Old Custom Varmit Rifle info. needed

[Chubbo]

I just refinished the stock on this old custom varmint rifle for a friend. I found under some gummy dark varnish stain, some unusual Maple. It is a combination of birdseye, and curly maple. The action is 98 Mauser, the barrel is a tapered bull in 270. The owner said that his grandfather had it and it was built in the late thirtys, or, the early fourties. There is an old Lyman V5 target scope on it, and the bbl. is Marked ALAMO GUYSs. We would like to find out if that scope was of the era of this rifle, and if anyone has heard of that bbl. maker. I am going to try and post a picture of this gun. Sorry about the quality of this picture as it dosn't show the stripes, and birdseyes in the stock.
Thanks.
Chubbo

 

[rcmodel]

and it was built in the late thirtys, or, the early fourties.

That seems somewhat unlikely.

That style of roll-over comb stock didn't really become common until the 1950's & 60's after Roy Weatherby populized it after WWII. (And also fancy Maple stocks)

Same with sporterized 98 Mausers.
Returning GI's brought home about a gazillion of them after WWII and building rifles like that became a cottage industry.

I think the scope is likely from the 30's, but I think the rifle was built in the 50's or 60's.

rc

 

[Chubbo]

Thanks for the come back. What kind of scope would have been used in that era? As the rifle is only drilled and tapped on the bbl. and has target style bases mounted on it, it would have been some kind of target style scope with the adjustments in the rings I would guess. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Chubbo

 

[rcmodel]

Lyman Super Target-Spot, or Unertl target scopes.
There was nothing much else used for target shooting until the Redfield 3200 came out in the late 60's..

http://secure.armorholdings.com/kleen-bore/product384.html

BTW: I could be wrong on dating the rifle too. Given the target scope blocks and Hand-stop sling swivel, it was apparently built by or for a long range target shooter.

May be some old 19th. century German Schutzen rifle influence in that roll-over cheek-piece?

rc

 

[LeonCarr]

Beautiful piece of wood.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a 1949 book showing a very similar roll-over cheekpiece stock on a benchrest rifle with target scope. Made by Pfeifer when they still thought a bench gun should look like a rifle instead of a barrel on a timber.

In those days not long after the war, you might have to use an older scope than what you would really like to have.

.270 caliber? Maybe a target shooter's antelope rifle. Familiar scope and sling, just a hunting caliber.

 

[Chubbo]

Thanks

Thanks, All:
Thanks for all the info. Your Info. on this rifle goes along with my ideas on it.
I am an old poop of 79 and grew up during that era, but, my referance books are in Ohio, I am in Florida, and my memory is gone, I don't know where.
My sugestion to the owner was to have the Lyman V5 scope rebuilt, and put it back on this rifle. I had the address of a man in Ohio that specialised in rebuilding old target scopes, but, it is somewhere in my gun stuff back in Ohio.
I built a sporter rifle from a Swedish Mauser, back in the 50s, and in a moment of madness a few years ago, changed the sights to forward mount, and made it into a scout type rifle. Here is a pic.
Chubbo

 

[Jim Watson]

Might have him check with Parsons:
http://www.parsonsscopeservice.com/home.html

 

[4v50 Gary]

That scope reminds me of the old Winchester A-5 scope. It was used by the USMC on some of their WW I sniper rifles.

Note the extra sling swivel on the front? Isn't that a target type set-up too?

 

[Chubbo]

Scope

Hi, All:
I appreciate all the info. I only wish I could give you guys a picture that showed the real color, and figure of the wood of this rifle, but my photography skills lack a lot. About the estimated time of building this rifle, I went by the recollections of my friend the owner. I don't suppose that it could be a ww1 Mauser? more probably you folks were right about the dates. The Scope is an A5 Lyman which was probably made for Winchester like Gary Mentioned were used on the Marine Sniper rifles in ww1. I wonder if this scope originally had a recoil spring? I have an old Lyman Super Target scope, and it has one. I have told my friend that if I were him, I would send the scope to Parson for a rebuild, and reblue, but, I don't know what he will do. Here is another pic. to try to show the figure of the wood.
Thanks.
Chubbo

 

[Keb]

If you take the photo outside in filtered sunlight (clouds), the shutter speed and depth of field will eliminate the fuzzy photo problem.

 

[rcmodel]

Should be able to tell how old the action is by any markings on the top of the front receiver ring and left side receiver rail.

You are fortunate there in that it is not covered up by a scope mount like most Mauser sporters.

Post what you got and somebody with some Mauser knowledge can date it to WWI or WWII.

rc

 

[Chubbo]

Mauser

I took your sugestion and got in touch with Gil Parsons, and he said that the A5 Lyman was a copy of the Winchester A5 scope. He said that the scope was of the correct time era of the gun. He said that it was unfortunate that the rear mounting block was to far forward on the bbl. and would keep the eye relief to far forward and out of adjustment, and that a longer scope should be used to get it further to the rear to give the correct eye relief.
I also looked at the markings on the reciever, so as to determin the age of the Mauser action. Some of the stampings on the right side of the reciever were polished down and I cant make all of them out but there are three marks in a line and the first is a 26, the other two I can't make out. The Mag body/Trigger guard, Bolt handle, and left side of the reciever are marked with the ser.#3616, and under the ser.# a small d, and also on the left side there is what looks like an eagle with a round circle under the body, and Mod. 98. The top of the reciever is marked ar, and 41. The Bolt release is marked 29, the Safety leaver 44, and the removeable Magazine plate is marked 529.
I hope this will help someone to determine if this of ww1, or ww2 vintage.

 

[rcmodel]

ar is the German ordinance code used during WWII for the Mauser-Werke factory in Berlin.

I'd say then, the ar 41 code on the front receiver ring means it was made by Mauser in 1941.

All the other mis-matched numbers means at some point, it was put together out of a collection of parts from other sources.
Not uncommon with GI souvenirs picked up after the war, and post-war imports.

At least the receiver, bolt, and trigger guard match, which is the really importent thing.

BTW: Standard scope block spacing for the Unertl & Lyman target scopes is 7.2" inch.
That gives 1/4 minute clicks with the external ring adjustments.

rc

 

[Chubbo]

Scope

I have been searching the internet for sources for older target style scopes that would be appropriate for this rifle, but no success yet. Anyone know of a good source?
Thanks.
Chubbo

 

[rcmodel]

This guy usually has some interesting stuff for sale.

http://unertl.alexweb.net/for_sale.htm

He might even do some trading for your old Lyman V5 if you contact him.

rc

 

[Mp7]

like it alot.