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Winning Bid US $2059 First bid $500 Quantity 1 # of bids 17 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-05-07 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Ludwig Loewe & Co., Model: 1896 Mauser Carbine Boer Contract, Cal: 7x57mm Mauser, MFG: 1896, S/N: 3549, Bolt action rifle, 18 '' barrel.

HISTORY: This Mauser was part of the first contract of 25,000 rifle the ZAR ordered from Ludwig Loewe. It was ordered on June 2nd, 1896 & consisted of 20,000 standard long rifles & 5,000 carbines. These are the some of the very last Mausers marked Ludwig Loewe as they would merge with Deutsche Metallparonenfabrik to create Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), in late 1896. This rifle, like many other Boer Mausers, was personalized by its owner with the battles the soldier fought in being carved into the stock. This is seen on Boer rifles more frequently than other nations because the Boers owned their service weapon & not the government. The ZAR government would buy batches of rifles (practically all Mausers) & would sell them to the soldiers. This made the solider get familiarized with that exact rifle learn how it shoots, figure out all it quirks since they would do all their hunting & shooting competitions with that rifle. This is in contrast to standard military practice where its just a rifle out of the rack that the soldier only practices with on the range. This would prove devastating to the British with the smaller force of Boers putting up fierce resistance will long range accurate fire from their Mausers (even with the British winning the conflict the effect of the Mauser would make the British government look at its design & develop the P14 rifle, which its action is a copy of the Mauser). The carvings in the stocks read ''JOHANSBURG'', ''ELANDS RIVER'', ''PRETORIA'', ''MAFEKING'', ''ZEERUST'', ''LEUWFONTEIN'', ''CYPHERKIEL'' (aka SYFERKUIL), ''BEIRA''. The carvings are all in beautifully etched banners & the work is outstanding to have been done by hand, by a soldier out in the field. There were some carvings on the right cheek of the stock, but they are mostly worn or sanded off. The owner of this rifle fought with General De la Rey during the summer campaign in the western Transvaal which was headed by General Babington from March to May of 1901, as Leuwfontein & Syferkuil are closely linked to the summer campaign. This rifle comes with more information about the rifle, photos, & maps of the area where the battles took place with the actual spots shown & highlighted.

CONDITION: The straight wrist walnut stock is very good with various nicks, dings, scuffs, & scratches. The bottom of the stock, by the front barrel band retention spring, has a few small crack/chip repairs. The left cheek & the top of the comb of the stock is hand carved battle locations the owner of the rifle fought in (locations listed above). The right cheek of the stock was also hand carved but has been mostly worn/scraped away with remains around the edges. The blued metal finish has mostly toned to a brown patina with some spots worn gray. Original blue remains around the stock line & under the wood is beautifully preserved original blue. The Metal finish on the barrel rates 60%, & 5% on the receiver. The left side of the receiver is marked with the S/N, a small German proof, ''MOD. MAUSER 1896.'', ''LUDW. LOEWE & CO. BERLIN''. The rear of the barrel is marked with the S/N & another German proof. All visible parts have matching S/Ns. The bore is fair. Its bright but has consistent roughness/pitting with worn, but still visible rifling. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight with a flip-up ladder, V-notch rear sight marked 4 to 14. The adjustable sight moves without pushing the button. Sight block is still held tight with friction. The stock carries a blued steel buttplate. Buttplate is toning to a brown patina & has roughness/light pitting in spots. The rifle has both right side sling mounts, & the rear loop has a saddle ring on it. Rifle has a cleaning rod. a very interesting & unique Mauser that shows a more personal, artistic side of the soldier that carried it. Antique, No FFL Req - Value: 1000 to 3000

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Price

Ludwig Loewe & Co., Model: 1896 Mauser Carbine Boer Contract, C... Item # 4486 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $2059

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