I got a 416 Rigby two years ago in preparation for Africa but had to cancel my hunt. But I had a lot of fun with the rifle and posted extensively here about that. I then sold the rifle with all the extras a few months ago.

Now I have a new job along with running my business and so I am wondering if I should get another Big Bore!

I have known a collector here in NZ who has / used to have a number of original Mauser rifles including some that are mentioned in Speed's famous book.

Well, last Saturday I happened to be in the town where this person lives and I gave him a call and visited him. He is always happy to show his guns and have a chat. I asked him about any big bores and he said he had just one left as he is starting to sell some of his rifles.

He handed me a Mauser Model A in 10.75 X68. I have always had a soft corner for this cartridge since I grew up with my dad owning a FN in this caliber with which he shot 2 leopards in India in the late 1950s.

The rifle looks very tidy, with open sights and it has 3 or 4 flip up leaf rear sights. It is not drilled for scope mounting. The bolt is like the typical sporter, facing down. It it not a bent down military bolt. The metal looks very tidy as does the stock. I think it has an octagon to round full ribbed barrel but is has an English type stock and not the slab sided Oberndorf design.

He wants US $2000 for it and I am very tempted. But I am hesitating because of the extra cost of getting dies, cases and bullets for this rare caliber.

I would appreciate any suggestions and advise. I would like to hear from anyone who has dies & brass. Unfortunately I was in a hurry and forgot to take pictures with my phone.

That is cheap in any condition.
I will take it.

Nitro

BUY IT !!!!

Absolute steal...

dies are not too hard to find, CH4D has them in stock. Worst case scenario on the brass, you can cut down 10.75 x73 and use it.

Buffalo Arms has Bertram brass.

Got the photos

Exceptional!

Oh Hell Yes!

Thanks guys. So I should buy it eh? I need dies cases and bullets! This is going to work out more expensive than my CZ 416 Rigby!

Buy it, I know you want too it's too nice to let slip away.

My God that is a gorgeous rifle!

BUY IT NOW!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Oh Hell Yes!

+1

That is one absolutely beautiful classic rifle. But 10.75X68? Sources for brass and bullets are already very limited and will only become more limited as time goes by. I think its collectible value far outweighs its value as a shooter. So, I ask you, do you want to collect it or shoot it?

.
No brainer ...... BUY IT ! A steal at the Price.

Very nice Type A, a year or maybe 2 years older than mine. Reloading components are not hard to get nowadays, Woodleigh makes bullets and you do not need that many cases to keep the big bore fed, you cannot cut down 404 brass for the 10.75x68 cartridge as Idaho S suggests, the 404 case is a larger head size than the 10.75x68 cartridge.

I've used 20 RWS cases plus some fired factory cases to feed my 404 over 30 years, just anneal the brass regularly, still have a brand new packet of RWS brass not used yet. Cast bullets are the way to go if you want to put a lot of shots down range, easy on the pocket, brass and barrel.

I've got a few original 347gr RWS flat nose steel jacketed soft points for the 10.75x68. I've only got 2 cases for the Mauser cartridge so can't help you out here.

I hope you own that rifle by now. If you're at all handy components are the least of your worry.

Rifle appears to have been refinished but is very nice and a good buy at $2000.

Hell yes!!

Would anybody know when this was made? I have asked the German gun collectors' assn.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Would anybody know when this was made? I have asked the German gun collectors' assn.

I looked at my copy of Speed, your serial no. 100406 is in the 1928-1929 year range.

Two Type A Mauser rifles of 10.75x68 chambering are listed in that range and their serial numbers are on either side of yours:

97222 and 103029

I guess yours was made about 1929.

Really nice rifle. Excellent condition. Looks like new! Durable goods. Buy it!

Rip
Ron In Person
Riflecrank Internationale Permanente

My local gun-shop has had an FN chambered in this caliber for sale for a LOOONG time at $1200 A.U.D and is unable to move it on, I suspect due to the caliber, even though he has factory loaded ammunition to go with it.

If I were preparing to embark on a 25yr long career collecting ivory I would probably choose a different caliber, but as an occasional sporting hunter taking some big game on a hunt here and there I would load this baby up with modern projectiles and be as happy as a pig in the proverbial.

2000 oxford scholars for a Type A with a beautiful stock in the condition of this one is a very good deal in my view.

If it were offered to me...... I'd buy it.

Bertram makes brass, as Biebs pointed out, CH4D makes dies, as Idaho Sharpshooter pointed out, and several companies make bullets. In fact, as long as the .404 Jeffery is around, you'll have no problem finding bullets.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?...archQuery=10.75x68mm
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?dimensionids=20559

Talk to Ray Atkinson. I found a post on another forum where he developed loads for the 10.75x68mm and hunted with it in Africa.

You could double or triple your money on it here in the states...Brass is available from Horneber, bullets are .423 so any 404 bullet will work, dies from RCBS..Its not that big a problem..

I have used and shot the 10.75x68 some in Tanzania and Zimbabwe on buffalo and PG. I have owned and shot several in that caliber....

It sure is a killer..My handloads were a 400 gr. .423 Woodleigh RN soft at 2105 FPS and the Woodleigh or Barnes X 350 gr. at 2366 FPS in my gun. I also liked the fact that I could get an extra round in the Mauser and two extra rounds in a drop box Mauser I built. Had a Hoffman in that caliber and sold it to our own LB404 on AR, for not enough money I might add!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
You could double or triple your money on it here in the states...

Blue Book:
Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH
Special Rifle Type A
100% N/A
98%: $7,000 (USD)
95%: $6,000
90%: $5,000
80%: $4,000
70%: $3,000
60%: $2,500

Yep, at $2000, the rifle is a steal.

Rip

Is anyone from here coming to New Zealand later this year? If so, would you please be willing to help bring dies, brass & projectiles? Please PM me & also pass on the request if you know of anyone.

I am also trying from Australia. My first attempt resulted in no dies available from a dealer / importer. A friend here on AR has agreed to help bring it over. I need to source the stuff.

Thanks a lot for all the encouragement & great info guys.

N
I can get stuff for you from the states...dies brass proj...not an issue
Bertram just lives up the road from me
let me know what you need
Daniel

Wow. Wow. Wow. That is a steal. I want it bad. If only it was here in the U.S.

Thanks Daniel. Email sent.

If that rifle is all original finish except for the recoil pad,
And the bore is good ... Who would not want to steal it for $2000?

I personally know that the rifle has been in this guys collection for over 20 years & may be even 30 years.

His wife is Swedish and he has been visiting Sweden regularly & bringing out 50 or 100 guns to sell in NZ. So of course he kept as part of his collection.

Jon Speed has visited him and seen some of his Mausers that were not in Speeds records 10 or 15 years ago!

He also snared a "Royal" collection from an estate - incredible old double rifles, drillings and shotguns made from 1880s to early 1900s probably - most were hammer / damascus barrels. Some had a royal crest / crown on them. I think they were about 30 to 40 odd guns.

Ashok,
I know someone selling a 450 double if you are interested!

If you are on whatsapp I'll send you the pics and description if interested! I'm sure it will be a lot less expensive than buying it in the US!

It's a 475 #2 by Charles Boswell, 24" barrels..let me have your email addy and I will have the pics sent to you

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Is anyone from here coming to New Zealand later this year? If so, would you please be willing to help bring dies, brass & projectiles? Please PM me & also pass on the request if you know of anyone.

I am also trying from Australia. My first attempt resulted in no dies available from a dealer / importer. A friend here on AR has agreed to help bring it over. I need to source the stuff.

Thanks a lot for all the encouragement & great info guys.

Naki,

I'll be over later this year, probably in November. PM me.

Top_Predator (James) and most of the other shooters on the North Island (Graeme, Hendrik, Fanus, Simon, etc.) know me.

Thanks everybody for the help. Much appreciated.

BTWk when you tire of it and get bored, give me a holler, put me at the top of the list to buy it from you..