German H&H Zehner Single Shot Rifle in LH Left Handed Stock & 25 ¾” Barrel MFD 1958, Single Set Trigger, Engraved, C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,733
LSB#:
150710HS09
Make: H & H Zehner, Frankfurt, Germany
Model: Single Shot Rifle
Serial Number: 385
Year of Manufacture: April 1958
Caliber: 6.5X57mm
Action Type: Trigger Guard Activated Falling Block Action Single Shot Rifle
Markings: The underside of the barrel is marked with an “Eagle / N” proof, an Ulm antler proof and “458”. The front face of the receiver is marked “385”, “OREA” and with an “Eagle / N” proof. The left side of the barrel is marked “CAL. 6.5X57” and on the chamber ring with “385”. The top left shoulder of the receiver is marked “H & H ZEHNER / FRANKFURT / M.”.
Barrel Length: 25 ¾”
Sights / Optics: There are no provisions for iron sights. There is a 10” long scope mount screwed to the top of the barrel that is 0.465” wide across the top flat.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut with a pistol grip, Monte Carlo comb and a cheekpiece on the right side for a left handed shooter. The pistol grip has a black plastic grip cap and the butt has engraved steel caps at the heel and toe with checkered wood exposed in the center. The forend is a wide beavertail that shows only a very few light handling marks. The buttstock shows three shallow compression marks in the cheekpiece, several dings in the belly behind the cheekpiece and two light marks in the belly below the cheekpiece. The checkering shows light wear with a mar at the left rear of the grip. The LOP measures 14 3/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt. The end caps show extremely light wear and the checkering of the butt shows light wear without mars. The end caps are in about Fine plus condition. The stocks rate in about Fine plus condition.
Type of Finish: The barrel is blued. The receiver, trigger guard and tangs are finish “In the White” and richly scroll engraved. Please see our pictures.
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with very light wear in the rifling. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The barrel shows thinning on its front edge and a tiny spot of pinprick surface erosion on its top about 3” in front of the forend. The scope mount on the barrel shows thinning on its edges and several small nicks. The receiver, trigger guard and tangs show no marks except for a small ding in the top of the breechblock. The screw heads are engraved and sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine to Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The action opens by compressing a lever at the front of the trigger guard and then pulling the trigger guard downwards. There is a lever mounted behind the trigger which is pushed forwards to set the trigger, which breaks at 11.5 ounces. The safety is located on the right side of the receiver. We have not fired this rifle.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: Although rarely seen in North America, the 6.5x57R has been a popular cartridge in Europe for both target shooting and sport hunting for a long time and remains so today. The 6.5x57R cartridge is based on the a necked down 7x57mm Mauser case and is similar in ballistics to the .260 Remington, achieving velocities of 2700 fps with 140 grain bullets. The 6.5mm bullets all have excellent sectional densities, giving them good penetration, and 6.5mm cartridges have been used to kill all of the European game animals with good results. In North America, the 6.5mmx57R cartridge makes a great deer rifle that can be used on antelope and sheep as well. When used with 100 grain bullets, they are excellent for varmints and coyotes. This is a beautiful single shot rifle made for a left handed shooter by H. H. Zehner of Germany in 1958. He made custom rifles based on Mauser actions after the war, and soon expanded his skills at both gun making and engraving. The barrel is blued while the receiver is left “in The White”, and the receiver, trigger guard and tangs are richly scroll engraved. The stock has a pistol grip, Monte Carlo comb and a cheekpiece on the right side, for a left handed shooter. The rifling is in about Fine to Excellent condition with 97% of its original finish remaining. The barrel shows only thinning on its front edge and a tiny spot of pinprick surface erosion on its top edge. The only mark on the receiver is a tiny mark on the top of the breechblock, no doubt from an ejected cartridge case. There is thinning on the edges of the long scope mount with several small dings in its surface. There are a few shallow compression marks in the belly of the buttstock and on the cheekpiece. The bore is bright with very light wear in the rifling and no erosion. This rifle is beautiful, so please see our pictures. Made with typical German craftsmanship and reliability, it should work as good in the field as it will look displayed in your gun cabinet at home. Single shot rifles aren’t for everyone, but if you were looking for a beautiful left handed rifle in a tack driving caliber, then you don’t need to look elsewhere.

German H&H Zehner Single Shot Rifle in LH Left Handed Stock & 25 ¾” Barrel MFD 1958, Single Set Trigger, Engraved, C&R
German H&H Zehner Single Shot Rifle in LH Left Handed Stock & 25 ¾” Barrel MFD 1958, Single Set Trigger, Engraved, C&R