I'd say your rifle is definitely from the 1960s or very early 1970s based on the vintage of the scope and style of the stock, with the white line spacer and "streamlined" grip and cheekpiece. The oak leaf and game carvings are a traditional Austrian or South German feature, in a style dating back at least a couple of centuries. Since the original maker is still in business, you might be able to find more exact date and sales data from them.
As for features, having two safeties (tang and wing) on an Austrian bolt rifle is not at all uncommon. I've had the same thing on Mauser sporting rifles made by Joh. Springer (Vienna) and other Ferlach gunmakers.
As for stock restoration, it appears as if the previous owner cut into the edge of the carved game scene on the butt end, which dramatically complicates any restoration effort. The cheapest option would be having a nice, thick leather-covered recoil pad added to bring it as close as possible to normal length, and calling it good. Having a piece of matching wood spliced onto the end and re-carving the edge of the game scene would be very difficult to do invisibly, and even then would leave you with a reconstructed stock in a period style that has fallen out of fashion. On that basis, I would be tempted to follow Harry's advise and have a completely new stock fitted, albeit in a more conservative style.
As for metal refinishing, whatever you do, please don't have the gun buffed and dunk blued by your local gunsmith. Too many engraved Germanic Mausers have been ruined this way, so either find a quality restoration shop to do the work, or just leave it alone and enjoy the artistry as-is.
Cheers,
Peconga in Boise, Idaho
Last edited by Peconga; 03/15/10 01:38 PM.
