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Hey guys. I'm in Oroville, CA this week due to the unexpected passing of my father-in-law. He was 91 and a great man. Anyway, on the main drag, right next to the world HQ for RCBS reloading equipment, is a good sized sporting goods store called Huntingtons. I stopped briefly to check their old military rifles. They usually have a few, and some vintage sporting rifles. They also have a museum the size of a large living room with cases full of valuable antique firearms that are NFS, as well as African safari trophies and so forth. So the next time you're on your way for your personal pilgrimage to Sierra Nevada's brewery in Chico, you really need to stop in at Huntington's.
This has been a paid announcement, we now return to our regularly scheduled programming. Anyway, they only had one milsurp today. Tragically, it had been sporterized. Probably sometime in the 1950's or 60's, by the general look and lack of scope mounting.
I advise you to please get out some kleenex before you read any further. The rifle is a 1934 Banner Mauser. The external contour of the original barrel had been turned down in a lathe to an even tapered contour. Sporter front and rear sights installed. A bead front and a buckhorn rear. (What did Bubba think he had? A '92 Winchester in 44-40?) The action was not drilled or tapped. The bolt appeared to have the original bend, and was in the white. The original stock, barrel bands, and bayonet mount were gone; replaced with a walnut sporter stock. All the metal was highly polished and blued, but the original markings appeared intact. Now get your kleenex, the serial numbers on the receiver, mag/triggerguard, bolt, mag cover plate, bolt release lever, and even the action screws MATCHED! (The barrel serial numbers got machined off in recontouring.)
I've never even seen a Banner Mauser in person (hence the value of reading!!). And to find a matching one! Sportered! The agony! The only satisfaction was pointing it out to the young guy offering me help. The price was $495, and I told him in original condition the rifle would be worth two to three times that. If one of you guys feels like a drive to Nor Cal, it's all yours. Then go sample one of the fine small batches from Sierra Nevada. You'll need it.
This has been a paid announcement, we now return to our regularly scheduled programming. Anyway, they only had one milsurp today. Tragically, it had been sporterized. Probably sometime in the 1950's or 60's, by the general look and lack of scope mounting.
I advise you to please get out some kleenex before you read any further. The rifle is a 1934 Banner Mauser. The external contour of the original barrel had been turned down in a lathe to an even tapered contour. Sporter front and rear sights installed. A bead front and a buckhorn rear. (What did Bubba think he had? A '92 Winchester in 44-40?) The action was not drilled or tapped. The bolt appeared to have the original bend, and was in the white. The original stock, barrel bands, and bayonet mount were gone; replaced with a walnut sporter stock. All the metal was highly polished and blued, but the original markings appeared intact. Now get your kleenex, the serial numbers on the receiver, mag/triggerguard, bolt, mag cover plate, bolt release lever, and even the action screws MATCHED! (The barrel serial numbers got machined off in recontouring.)
I've never even seen a Banner Mauser in person (hence the value of reading!!). And to find a matching one! Sportered! The agony! The only satisfaction was pointing it out to the young guy offering me help. The price was $495, and I told him in original condition the rifle would be worth two to three times that. If one of you guys feels like a drive to Nor Cal, it's all yours. Then go sample one of the fine small batches from Sierra Nevada. You'll need it.
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