Western Field rifle by Mauser?

[Nathanael_Greene]

I recently saw an older .30-06 bolt-action rifle sold by Montgomery Wards.

It looks like a Mauser, and has "Model 720 A EHM .30-06 Cal. Made in West Germany" on the barrel.

The rifle has a 24" barrel, hinged floorplate, checkered stock that looks like walnut. The rifle's in pretty good shape, but the stock is scratched up and looks like it could use a refinishing.

I've Googled the model number, and haven't had much luck learning about it. Could it be that Montgomery Wards imported Mauser rifles?

It's a right-handed rifle, and I'm left handed, so I'm not terribly interested, but can anybody tell me anything about it? Are they worth anything?

Thanks...

 

[Clemson]

I suspect that the rifle says "EHM 770A." It is a Mauser 3000. That is not the famous Model 98 Mauser, by the way. The 3000 was made in the early 1970's in .243, .270, .308, .30-06, and several magnum calibers.

Clemson

 

[106rr]

Montgomery Ward did indeed import Mausers in the 60s. They were the FN series 200 (I think) they featured a 22" bbl and were cataloged in 30-06, 308, and 243. They had an odd looking rear sight.
The one you have is probably a 3000 as Clemson has pointed out.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Thanks for the replies. This one has really got me curious.

I got another look at the rifle. I'll see if I can get some pictures, but another look definitely reads (verbatim) "Western Field 720 A EHM Made in West Germany."

The scope rings are "Realist"--a search on that found a reference to a Realist scope mount for sale on Ebay that fit "Western Field Model 720," but that's as far as I got.

A real poser...

I'm greatly indebted to anyone who can help. Thanks again.

 

[Jim Watson]

All I could find in old Gun Digests was that the Western Field Model 720 was a Mauser actioned sporter available in .30-06 and .308. Price was $119.95 in 1967, about $30 less than the post-64, pre-68 Winchester Model 70.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Here's a very similar rifle. It's a Sears/JC Higgins, apparently an FN action. I guess that tells me a lot.

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/r2228.htm

From what I read, though, the Sears rifles were assembled in the US on FN actions, but the Western Field rifle is made in Germany. Interesting.