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Hello All I need help wth a Antique German Rifle

2K views 21 replies 4 participants last post by  USMC8487 
#1 ·
Hey Ya'll,
I have an Antique here and have done massive research on it. I found some info about it but was wondering if I could pick some brains here. I need help with this. I have attached pictures for you that wish to help. If you help, I will be very grateful!!!
 

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#3 ·
Your rifle is what is normally called a "stalking rifle" or in Germany, a "kiplauf". I apologize that I cannot see the proof marks well enough nor do I know how to enlarge them so that I could tell you more than it has the typical "BUG" proofs and appears to be proofed for Nitro with a steel bullet but I can't see the gram # well enough to tell what weight bullet. If I could see the proofs better I could probably tell you what cartridge it was originally chambered to and when it was proofed. That style of cheek rest is known as "Tyrolean". It has the typical claw type scope mounts...good system if fitted correctly and the originals always were. If you have the rings that's a plus. For some reason that type of rifle doesn't seem to carry similar values as other period German firearms. I know of two for sale right now that could be bought for $1,000.00 or less. If the seller of one was not such a smart aleck I would own it already and the other is for sale by a concern I will not conduct business with. In some of your pictures the stock appears to have been re-varnished and in some it doesn't....I honestly cannot tell. If it has, that will detract some from the value. Can you tell if it has been?

What is it your massive research has turned up?

Along with a couple hundred other rifles I would like to add a good, representative kiplauf to my meager collection....perhaps in time.
 
#4 ·
Hello Sir, Thank you VERY MUCH for all of the GREAT and MUCH APPRECIATED INFO. That was the first sigh of relief as I have been banging my head against the wall trying to figure this out. You know, I really don't understand why people have to be like that. The world has no place for a smart alic and an arrogant mind. As the guy has lost out on your buying, that should teach him a lesson!
Here are the proof marks as they appear and bare with me, The first set are on the side of the rifle, and appear as Crown over N with 06grG.B.P next to it. below it says ST M.G. Second set was located under the hand grip and states right nest to the hand grip screw SS over EM. The Third set is found further down the barrel to where the rifle connects to the stock and reads, Crown over B, next to B is Crown over G, under the Crowned B is Crown over U. Under Crowned B and U is 313. Under 313 is 4.10 and under 4.10 is 975 over 27. I hope this helps.
Nothing on the rifle has been touched other than to be oiled as I am very routine about oiling them.
 
#7 ·
The Crown over N is nitro proof which will put your rifle at least post 1893 but I believe pre-1913. The "06 G.B.P." is the proof charge of " a special military flake powder", (Gewher Blattchenpulver). I don't understand that # as I don't know if it means 0.6 grams or 6 grams...neither of which seem right. 0.6 grams would be 9.24 grains and 6 grams would be about 92 1/2 grains. What would you guess the bore size to be? The "BUG" marks I alluded to are simply different stages of proof. B is proofed in finished condition, U is definitive proof and G is for rifles barrels. St. M.G. means it was proofed with a steel jacketed bullet. The SS and EM probably have something to do with the barrel maker. I suspect the 15759 is the S/N of the maker and the 1223 the ledger # of the proof house....maybe. Those two numbers always confuse me. The good info is in the remainder of the numbers and I'm sorry I cannot decipher them. Prior to the 1912 proof law....but not always....the bore diameter was determined with a mandrel and that # stamped on the barrel. And I do not know what size in caliber or mm the numbers connote. The "313" makes the most sense to me and I suspect the "4,10" is the proof date which would be April of 1910. That date fits with the rest of the marks. The "975 over 27" I don't know and my reference material doesn't tell me. Hopefully other will be able to confirm or correct my information.
 
#13 ·
I have a question...there is, more often than not, a name on the barrel usually about the middle. Often that is the retailer. Is there a name on the top of the barrel? It can make some difference in value.

My opinion as to value is only as compared to other, similar pieces I have seen or tried to purchase and as I mentioned before. There is a few little bells and whistles your rifle doesn't have that individually don't amount to much but collectively will add a couple to a few hundred. Yours, approximately $1,000.00
 
#15 ·
The people you've spoken with are correct. It is not uncommon for an old German firearm not to be identified as I described. More are identified than aren't but it still isn't an unusual thing.
 
#17 ·
No sir, I did not receive your message. Did you send it through the forum here or by e-mail? I appreciate your consideration!!!
 
#19 ·
Instead of me trying to play middle man on the info, here's the links to the two sites I posted on. The GGCA site with Mike Ford's reply is interesting. The 3 guys I named are sharp, sharp, sharp. Axel is in Germany, Mike spent a lot of his Army career there and raimey is just a storehouse of information. Axel and Mike both write for publication. Mike asked if there was any other markings or stamps on the gun...well, you can read his reply. The repair mark Mike mentions should be a crown over R.

http://www.germanguns.com/upload/showthread.php?990-Stalking-rifle&p=3681#post3681

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=376526#Post376526
 
#20 ·
Hey Vic,
I will do so. Keep in touch with me. Once we figure this out, should you still be interested in the rifle, we will talk a deal. I would rather you have first notice of it for sale, due to all of your foot work in helping me with this mess.
 
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