Please Help 45/70 ?

[rbigdog]

My Dad just recently died and I inherited this rifle. All I know is that he told me it is an antique 45/70 that he just had refinished. It looks like it is in excellent condition. Of course the strap and butt pad are aftermarket. I can't find any readable markings anywhere. The only visible markings are on the top of the bolt slide area and it just looks like 4 swirls.

It does have an internal magazine that it looks like you feed through the top. The bottom plate has a door that comes off with a lever connected to the trigger guard.

Any help on possible make and year would be appreciated. If anyone knows an approximate value, that would help. I'm clueless here.

Thanks

 

[SDC]

It looks to be a sporterized Mauser, but I would definitely want to make sure of the chambering; 45-70 will work through a Mauser action, but it's an odd choice for a modern sporter. You can do a chamber cast yourself, or take it to a gunsmith to have it done (probably $50-75). Value is sort of a tricky thing, and it will depend in part on what it's actually chambered for.

 

[rcmodel]

If it truly is a 45-70, it is probably a Siamese Mauser conversion.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/siammauser/index.asp

They were originally chambered for a rimmed cartridge (8x52R Siamese) you could no longer get, sold very cheaply for the action, and lots of them have been converted to 45-70 through the years.

It wouldn't hurt to have it checked over by a gunsmith, but if it has a .45 caliber hole in the end, it is probably a 45-70, and it is probably perfectly safe.


rcmodel

 

[rbigdog]

Thank you

Thanks for the replies. RCModel, that looks like it. The barrel and stock have probably been replaced over the years to accommadate the upgrades they talk about in the article. It does have the markings where they say on the bridge and side for the japanese armory. The sights and stock are a lot different. So it must be from the early 1900's.

Thanks again