I was undecided where to put this item so here it is-

I was looking at the online catalog for the Holt's Auction next month in the UK and found this statement:

"IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR U.S. BIDDERS. Please note that under current rulings enforced by BATF any Mauser 98 actioned sporting rifle REGARDLESS OF ORIGINAL APPLICATION that has a thumb recess in the sidewall and loading-clip cut-out in the rear bridge will be refused an import permit into the United States."

When did this start? If it means what I think it means then a lot of old sporters by the old line makers are now not available to us.

Sounds like Englis BS to me.

Any more thoughts

I think the issue is that ATF is considering that the rifle may have been originally a military arm and military arms are prohibited from imporation. I know it sounds stupid but it wouldn't be the first stupid ruling.

SamB
Kinda what I thought about when I read it, but rather stupid to use that approach. H&H, C&H and others used modified P-14 and 17 Enfields to build on and they weren't listed. Nor were the sportized Mk1V Enfields

Reads like 'Merican

I guess we can't import Brown Bess muskets any more either.

/

I think I can clarify....and this has been posted on AR recently too.

Several people have recently purchased (within the past 2 months) Mauser rifles in Europe.
These were purely sporting rifles...nicely stocked, not collectible military rifles.

As you know, the importation of sporting firearms is relatively a breeze in the USA, providing you have the appropriate forms (and these sportsman did have the correct forms...that's not part of this story).

The rifles were held in US customs because they were determined to be "military arms".
In both cases that I know of, the individuals finally gave up (after much effort) and customs kept the firearms, I presume to be destroyed.

The reason given for them being military arms was the thumb cut and stripper clip notch.
That's it. No crazy calibers, no bananna clips...just bolt action Mauser 98's (and sporterized ones at that).

I only know of the 2 cases, but it's put everyone on notice.

Do a Google search and you might find more.

Garrett

Alf, sorry for the duplication, I missed it when you posted.