Is this a Guild Gun

[Aaron N]

Good evening,

I came across this 8mm rifle, and am wondering what the experts here can tell me. The seller says it’s a 96, but the bolt sure looks like it has the third lug to me. Complete claw mounts with a Zeiss scope, and a greener safety. It almost looks like someone tried to sand down a Schnabel for-end.

All in all it’s a decent looking rifle, and any input or information you can give a guy would be appreciated!

 

[Aaron N]

Also, does the barrel look short?

 

[Donnstar]

Very cool. I am confused about the scale, but I'm no guild guy!!!!

 

[Aaron N]

The st

Very cool. I am confused about the scale, but I'm no guild guy!!!!

The barrel length?

 

[Aaron N]

Any thoughts @Red Leg or @rookhawk

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Pretty gun. Finding the crosshairs might require a step ladder. Won't be shooting that one fast. Not with the scope on it.

 

[Aaron N]

Pretty gun. Finding the crosshairs might require a step ladder. Won't be shooting that one fast. Not with the scope on it.

Good old Mauser flag safeties. They worked for 50 years in countries where driven hunts and snap shooting are the norm

 

[93marlin]

Looks like a '98 to me. Definitely a guild gun unless there's a makers name, most likely on the barrel. Even then I've seen some high end German names that made some that for all intentions, were guild guns.
Something does not look right with the front of the floor plate. Filled in a bit maybe.
I've owned several guild rifles over the years. Some are very well done, some not so much!

 

[Don458]

Beautiful,

 

[Aaron N]

Looks like a '98 to me. Definitely a guild gun unless there's a makers name, most likely on the barrel. Even then I've seen some high end German names that made some that for all intentions, were guild guns.
Something does not look right with the front of the floor plate. Filled in a bit maybe.
I've owned several guild rifles over the years. Some are very well done, some not so much!

Good catch, I missed that.

 

[Aaron N]

Ended up buying the rifle. The seller is giving me a three day inspection, so we will see what
it’s like!

 

[Berettaco]

Very cool rifle - looks like a 98 to me. Haven’t seen many with the greener and flag safety. The stock is interesting but the metal work and mounts look to be very good quality. Makes me wonder is that stock was recycled from another rifle - schnabel forend ground down a bit, bottom metal fitting / filled in, and then a new butt plate looks to be added - finish seems to be wore down. All in all a very cool rifle - hope she shoots well for you.

 

[uplander01]

Depends on what you mean by “guild gun”. It’s very unlikely that would be from an America custom guild maker. Looks to me like something that would come out of Belgium. Lots of cool stuff came from there , and there are almost never any individual maker names. When it’s completely apart you really have to look close at everything inside and out. Sometimes you’ll find a name in the stock under and in front of the action, or on the bottom side of the barrel in front of the chamber, that was the American location for most anyway.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Very cool rifle - looks like a 98 to me. Haven’t seen many with the greener and flag safety. The stock is interesting but the metal work and mounts look to be very good quality. Makes me wonder is that stock was recycled from another rifle - schnabel forend ground down a bit, bottom metal fitting / filled in, and then a new butt plate looks to be added - finish seems to be wore down. All in all a very cool rifle - hope she shoots well for you.

Here's one for sale in Canada that's very similar. 9.3x62 made by Dittman in Hamburg, Germany. Just over $5,000 US.

Dittman Custom Mauser 9.3 X 62 - Martini Gunmakers Canada

Dittman Custom Mauser, made in Hamburg, Germany Half round, half octagon barrel with integral full lenght rib and front sight ramp, 23 5/8″ long, with a very good bore, one folding and one standing rear sight, German claw mounts with a Hendsoldt scope, Ziel – Dialyt 8 power scope with fine plex...

martinigunmakers.com

 

[yamoon]

Nice rifle, certainly is a 98. The serial number on the action should tell if it is a commercial action or a repurposed military, I like the 2 safety’s. I have a Mannlicher MCA, one of the few things I like about it is 2 safetiy’s, positive flag safety when trooping thru the brush, then the flag off and use the slide safety when in position waiting for game.
Mike

 

[ChrisG]

Its really too bad someone took a rasp to the Schnabel. That would have been a complete rifle with some real German flair what with the claw mounts and all. I could see wandering through the Ardennes looking for some boar so-armed. Beautiful rifle sans Schnabel. Definitely appears to be a 98 but the true test would be at what point in the cycle it cocks the hammer

 

[Jack Stevens]

Good gawd, it’s got that high-mounted scope that only a giraffe-necked Euro fella could love.

Noop … hard pass on that one.

 

[Red Leg]

Its really too bad someone took a rasp to the Schnabel. That would have been a complete rifle with some real German flair what with the claw mounts and all. I could see wandering through the Ardennes looking for some boar so-armed. Beautiful rifle sans Schnabel. Definitely appears to be a 98 but the true test would be at what point in the cycle it cocks the hammer

Perhaps. Though I would suspect this somewhat extended forearm with slight schnabel is likely replicating what was a fairly common commercial Mauser style prior to the war.

Interestingly, both the OP's rifle and the one posted by @Ontario Hunter are "guild guns." Some are completely unmarked like the OP's and others will carry the retailer's name like the one in the ad (By the way, W. O. Dittmann is still going strong as a retailer in Garlstorf just outside Hamburg.)

Both would have been built by an unknown craftsman (member of the gunmaker's guild).

It is interesting that both have the side lever safety and a flag. They both also use a repurposed military style actions with thumb cut out and stripper clip slot. I would not be at all surprised if both came off the same maker's bench in Suhl sometime in the thirties just before the War.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Nice rifle, certainly is a 98. The serial number on the action should tell if it is a commercial action or a repurposed military, I like the 2 safety’s. I have a Mannlicher MCA, one of the few things I like about it is 2 safetiy’s, positive flag safety when trooping thru the brush, then the flag off and use the slide safety when in position waiting for game.
Mike

I'm at a loss to see how retaining the military flag safety is any kind of useful when trooping through the brush. The Greenier safety is tucked out of the way and unlikely to get caught on anything. The only reason I can see for retaining the flag safety on the bolt shroud is to make disassembly of the bolt easier. It can be done with a 2-position safety but a minor pain in the butt. Anyone with a Buhler style scope relief safety knows what I'm talking about. The second position on 3-position safety is needed (but not necessary) for spinning the bolt shroud, cocking piece, and striker out of the bolt.

 

[7x57Joe]

A stunning rifle that I would have brought home, tall scope mounts and all! I'm with Red Leg about the fore end and the schnabel not being sanded down.
Now, you must tell us how it shoots!