RARE Griffin & Howe Mauser Standard 7mm Mauser Bolt Action Rifle, Custom Stock, Sights, Engraving From Author Michael Petrov Collection, C&R

SOLD FOR: $3,964
LSB#: 141127AA03
Make: Griffin & Howe
Model: Mauser Standard
Serial Number: 212299
Year of Manufacture: 1923-1942 (pages 28 &29 of Michael Petrov’s book, “Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century”)
Caliber: 7mm Mauser
Action Type: Bolt Action with Internal Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “No 251 GRIFFIN & HOWE, INC. / NEW YORK”. The left side of the barrel shank is marked “7 M/M” and with decorative hand engraving where the barrel shank meets the receiver. The top of the receiver has hand engraving between decorative borders. The rear sights and the top of the rear sight base all have matching engraving applied to them. The rear sights each have a small oval on them to express distance; these have been left blank. The ramp of the front sight is engraved to match the receiver and rear sights. The barrel is engraved around the border of the front sight base. The bottom metal (including screws) has decorative engraving covering the metal surfaces. The floor plate is the main focus of the bottom metal. It is engraved with a “wetland scene” that includes a “fox chasing a duck”. The buttplate, its screws and its hinged storage door are all hand engraved. The screw that secures the grip base is engraved to match the buttplate screws. The bolt handle top is checkered within a teardrop shape. The bottom of the bolt handle is flattened and checkered. The face of the trigger has been finely checkered. The rear of the safety is marked “BUEHLER”.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 ½”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade set atop a ramped base. The rear sight base holds three folding “U” notched blades that flip up into place. The rear of the bolt has a fully adjustable, flip-up, aperture (peep hole) sight attached to it. Both adjustment knobs turn. The bottom knob is marked “0 2 4 6” and the side knob is marked “0 2 4 6 8”. The top of the sight is marked with a “0” and with hash marks. The left side of the receiver has a scope base attached to it. The mounting points can be (faintly) seen by looking at the inner left portion of the receiver. The top of this receiver has a rail milled on both sides at the top and is used with a Griffin & Howe single lever compression mount.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The walnut stock has a pistol grip, buffalo horn grip base, fleur-de-lis checkering on the grip & forearm, raised cheek piece, two European style sling swivels, a cutout for the bolt handle, prominent comb flutes, a Schnabel tipped forearm and an engraved metal buttplate with hinged door for storage. The top of the grip, at the receiver, shows a thin crack that appears to have been filled and/or repaired. The pistol grip base shows small surface cracks. A tiny amount of the checkering has chipped off. There are light handling and compression marks on the remainder of the wood. The LOP measures 14 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The top of the scope base is scraped and shows thinning from mounting a scope. The bolt shows thinning from cycling. . The screw heads are intact. The markings are beautiful. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle.
Box, Paperwork& Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This gorgeous rifle comes from the Michael Petrov Collection. See http://finegunmaking.com/page33/page25/page25.html for some history on Mr. Petrov. It is a rare Griffin & Howe, Mauser Standard (there is also a Mauser Magnum) in 7mm Mauser. It has immaculate hand engraving, a beautiful finish, a classical custom stock, great sights and lots of fine history. It is rare that we see a Griffin & Howe rifle come into our shop as they are prized by collectors. This rifle will add to any collection of finely made rifles. The following is from page 30 of Michael Petrov’s book, “Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century”: “I believe that Griffin & Howe Rifles will in the future as in the past be the standard all custom rifles are judged by.” The book is for sale at http://www.amazon.com/Custom-Gunmakers-Century-Michael-Petrov/dp/1931220212/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424365374&sr=8-1&keywords=michael+petrov. For more on Griffin & Howe rifles see pages 745 to 747 of Fjestad’s “The Blue Book of Gun Values” 26th Edition.