There is one collecting dust locally:

A 30-06, with claw mounts, a 4x Waffen-Frankonia branded scope with 30 mm tube and 36 mm objective, front ring on objective bell as traditional, rear ring contains windage adjustment by screws, elevation adjustment on scope, German post reticle.

Express island single standing leaf rear and front ramp with gold bead, and a barrel mounted sling base.

Original walnut stock of straight grain and straight comb, less than 1" drop from nose to heel, zero pitch, and a small egg cheek piece. Looks like it was designed to sell to GI's in Germany, post WWII.

Looks like a military M98 with original style floorplate with quality finish and bluing, bolt bent, and original safety flag shortened and checkered, so it clears the occular bell of the scope when it is flipped over.

The barrel is stamped on the left side: "BOHLER (star of David) SPEZIAL" along with some proof marks and "356" near the breech left side.

The barrel is stamped on the top: "WAFFEN-FRANKONIA-WURZBURG" along with 30-06 near the breech top.

The action seems to have been surface ground smooth, nicely finished with a satin blue, and the only marks visible on the action are a proof mark and serial number on the left side of the front receiver ring. Serial number is 2000XX.

Getting it out of the wood might show some more markings. ???

The EAW-style claw mounts are rather high and are see-through so the low iron sights can be used with scope on the rifle, but otherwise built like a bank vault. Center of bore to center of scope tube is about 1-7/8". Less than 2" Center of bore to top of front sight bead is 7/8".

The Jon Speed et al book on _Original Oberndorf Sporting Rifles_ has one paragraph on these on page 319. There is one picture that indicates that this is a Waffen Frankonia "Favourite" Model de Luxe rifle, with shotgun-style triggerguard.

Speed says of Waffen Frankonia, in "Wurtsburg," Germany:

"Before WWII they sold Original Mauser rifles and had their gunsmiths make up sporters using military 98 actions.

..."WF continue to make up their own line of good quality 98-actioned hunting rifles in various configurations and calibers."

The Blue Book doesn't list them.

Surely it is a decent rifle in the 98% or better condition, with excellent bore and has seen little use.

I am just wondering what the $ value would be to a true Mauser afficianado, and what sort of action was used in this rifle. Could it be an Oberndorf made military Mauser sporterized to a happy degree? Surely Waffen-Frankonia would not have done such quality work on a late Nazi action. Perish the thought! And the star of David marking is interesting.

Can anybody shed any light on this? Educate me please!

Germans and Mauserphiles where are you?

Star of David: Ludwig Loewe & Co.- Berlin.
Loewe company approval stamp appearing on most early contract Mausers. The Loewe family was Jewish, hence the Star of David as a company symbol.

I think W-F has a web site, maybe our European friends could help.

Bob

Bob,
Thanks, another clue. Possibly an early contract Mauser involving the firm of Ludwig Loewe & Co., Berlin? I wonder what years the early contract period might encompass?

It is a sweet little rifle weighing about 7.75 lbs with scope, 600 mm barrel length, has a double set trigger, and was glass bedded, whether by the factory or the previous owner, I do not know.

I heard a second-hand remark that these were made up to sell in PX's/BX's of US military bases in Germany, post WWII. ???

Well, that is all I know about it, wondering if anyone else has one, or has seen one, or knows anything more about them.

A value? The guy selling it says he has seen them go for $2000 recently but is asking $995.

I am a big Waffen-Franconia Wurzburg fan. Their '98 sporters were orignally designed for the budget-conscious German hunters. Don't put too much stock in the PX story; Brno produces rifles for them even today, so I can't tell you when yours was produced. Perhaps you could e-mail Waffen Franconia Jagd in Wurzburg and they would tell you your rifle's history. They are on the internet, and I am certain that someone can help you.

I was stationed there for 3.5 years and hold the Jagdschein, or German hunting license. I attempted to purchase the very same rifle you are talking about and a mannlicher version of it and bring it back, but was foiled by BATF and GCA'68, as it was an unimported military arm, by their definition. Of course, I could spend the real big bucks and buy the sporter version that would be functionally indistinguishable and import it, no problem.

BTW, unless your rifle has some kind of distinguishing history or rarity, I am severely doubting the $2000 value. If I were to guess, I would venture that you could pick up one new, today, at Wurzburg for $500 or $600. Let me check and I'll get back with you.

Ron,

Frankonia has been probably the leading supplier of firearms and hunting supplies in Germany over a period of many years (sort of like Cabelas, but with more firearms). They sell many name brands as well as their own branded products. The rifles based on the '98 Mauser under their brand vary widely in quality and finish. Their Standard model sold for about DM 1000 in 1995. I certainly would consider them reasonable hunting rifles, but I would hesitate to put $995 into one unless it had some special features. That said, the scope and mounts do add to the value, and if it is an older rifle the fit and finish might be a bit better than recent production.

The Frankonia Super de Luxe model looked very similar to the Standard model was about DM 3500 that same year, and mainly differed in fit, finish, and wood. Certainly a nicer rifle, but probably not 3 1/2 times nicer than the Standard model.

You can usually get better value for your money on earlier "guild rifles", or rifles from lesser known makers. The following pair of Mausers sold a couple of weeks ago for less combined than the price you mentioned for the Waffen Frankonia. The upper rifle is a guild gun, and has a half-round half-octagon full rib barrel. The lower rifle is a Waffen Hanold, and has a round barrel with full rib and shotgun style trigger guard.

Jim

Judging by other commercial post-war sporters that I have had, 356 should mean it was proofed in March of 1956.

The current Frankonia catalog lists their house rifles from $500 to $1000, without scopes. They are nice, but not nearly the quality of earlier ones.

I would say that the rifle you have described, with scope and mounts, is definitely worth the selling price if it is in nice condition. Just imagine taking a surplus action and having that rifle built today. It would cost $2K-3K.

DaggaRon: this is a fine gun, but not valued very highly. Half of the asking price of $ 995 would be okay, but definitely not more.

Carcano

I was custodian of a Rod and Gun Club in Giessen in 1963-1966. We sold Waffen Frankonia rifles for well under a 100 dollars. They were a well made inexpensive rifle which competed with the Winchester 70 for 69 dollars if I recall, Sakos were 80 something and a Weatherby sold for 150. Dschulnigg put together a fine custom rifle for 200. I think 2000 is a bit high for the WF, but I would have to see it to know if it was similar to the ones we sold.

Thanks guys,
I knew that the $2000 comment was puffery from a salesman. The $995 leaves some room to dicker, and the claw mounts and 1950's vintage German scope are a mixed blessing. It certainly seems likely to be a sound Oberndorf military action sporterization, the Model "Favourite" de Luxe. But to build one like it from a military Mauser of any kind would be well over $2000 today.

My web search so far has found little except the Frankonia Jagd web site which offers a catalog for purchase, no doubt in German. If there is any current offering of rifles available by searching in the German language, it is beyond me.

It would be nice if there was a Waffen-Frankonia historian with records of what specific actions went into what specific serial numbers.

The 356 proof mark indicating 1956 production is interesting. Thanks. Serial number 2000XX would seem to indicate an early production in a run that started with 200001. Or is it a late model after 200,000 of these were made ... not likely?
It ain't no Remchester anyway.

mbogo375

Sweet rifles. Are these frankonia or Loewe made ones? Simson was also a Jewish family onwed company that turned out fantastic rifles.

More pic's would be nice...

Don't be shy

/ JOHAN

[ 10-12-2003, 22:41: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Here is the Frankonia used gun section. Search for Langwaffen (long weapons) in the first field and Repetierbusche (repeating rifle) in the second field. Zustand means condition.

Used Firearms (gebraucht waffen)

[ 10-13-2003, 03:28: Message edited by: KurtC ]

Thanks to KurtC, again, but I am not going to curtsy, though I will tip my hat.

That linguistic help allowed me to find the current closest comparable in their new and used gun list:

A new Frankonia "Favorit de Luxe" with Leupold 3.5-10X50 in EAW mounts, caliber 6.5x57, for 1635.00 Euros, I think.

Apparently they use the real deal EAW claw mounts.

That old 4X Frankonia scope is not too bad in EAW claw mounts, and NECG has lately begun offering a receiver sight that fits into the EAW base.

I will proceed to haggle. Love that 30-06 chambering in this petite little Mauser.