Original FN mauser 98 style rifle in 404 Jeffery (or 404 Rimless, just says cal 404 on the barrel). I bought it through my gunshop who is selling several rifles from an 80 year old collector who is getting rid of all his rifles. These kind of safari rifles are not that popular in Belgium so I paid only € 500 for it, which is roughly US $ 550. The owner of the gunshop also had two full boxes (40 rounds) of RWS 404 Rimless ammo which he gave me for free, I was quite happy with this gesture to say the least. These are some older boxes as you can see in the pictures, but the rounds still look like new.
Does anyone of you guys have any more info on my new FN rifle based on the pictures? I am guessing it is from the 1950's based on the info I found so far (serial number is 34xxx), but I couldn't find much. The bolt really glides in the action like a knife through hot butter (quite a difference compared to most other bolt actions I have handled so far), but the "Chrome Vanadium Steel" stamp on the barrel somehow gives me the impression that the rifle may be a bit younger, but I am definately no expert here, more an enthousiast. I also have the impression I did a real good deal here, especially with the ammo tossed in for free. According to the gunshop owner the previous owner only shot 1 or 2 rounds with it, but of course I do not know if he was the very first owner, altough the rifle is in excellent shape and I do not suspect it has seen much hunting.
