly has the schnabel. The photo in post #15 however looks just like the rifle in question. I have seen several early Type B Oberndorfs with the type of forend the OP’s rifle has. Granted I have no way of knowing if the examples I have seen were some sort of common alteration but it seems unlikely as some were excellent condition, otherwise unaltered with the exact same profile. This is an interesting rifle as it is in rough enough shape to kind of wreck the collector value, especially with the milled off rear sight, but is still pretty original with the great peep sight. Would likely be a wonderful, nostalgic and usable hunting rifle.

 

[DGY]

Regarding the forend of the stock, altered or not, I am thinking it is original, if you are referring to the thin tapered tip as opposed to the usual schnabel tip. Maybe you are talking about something entirely different which I have missed. The pictures posted in post #9 of a Type B from Dorleac do not support this theory of mine, as that one clearly has the schnabel. The photo in post #15 however looks just like the rifle in question. I have seen several early Type B Oberndorfs with the type of forend the OP’s rifle has. Granted I have no way of knowing if the examples I have seen were some sort of common alteration but it seems unlikely as some were excellent condition, otherwise unaltered with the exact same profile. This is an interesting rifle as it is in rough enough shape to kind of wreck the collector value, especially with the milled off rear sight, but is still pretty original with the great peep sight. Would likely be a wonderful, nostalgic and usable hunting rifle.

You are probably right. Either way it would be a great user for sure.

 

[dgradinaru]

I'd lean to say the rear sight being milled off was not done at factory, doesn't match the finish. The crown also looks off to me. I've seen better examples than this sell for 1500 so value would probably be 850-1000 and even then I'd say a hard sell unless someone wanted that rear sight.

 

[DGY]

I'd lean to say the rear sight being milled off was not done at factory, doesn't match the finish. The crown also looks off to me. I've seen better examples than this sell for 1500 so value would probably be 850-1000 and even then I'd say a hard sell unless someone wanted that rear sight.

I looked at that crown a few times and I don’t think it is factory, look like some one cut the barrel down and didn’t bother with recrowning it.