I know that a lot of people with firearms knowledge look at this forum so maybe someone can help me identify and value this rifle. I can't post pictures, but I can email them.

Can someone help identify a rifle. I bought it at an estate sale.

The action was made in Austria, Mannlicher Schoenauer, 7.63 x 63 cal. In Holland & Holland hard case, I was told they are called crock case, Holland & Holland 98 New Bond Street, London.

The rifle case is in fairly good condition, outside green canvas with leather trim, handle and two straps in good condition.

The rifle is a "takedown" rifle, the stock is one piece, the bottom of the action hooks into a metal tang in the back of the stock to anchor the action and there is a pin that holds the barrel into the front of the stock, about 4" from the end of the stock. The action and barrel are not removable from each other buy will remove from stock.It also has a removable magazine. It has never been drilled or tapped for scope mounts. It has two leaf sights, one folds down. There is some slight pitting but not bad. The bore appears to the naked eye to be in perfect shape. It has cleaning rods inside the stock accessible from steel butt plate with hinged part.

There are two paper tags in the case, one identifies the caliber as 7.62 x 63 and the other identifies it a 30-06 the tags are paper with Holland & Holland, Ltd., 13 Bruton Street, W.l They seem to have been glued at one time inside the case. It was sent to the factory to change the front sight, which is in an envelope and identified as "original front sight"

The name I. Malcolmson is on the outside of the case, it seems to be stamped into the canvas.

I have owned this rifle for about 12 or 15 years every several years I will take out of the safe just to "pet" it. Started to take it to the range and shoot it, but never did. When you mount this rifle with your eyes closed and then open your eyes, the sights are right where your are looking, I wish my double fit that well.

I am probably going to sell this rifle and would like to get some ideas what it might be worth.

If anyone knows someone who might be familiar with Holland & Holland rifles, I would like to contact them.
thanks

If you would like to send me the pictures, I will post them for you.

txtoller@uwmail.com

why don't you contact holland and holland directly with the information you shared about the rifle and they will give you the complete history of the rifle

Gi,

PM me the serial numbers and I'll see if we can get the details from H+H on when the rifle was made and who for.


Rgds,
FB

Based solely on your description I would think the value would START at $5000. In excellent (say 98%)condition it could bring as much as $7500 plus another $500 for the case etc.

The only draw back I see is most folks that buy thoes kinds of rifles like the larger bores, so that limits your market..

Any collectable is worth what you can get for itk, and sometimes that surprises us all.....

Awaiting pictures, might be useful to hear from you what proof or other marks are stamped on the barrel and the action.

Regards

Ok, here are the photos from George.








...and George, I am going to put an email together on how to post photos! Photobucket.com is user friendly!

Very nice piece you have there. The receiver has to be a M1910, but that's no never mind, because that's the basis for all subsequent Mannlichers. H&H did a beautiful job on your weapon. Best of luck finding the right buyer!

LLS
Mannlicher Collector

George,

Does it say Holland & Holland anywhere on the rifle itself?

Possibly along the top of the barrel.

It looks like H+H may have done the rechambering of the gun. I'm still waiting to see if they have any info on the gun.

Rgds,
FB

george

what you got in my opinion is a manlicher take down, retailed by H&H.
the caliber is a bit unusual but not unheard of.
the manlichers are a piece of art in metal and wood, and are commanding quite a premium at the auctions(london) at the moment.
IMHO that gun with the case is a really nice piece and H&H should be able to find the papers on it.
with the history in hand it will bring from 4000$ and up. the up part is anybodys guess.
if you deside to sell, i think the best way for you to get the highest amount, would be the autom sales at holt or sothebys.

www.holtandcompany.co.uk

or www.gavingardiner.com (sothebys)

best regards

peter

Thanks for all of the information, here are the stamps on the gun
action:
MADE IN AUSTRIA
PATENT
MAMMLICHER SCHOENAUET
KAL =7.62 X 63 SERIAL # 1243 on barrel & ACTION
2792.28 ON BARREL & ACTION
-05
NPV
CROWN WITH CIRCLED TRIANGLE
OESTERR.WAFFENFABR.-GES.STEYR

BARREL
NOT ENGLISH MADE
NPV WITH FANCY CREST BELOW
CROWN WITH FANCY CREST BELOW PLUS ANOTHER ABOVE THAT I CAN'T READ
C7'6
+05


IT DOES NOT HAVE HOLLAND & HOLLAND ON THE GUN ANYWHERE THAT I CAN SEE

I NEED TO PROOF READ MY POSTS, I SPELLED THE NAME OF THE RIFLE WRONG.

The pictures tell a little different story than your post told me...

I would value that gun somewhere around $3800 to $5000. if the bore is shiny and slick..

It is not a Mauser, its a MS and depending upon varification it may not be a H&H, just in an H&H case in which case it would be much less, if it is a H&H then my quote should be pretty close, as it will be a contract rifle.

OOps I just read your posts on the markings..IMO after looking at the photographs of the case it appears to me the case has been modified to fit this particular rifle..and I doubt if its a H&H based on that and the fact that its not marked by H&H..but I could be wrong so I am posting this for what its worth.

However, it is a nice rifle and I would be proud to own it. I would place the value at $3500 if my guess is correct.

All that said you need to investigate this rifle and varify exactly what it is before you accept anyones advise on this thread, including mine...

George,

We've looked up the details on the serial numbers and the rifle dates between 1925-1935.

It would have been part of Holland and Holland's retailing where they mandated other makers to make bolt rifles for them or make actions for them.

Were it originally in either 240 apex, 375 H+H or one other I forget it could have been a variety of makers. However other calibres were outsourced to Mannlicher Schoenauer and this is probably the case here.

The research on the S/N indicated that the rifle had been rechambered at some point but I have as yet not got the details on this or if the work was done by H+H themselves. It is likely this was outsourced too. I'll see if we can get more info from H+H themselves as to the original owner and the subsequent work done on the gun.

I would assume that the buyer was a customer of H+H and bought the gun from them and went to them for subsequent work on this. Hence the tickets that are still in the box, and I would hazard that the case is its own original case.

If I get anything else I'll post for you.

Rgds,
FB