Custom mauser info/value
Picked up a nice custom mauser, and am Trying to decide if I'm going to sell it or keep it. Barrel says L.W Barnard McAlester Oklahoma also on the bottom of stock is a small coin enlayd that says Barnard Custom stocks. it has mauser mod 1907 on it. Its chamberd in 22-250. Has beutiful wood and the bolt is Jewled. Vintage Weaver 2-3/4-5x scope. Has somebody's name very nicely engraved on floor plate.
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A 22-250 has a long period before Remington standardized it, so the chamber could be different. Hot rodded the throat could be gone, I'd want to put it on paper to see how it groups after either a chamber cast or a very mild fire forming load to see what you have.
Nice wood is almost always a plus.0 -
The most common of the Model 1907 Mausers. Imported and sold as surplus, here in the U.S. Are the Brazilian 7mm's. Many thousands, were imported over the years.
As it has been restocked, rebarreled and sportized. It's current resale value would be based on its cosmetics.
Lot of sporterized rifles show up on the GunBroker auction. Go to the completed auctions, to see if you can get a handle on the ones that actually been sold. Try to find one comparable to yours, to give you a ballpark value.0 -
Backwoods7,
Please take this as constructive criticism:
Get rid of the cell phone and work with a camera, even an inexpensive 'point & shoot' will do a better job than what you have posted for us. If you need more light, go outside.
Get rid of the cell phone and use a real keyboard so that all of the words in your listing (should you choose to sell it) will be spelled correctly. Use spell check.
Take photographs of the rifle that tell the story of what it looks like, use the full sides straight on propped up if necessary, details of the complete action, the barrel in relationship to the action, then the bottom of the rifle and details of that awful floor plate. You might also consider showing the proof marks on the bottom of the action.
The only drawback I see in the photos you supplied is that floor plate because it will detract from any sale you might attempt. Folks just don't want someones name engraved badly on their rifle. Get a replacement floor plate and match it to the rifle but supply the original with the sale.
Here are some examples of what you can strive for:
http://www.hallowellco.com/magazine.htm
Click on the photos for the entire selections of pictures of each rifle.
Best.0 -
I agree with what has been said in terms of pictures, test firing for accuracy, and the detriment of a custom name engraved magazine floor plate. I would also add that showing close up pictures of the trigger is a must. There's a difference in value between a stock military trigger, even if polished, and a Timney or other aftermarket.
Sporter Mausers are a hard thing to get a handle on in terms of value. They could be worth anything from 'parts value only' to several thousand dollars, depending on who did what to them.
If I were to rank sporter guns from 1 to 10 on that assumption, I'd put yours right at a 5. Average job, some plusses, some minuses. Nice vintage scope. Good wood. Crappy engraving, unknown round count with a hot round, etc. Decent looking jeweled bolt. But nothing exeptional either.
Value is what someone would pay for it but I know that to me, I wouldn't pay more than $300 or so for it as it sits. Which is the problem with sporters. You buy a $300 gun, put $300 in parts and extra work into it, and have at best... a $300 gun.0 -
Have little to add that hasn't been said, but I'll still give my two cents:
I think its a nice LOOKING gun. But sporterized, as it is, cllectors value is effectively nil. The only value of that gun is as a "shooter".
So, to my mind, the only real question is, are you going to shoot it?
If you are (and to me that implies you also like the trigger and grouping potential of the gun), then keep it. . .you could definitely do worse If you're not going to shoot it, you might as well sell it, keeping the money for something else you will shoot, or that has more appreciation potential.
On pictures, I agree yours could be better. If you want to list the gun for sale, or even just get any kind of ball park appraisal, you'll need to take better ones.
In terms of cell phone vs dedicated camera, yes a good digital SLR camera is the best way to get high quality images, but you certainly don't "need" one just to post good images on the internet.
Camera tech has progressed now to the point where cameras built into cell phones are every bit as good, or better than small digital cameras of only a few years ago. In particular, the built in cameras on current gen Apple I-phone and Droid cameras (both of which I've used many times and are familiar with) use 8+ Mp sensors, have good color balance, and have nice built-in macro lens features, etc.
No matter what camera you use, the most important thing is to make sure that the gun you're taking pictures of is well lighted. That means evenly lighted but with no glare or shadows. Light box is best, if you have one, but you can get away without one, and sunlight can work perfectly well too. Optimally you'll have a tripod or other rest to keep the camera still, and you'll want the picture shot on a featureless neutral background. (IE kitchen table doesn't cut it).
In addition to overall shots of the gun from all angle, you'll also want closeups of any markings on the gun, as well as closeups of any flaws in the finish or stock (as "full disclosure") to possible buyers.0 -
I stuck a little better scope on it to test for groupings, I couldn't shoot as far as I'd of liked to but it did show great accuracy with the 45gr loads I had on hand. I took some more pics, hopefully they will be better. 0 -
My take on a rifle like that is to keep it a year or two and then rethink it. The point is, you cannot build a rifle like that today for what you probably paid for it. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by navc130
My take on a rifle like that is to keep it a year or two and then rethink it. The point is, you cannot build a rifle like that today for what you probably paid for it.
Right about keep it for a year or two then rethink it!
I like to tinker with the custom Mauser 98's, have few that are very accurate that I use for deer/varmit hunting in 243 caliber. You can buy a good gun now days for lots less than it costs to play around building a custom Mauser 98.
Some of the real pretty Custom Mausers are kinda like being married to a real pretty woman that has a headache all time, "All they are good for is too look at".
That is a nice looking Mauser. Seen several custom Mauser 98's from place like Golden State Arms in California. (stampings usually on bottom of barrel and could only be seen after removed from the stock)
I've never heard of that L.W. Barnard from McAlester, Ok? (tried a search also and nothing)0 -
Nononsense, thank you for the site address -
http://www.hallowellco.com/magazine.htm
It's a handy site and the rifles are unbelievable. I've been viewing a number of them and drooling onto my board since you first posted the site here. Thanks again.
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Alan,
Hallowellco has developed a formula for photography which is easy to appreciate. The rifles aren't bad either!
Backwoods,
Yep, you have some improvements in your pictures.
However, the 'glow' around the highlights called halation, is from the oily smear and dirt on the lens of your phone. This is why I suggest using a real camera instead of the phone. Most folks just throw their phone in a pocket and pay no attention to how they grab it, frequently touching the lens and letting the lens get scratched with everything in their pocket.
Keep the rifle, it's a nice vintage example and that doesn't affect the accuracy at all. Enjoy it!
Best.0
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