Obendorf Mauser (220 Swift)

BRAYL68

October 25, 2002 11:27

Can anyone help me out on this gun I have in my collection. I was told it was a pre-war commercial Obendorf Mauser in 220 Swift. It has a beautiful blonde walnut stock with schnabel forend, no dings, dents or scratches, in 99%+ condition, i was told it could be worth a couple of tousand dollars, but have an offer for $575 for it. I dont plan on playing with it anyway so i might just let this guy buy it as he loves Mausers

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  mark christian

  October 25, 2002 12:41

  BRAYL68, here is the problem: The .220 Swift was not introduced until
  around 1936. By that time Mauser was fully commited to tne manufacture of military arms and the sporting rifle end of the business was in steady decline. Exports of nearly all sporters to America ended in late 1939 due to the beginning of WWII. Your rifle would have had a mere three years to make it into this country and a .220 Swift chambering would only be sold in America as its market in Europe would be non existant- sort of like trying to sell one of the Type A or B Mauser's chambered for the 6.5X58 Portuguese here in the States.
  
  The vast majority of Mauser sporters were chambered for metric or British cartridges. The pre-war importer for Mauser sporting rifles was Stoeger Co.. I have a copy of there 1939 price list for rifles and actions. There are 20 chamberings and the .220 Swift is not among them. Prices by the way ranged from $70 to $110- princely sums in those days. The only American chamberings were for the .30-06 and the old .250 Savage. I also have a copy of a Mauser pre-war caliber list. There are 28 chamberings available- not all available in every model, and the .220 Swift is not there either.
  
  Your post provides ZERO information as to markings, serial number, or other details that could be used to even identify the model of the rifle. There were less than a dozen models of pre-war sporters and many of these were carbines. An original pre-war MAuser Sporting rifle in the condition you describe would be worth thousands of dollars. A re-chambered military Mauser converted to a sporting rifle would be worth a much less. Its value is strictly as a shooter and not as a collectable. A photo showing details of the action is always very helpful, although I doubt it is a pre-war Mauser sporting rifle.
  
  
  
  Mark T. Christian

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