What do I have, and What is a fair value?

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I have an 8 mm MAUSER rifle, with the STANDARD MODELL inscription. The serial number is B66693, and all the numbers match on the barrel, receiver, bolt, thumb safety and the bottom of the magazine area. (Is that what it’s called?) The bolt handle is bent, the barrel is 23.5” long, there is an A inside a small circle stamped on the top forward part of the bolt. The rear sight is marked “Marble’s, Gladstone, MICH. USA”
I have a box of ammo that is marked “W8MMI”. What does that mean?

I have lot's more pictures, how do i post them?
 

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OK, here are a few more pictures of the Mauser.
 

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And a few more pictures..........
 

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A fairly rare and quite valuable 1930s commercial predecessor to the Kar98K Mauser of WW2 fame. The Mauser Standardmodell was a "commercial and sporting" rifle produced for export, for "sport" and as an excuse to start producing military rifles in interwar Germany. Many were sold to China, many were sold domestically in Germany, and they are a highly prized collectable Mauser in the US. Value should range between $800 and $2,000 US if the bore is in decent condition, though the replacement of the rear sight with a Marbles hurts value slightly.

The ammunition is actually marked quite clearly 8mm Mauser on the box, and before anybody confuses you, this should be a standard commercially available 8mm Mauser, not any of the wildcats or obsolete European loadings.

Though, for sake of safety, it would not be inadvisable to carefully check the depth of the chamber- some of these rifles were modified to use the "8mm-06" cartridge derived from a US .30-06 casing loaded with an 8mm bullet, as .30-06 ammunition was cheap to purchase in the 1950s and easily fitted with a new 8mm bullet to use the rifling of a converted Mauser. A converted rifle will have a 63mm deep chamber and swallow a .30-06 completely, an unconverted 57mm chamber will only take 3/4 or so of a .30-06 casing.

Congratulations, it's an enviably cherry example of an uncommon rifle.

Also, it's generally referred to as the Magazine Floorplate or triggerguard assembly.
 
A handsome rifle.
The Marble's sights - I think the front is a Marble's bead as well - considerably reduce the collector interest.
You could probably find proper Mauser sights for it.
 
The rifle also has a bolt handle bent down and swept back for use with a scope and the stock cut out to accept it. It looks like some American started to "sporterize" the rifle and stopped part way through. The altered bolt and stock, plus the American sight, reduce the value enough that I am not sure I want to make a guess.

The circle A has been seen on other Standard Modelle; no one seems sure of its meaning.

Jim
 
Nice example not often found in that shape.

Front sight and the rear leaf with the spring and pin are available on GB if you desire.
If you do get the sights, be sure to get an earlier rear sight with both the top and bottom of the sight marked.
The triggerguard lock screws can be had as well and polished before blueing to match.

The bolt is what it is. Like JK mentioned, it makes for a tougher call on value that might only be answered with an auction.
Your excellent photos of that really clean rifle should help with a possible sale.
I'll stick my neck out by venturing that I believe it would move for 500 or more.

Most Standard Modells were made in 8mm. If it was a 7mm or 7.65 Arg., the cartridges you have would not chamber. Either of the latter chamberings would dramatically boost the value.

I believe the ammo and box is collectible as well. You will find the earlier 200gr. boxes, but that later Winchester pattern of box was used for a short time before the 200gr. offering was dropped and is not often seen today.

JT
 
Wow, thank you for the replies.
I would be interested in replacing the sights. What is GB? And how would I further describe what the top and bottom of the sight are marked with?

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to how much I might be able to increase the sales price by if I put on the correct sights?

And who knew that old ammo boxes were collectible too. now you're going to make me dig into the back of Dad's old closet! :)
The final question of today is, how do I go about setting up an auction for this rifle? Is that done on this site? I do intend to sell it, so any help with that is appreciated.
 
GB is Gun Broker (gunbroker.com). That is where you could set up an auction or get a handle on a fair market price. No auctions allowed here, you have to name a price.
 
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