What is this rifle?

[owenv]

My father back in the 70's traded a s&w 44 mag for this rifle and a m88 .358 from the son of a retired wyoming guide named Jim Pope. I think it was given to Mr. Pope by a client.

The rifle has very nice engravings on all the action, part of the barrel and scope rings.

On the bolt eject lever side it has 30-06 Karab 98b engraved.

The hinge plate has 1902 stamped.

The barrel has MORETON engraved.

The 88 .358

 

[JD338]

Nice looking rifle.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

I agree with Jim, but I truly have no clue.

 

[JDMAG]

I agree with Jim, but I truly have no clue.

+1.
Beautiful though.

 

[YoteSmoker]

I can't see the action too clearly (a close up would be nice) but my guess would be its a K98 Mauser action originally 8x57mm converted (barrel change) to 30-06 springfield. It does appear to me to have a beuhler safety and the bolt bent at the time of sporterizing it. Like i say, this is just a semi-educated guess as a close up of the bolt would help tell the tale for sure. I also belive the "Karab" stands for the K (98) an as its full name was Karibiner which stood for M98 carbine by the Krauts. And if I am right it is also refered to as a "large ring" mauser which means it can be rebarreled to any standard 30-06 based long action or 308 based short action cartridge with a .473 without any modifications necessary to the bolt face. Please take a picture or two of the bolt.

 

[Greg Nolan]

I think YoteSmoker nailed it. I had one way back. Can you see part of a stamping under the front scope mount? It is a excellent rifle.
Greg

 

[YoteSmoker]

On second look, definitely a Mauser based on the pic of the side of the trigger guard.... Most likely a K98 based on the description.

 

[honkeetonkin]

With ALL do respect I think I would have prefered the model 88 .358. It is a nice looking rifle though. 8)

 

[Britz]

It is definately a K98 mauser. I would bet that it is a post wwII mauser due to the fact that it has the bent bolt that was started in the 30's and it is obviously a fine sportsmans weapon. The long thin forearm was loved by those europeans.

The origional 98 mausers had a bolt that sticks straight out of the side when locked and almost straight up when you are ejecting.

30-06 was developed in 1906 so I would guess the hingplate was a either a replacement part, or the 1902 is a part number.. commemrative date or something else..

I just reread yote's first post and he may have hit the nail on the head.
Beutiful rifle!!

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

On many of the early mausers, the various parts would be stamped with the last few digits of the rifles serial number. A rifle with "matching numbers" usually means the number on the reciever, floorplate, buttplate, bolt, and endcap all match. I wouldn't be suprised if 1902 "matched" the last 4 digits of the serial number under the scope mount.
Also, there may be a country crest under the scope mounts.

 

[RogueRiver]

My guess this is a sporterized mauser 98, that has been barreled to 30-06. and a stock put on it. The looks of the High check rest I bet it was built in the 50's or 60's when everyone was chopping up mausers and springfields to make sporters.
I would rather have the win 88 in 358