The other day I was cleaning out a closet and ran across something I'd forgotten I have. It is a rather rough "cock on close" Mauser barreled action, sans floorplate, magazine, and trigger guard. The only thing I have is the barreled action and bolt.

The barrel is about 24 inches long, and is stepped down in the old military style. The bolt handle has been modified to accommodate a scope, and the knob itself is only half round (flat on the bottom). The serial number on both the barrel and action is four digits. The only other stamping is along the left side of the action, "Deutsch Waffen und MunitionsFabriken" and under that it is stamped "Berlin". I have no idea what caliber it might be, but my guess is 7x57.

My uncle, who was an amateur gunsmith and spinner of yarns extraordinaire, gave it to me in about 1973 or 1974, along with a stock that had been roughed out but not completed. He had done a few 8x57 M98s before, but never got around to finishing this one.

Any idea what I have and/or when it might have been manufactured?

Thanks.

Last edited by RevMike; 10/30/14.
"An archer sees how far he can be from a target and still hit it, a bowhunter sees how close he can get before he shoots." It is certainly easy to use that same line of thinking with firearms. -- Unknown