Johann Peterlongo Mauser

red_dodge

red_dodge

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Hi all,

A buddy of mine brought a really ornate old hunting rifle to me yesterday that came from someone's estate. After doing a lot of research I've determined that it's a Johann Peterlongo mauser sporter. It has a flat top barrel that is actually a hex where it meets the reciever. Also some really beautiful engraving on the whole rifle. I have no idea what caliber it is or what the value could be. Does anyone know anything about these? I'll post some pictures shortly.

Thanks,
Pat
 
I can tell you that it's built on a pre-war commercial sporter Mauser action. I've heard the name Peterlongo before, but I don't know much about them. It's a typical Germanic style sporter from before the war. I would say the stock has been refinished at some point in it's life. The peep sight is a bit of a rarity as well. I believe it's a Lyman, but I would have to look up the model number.

The barrel would have been an expensive option even back in the day. Half round/half octagon, with a full length integral rib. Taking a closer look at the photos, there seems to be a gold ring inlaid into the barrel just forward of the receiver? One of the set triggers looks to be missing, that hurts a bit, and the original rear sight is missing as well.

Hard to peg a value on it. Even if you threw everything else away, the action alone is worth money. Take it to a smith and get him to do a chamber cast to find out the caliber.
 
There is no question that this rifle by this maker is uncommon to say the least on our side of the Atlantic and if it is chambered for one of the proprietary 8X71 or 9X71 cartridges Peterlongo developed I would venture to say that would put it into the rare category for sure.
I first heard about Johann Peterlongo from back in the days when I was starting out as a cartridge collector in the mid-70's and from what I gathered he was known for quality work out of his Austrian gunshop and the example you have certainly shows a rifle of high quality. In either proprietary chamberings ammunition would be very difficult to obtain but it may also be chambered in a more common number as well.
Perhaps you may be able to get some more information from another forum such as Gunboards to help with further identification and valuation.
 
Very similar to a rifle I picked up, although in much better condition. I was told by some of the Mauser guys here that mine is what's referred to as a Guild gun.
From the pics, yours appears to be missing a sight on the barrel, most likely an Express sight of some sort.
 
This is some pretty interesting stuff. I'm going to probably bring it to a gunsmith and figure out the caliber. Fingers crossed that it's not a Peterlongo caliber because I don't see those coming into my hands any time soon. The detail on the engravings and the lymen sight really grab me. My friend isn't really interested in it..would $300 be too much, just right or am I stealing the thing?
 
red_dodge said:
This is some pretty interesting stuff. I'm going to probably bring it to a gunsmith and figure out the caliber. Fingers crossed that it's not a Peterlongo caliber because I don't see those coming into my hands any time soon. The detail on the engravings and the lymen sight really grab me. My friend isn't really interested in it..would $300 be too much, just right or am I stealing the thing?
Click to expand...

In my humble opinion, if you paid 300.00 for this rifle it would be a steal, in just about any condition and chambering it is an uncommon, desirable rifle for anyone who appreciates older European quality. Again, my opinion only.
 
Thanks for the help, I think it's a more than fair price as well.

As a side now that I'm the owner of the rifle I have taken it apart and found that there is a stamp under the barrel that says 6.4 mm. That might help narrow the caliber. Also there is an original pop up peep sight located in the tang of the rifle. I didn't realize this until I started taking it apart. I updated the photos to reflect this.
 
Going to be interesting to see what the actual chambering is for this rifle, please keep us posted after your smith checks it over. It could very well turn out to be another of his obscure creations. Congrats on a truly uncommon rifle.
 
The proof marks in your last photo of the bottom of the barrel look like German marks, not Austrian. The stag horn closest to the muzzle is from the Ulm proof house. I would expect that if it was made by Peterlongo it would have Austrian proof marks. Unless there are markings or engraving naming Peterlongo or another maker it looks more like a guild gun to me, but I'm not an expert by any means.
 
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