Custom Mauser 98 Small Ring 7x57mm Bolt Action Rifle Set Trigger C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,084.00
LSB#: LSB251109DC109
Make: German
Model: Commercial 98 Small Ring
Serial Number: 47
Year of Manufacture: Circa early 1900s C&R
Caliber: 7mm Mauser (7x57mm)
Action Type: Bolt action, internal magazine.
Markings: The barrel is marked “7-57” The bolt, bottom of the receiver, follower are marked “47”. The safety is marked “40”
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into a base soldered to the barrel. The rear sight is a 2 leaf folding U notch dovetailed into a base soldered to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one piece checkered walnut, semi pistol grip, straight comb, cheekpiece, and horn buttplate. There are scattered handling marks, scratches, and compression dents throughout. The buttplate is broken. There is a crack at the upper tang and another at the toe. Overall this stock is in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates at a 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. There are light handling marks, scratches, and corrosion spots. The bluing has aged to a blue/plum color, typical of age. The trigger guard and floorplate have lost most finish from carrying. Overall this rifle is in Very Good condition for its age.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This custom German small-ring Mauser 98 dates to the early twentieth century and represents the refined commercial sporting adaptations built on Paul Mauser’s legendary controlled-round-feed action. Unlike military service rifles, commercial small-ring Mausers were purpose-made for sporting use, emphasizing smooth operation, lighter profile, and elegant stocking. The presence of a set trigger further reflects the rifle’s intended role as a precision sporting arm, a feature favored by European hunters and target shooters who valued a light, crisp release for deliberate shooting.
Chambered in 7x57mm Mauser, this rifle is paired with one of the most influential and enduring sporting cartridges ever developed. Introduced in the 1890s, the 7×57 earned a global reputation for mild recoil, excellent penetration, and outstanding accuracy, famously used by both military forces and sportsmen pursuing game across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The 24-inch barrel retains a bright bore with sharp rifling and only light erosion, rating a strong 8.5 out of 10. The traditional iron sight arrangement, consisting of a beaded front blade and two-leaf folding rear sight, is entirely consistent with early commercial Mauser sporting rifles.
Overall condition is very good for a rifle of this age and type. Approximately 85 percent of the original blued finish remains, with the metal showing light handling marks, scattered scratches, and small corrosion spots, while the bluing has naturally aged to a blue-plum hue typical of early twentieth-century finishes. The walnut stock exhibits honest field wear, including compression dents and scratches, with noted cracks at the upper tang and toe and a broken horn buttplate, but it retains strong visual appeal and classic European lines. Markings remain clear, the serialized components are consistent, and the action functions correctly. This rifle stands as a well-preserved example of a classic European sporting Mauser, combining mechanical excellence, historical chambering, and period craftsmanship in a desirable early commercial configuration. MF
