I have a hard time placing a value on custom rifles from known makers. I'm familiar with Hoffmans (I used to live in the town where they were built) in the std calibers, but I have a harder time placing a value on the larger caliber rifles.

I came across a Hoffman 404 with the discription below. With what little information that you have below, any idea of the price range a rifle like this should command? I assume the G&H sidemount, while period, is a downer.

Thanks!

K

Mauser single square bridge. 24.5" barrel. 9.25lbs. Figured stock with ebony forend tip. Island-type express sight with one folding. The bolt knob has two checkered panels. The magazine is the drop box style with quick release inside the trigger guard and the floor plate straddles the trigger guard. Lyman All American 4X scope with post and cross hairs is mounted in a Griffin & Howe double lever removable mount.

This original Hoffman 505 brought around 25 a couple years ago, might bring more today:

fla3006 - what Mauser action is that with thumb slot and slot for feeding clip with a single square bridge?

Date on that action?

Thanks

I can't say for certain about the date, altho it would be mid 1920s. I can say that the action is a #20 Oberndorf magnum Mauser. (See Michael Petrov's account of Hoffmans in his book "Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century")

Here's another, that appears to me to have been restocked. (neither are mine)

I have a 375 I built on a single square bridge action. The left side of the front ring is marked 40041
W.R 318
ACCELERATED EXPRESS
It also has the thumb and clip slot. No other markings other than a SMALL crown BV proof mark on top right of front ring. Bolt handle is turned down typical mauser but has flat bottom surface of knob which is finely checkered and top of handle and knob are floral engraved. Nice action that I think started life as a Westley Richards 318.

and of course in pre-war days the British gun trade got their Mauser actions from Rigby who got them from the Mauser plant in Oberndorf, being the exclusive agent in the UK.

mike schwandt just sold one for around 8500$ the pics are still on his sight....paul

There are also 2 on GunBroker now, a stunning Springfield and a damn nice Mauser, but no 404.

From what I have seen recently, moderately adorned medium and big bore Hoffmans in good shape start at around $8,000 or thereabouts.

This one in .375 H&H Mag. sold for a bit more than that a few years ago:

Thanks everyone for your responses. They are asking around $7,150 - this is a reduced price. Its not engraved. I wish it had a cheekpiece and a barrel band swivel attachement. It is a very nice rifle with wonderful checkering. Wish I could post a picture.

If it is original and in very good or better condition that is not unreasonable in today's market. As Mr. Petrov pointed out to me, prestige name custom rifles have taken a big jump in the last 2 years.

Kynoch, as may be apparent from my post above, I agree with fla3006. Assuming VG or better condition, that sounds like a pretty good deal to me, especially considering that the rifle is a .404 - which was never a popular cartridge for American builders.

Thanks again for the continued comments. I may as well reveal the source... Any thoughts? I imagine it will be at Reno given the location. Check out the checkering in the lower middle pic.

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.CFPage?appID=36&...id=2478&mode=viewGun

Wow! That is beautiful!!! fla3006 or Alf KNOW their Mausers. The men are encyclopedias on the subject!
If you want to keep things low of the radar PM them!

Hoffman is a piece of Americana, so both collectors and shooters will bid for them, and that equals $$$. Lets face it, anything "Magnum Mauser" is 6K+, ie there is that stupid 3k Magnum premium.
What you have at BassPro is a mutant Hoffman. I especially hate that goofy island sight and the bloody sidemount even if it was on original G&H Sporter! If you put 3-12x56 glass on it it might look ok, but those 1" rings will limit scope selection (most of those x56 scopes tend to have 30mm tubes).

I will try to answer any questions from anyone buying pre-1940 American custom rifles. I can help with questions such as, is this an original rifle and in some cases history on a particular rifle. What I am out of league on these days is the current value, many classic rifles have doubled or more in price in the last couple of years. How is the pictured “Hoffman†marked? I have major concerns about this rifle. If you want to follow up on this write me at mjpetrov@acsalaska.net

It's just toooooo shiny.

That may be a Hoffman barrelled action but considering the original Hoffmans I have seen, this looks like a restock job.

Thanks Guys!

I called bass pro to discuss the rifle. The rifle is now at SCI, but I did find out that there is no "hoffman" markings on it at all??? They indicate that its a hoffman based on serial number "NS3X" (I replaced the last digit with an "X"). And that this rifle can be tracked backed to hoffman based on records. (I'm thinking OK, try and tell this to the next guy I try and sell it to)

No budge on the price. It's a nice rifle, but without markings and at that price, I'm gonna hold off.

Thanks for all of your comments! This is why I asked.

Michael, thanks for the offer of further discussions. I'll try and take you up on this on the next rifle that comes along if the offer still stands.

K

Please do, I’ll try to help anyone who is trying to buy a classic custom sporting rifle. There is enough misrepresentation with these rifles one needs to be careful. Most folks are not dishonest just not well informed on the subject.

The rifle pictured has nothing in common with any of the pre-war Hoffmans.

In my view the strongest thing which can be said is that the rifle is believed to be a Hoffman.
Take a look at the rifle offered by the same people, attributed to Westley Richards.
It looks like no Westley I have ever seen, and I have visited the Westly Richards factory.
The vendor could of cause be genuine in its' beleif, people are, but belief is not the same as documented provenance.
Take care.

Huh?!

Having seen a couple Hoffmans, I would definitely concur. There is no way that rifle should be advertised as a Hoffman.