W. German Weatherby Custom Mark V Varmintmaster .224 Magnum Bolt Rifle, C&R
SOLD FOR: $5,775.00
LSB#: LSB250708MS012
Make: Weatherby
Model: Mark V Varmintmaster
Serial Number: S7170
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1971
Caliber: .224 Weatherby Magnum
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine
Barrel Length: 26″
Sights / Optics: There are no provisions for iron sights. The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped wtih two-piece bases and rings holding a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x scope with Varmint Hunter reticle. The scope has no notable wear or damage, only light storage marks.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a Weatherby Custom birdseye maple with foliate relief carving, rosewood nose and grip caps, inlaid maple diamond in the grip cap, Weatherby raised monte-carlo comb with cheekpiece, basketweave textured brown rubber Weatherby buttpad and sling studs front and rear. The negative spaces of the carving are finely textured and stained dark, giving good contrast for the detailed carving. The stock has a few light nicks and handling marks, but no notable damage. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The pad has light wear and a spot of stubborn residue. Overall, the stock is in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original, the bolt is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8-9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. The balance is mostly in light operational wear with a little handling wear in the bolt knob’s checkering. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Fine-Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is light and crisp. 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: This rifle comes with the installed scope.
Our Assessment: The Weatherby Varmintmaster is a lighter quicker-handling version of the Weatherby Mark V. It was first offered for sale in 1963 in two barrel lengths: a 24-inch standard weight and 26-inch heavy weight. It is a scaled down receiver with 6 lugs, instead of 9, to better handle smaller cartridges. The Weatherby Mark V rifles are considered prestigious or luxury firearms by many. This is due in part to Roy Weatherby who presented the rifles to royalty, politicians, gun writers and actors including Prince Abdorreza Pahlavi of Iran, Generals James Doolittle and Chuck Yeager, Jack O’Connor, Warren Page, Elgin Gates and Lorne Greene and was able to use this fact as a marketing tool.
This rifle is something special, engraved on the floorplate with a “WEATHERBY CUSTOM” banner surrounded by a foliate motif. If there’s two things Weatherby alwasy did well, it was their inky-black blued finish and gorgeous stocks. While the standard and deluxe Weatherby models each had nice wood, this example has a gorgeous birdseye maple stock with deep foliate carving. Even for a Weatherby, the stock is just stunning. The rifle is in beautiful condition overall and comes installed with a Leupold 4.5-14x scope with Varmint Hunter reticle. Whether you’re looking to whack some varmint or you’re a Weatherby aficionado, this rifle will add nicely to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
