Weatherby West Germany Mark V Deluxe .300 WBY Magnum Bolt Rifle, 1963 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,175.00
LSB#: WY240807JC023
Make: Weatherby, Mfg. by J.P. Sauer & Sohn in W. Germany
Model: Mark V Deluxe
Serial Number: 43255
Year of Manufacture: 1963
Caliber: .300 Weatherby Magnum
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle With Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine
Markings: The left side of the shank is marked “Weatherby / .300 MAGNUM”, the right side is marked “MADE IN W.GERMANY”. The right side of the chamber ring is marked with the serial number “43255”. The left side of the receiver is marked “MARK V / U.S. PATENT 3,013,355”, “Weatherby”, and has three pin motifs at the rear. The bottom of the bolt handle is marked “3255”.
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: There are no provisions for iron sights. The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped for an optic mount (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one piece skip-line checkered blonde wood with rosewood grip and nosecaps, a raised Monte Carlo comb with a cheekpiece, pistol grip, brown ventilated rubber Weatherby recoil pad and sling studs front and rear. There is a white diamond inlaid to the grip cap. The stock has some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is scattered minor crazing in the stock, mostly behind the grip. There is minor cracking at the rear sling stud. There is notable finish wear in the forend toward the front, including on the nosecap. There is some discoloration around the edges of the bottom metal. The bottom of the forend has a grain-line crack that doesn’t extend to any edges. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 1/2” from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad. The pad shows light wear, some stubborn residue, and has hardened with age. The stock is in about Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There are infrequent spots of minor erosion and stubborn copper fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8 or 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 94% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are a few light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is stubborn residue on the top of the barrel from a previously installed optic mount. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The 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: The Weatherby Mark V is a centerfire, bolt-action rifle with an internal magazine. The rifle was introduced in 1957 by Weatherby and was designed to safely contain the high pressures associated with the Weatherby line of high performance cartridges. It is the flagship rifle of the Weatherby line of firearms. 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. In 1957, a contract with J.P. Sauer & Sohn was signed and manufacture took place there in West Germany, which is where this example was manufactured.
This rifle is chambered for Weatherby’s .300 Magnum cartridge and was made in 1963. It retains a great bore and the stock, while it shows finish wear and some thin cracks in areas that are unlikely to spread, it doesn’t appear to have seen extensive firing. The action functions properly and, while there is some wear in the stock, the blonde color and classic Weatherby style still makes for an attractive gun. It should make for a good hunting rifle or addition to a collection missing a West German Weatherby. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
