doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com G. L. Rasch pre-war mauser

I just received a sporting mauser, presumably made by Oberndorf but finished and engraved by the firm of G.L. Rasch. Rifle is quite nice, and very light. Unfortunately arrived with two issues due to shipment (small crack at the stock's toe and a broken off wing to the rear scope mount. No scope was included with the rifle.)

The auction can be seen here: https://hibid.com/lot/272701096/mauser-8mm-german-rifle-beautiful-detail

I'll try pics, although I was having issues with Photobucket on a different forum, so who knows.

The broken off right wing of the rear base can be seen in these pics. Not sure if this can be repaired, or if it really should, given that I don't have a scope that fits.

This is a highly elegant rifle, with gracious lines, actually svelte. The price seems not high by current US standards.
The close-ups show traces of heavier use, wear, and quite some neglect, but not abuse. One would really be tempted to undertake some careful and low-key restoration work both on the metal and wood. It would be merited.

The engraving is a bit on the coarser and simpler side, but excellently tasteful, with its common "large leaves" patterns, as were widely used for trade guns e.g. in Zella-Mehlis. Rasch was a reputable and prolific distributor with the title of Hofbüchsenmacher (purveyor to the court) in Brunswick.
https://germanhuntingguns.com/feature-articles/larrys-article/
This engraving is not his own, of course; the client ordered the gun model, and a certain engraving style or pattern. In the above-linked website article, you find higher-class engraving on another Rasch Mod. 98 hunting rifle.

As to the broken spring-powered side extension of the rear scope mounting plate, the Suhler Einhakmontage would anyhow have to be completely redone on lowers and uppers when you wanted to mount a (hopefully stylistically fitting) scope. I would therefore only minimally glue or lightly solder the broken-off part, as for now. No real repair yet.

Carcano

Beautiful rifle. I’m increasingly attracted to slender forends like that one. I especially like the wedge/key holding the forend to the barrel. You have an elegant firearm there!

I have had two rifles on which the G.L. Rasch name is inscribed. One is an 1890 Haenel/Rasch in 9 X 57 on a Commission rifle and I'd have to dig through my gun safe or records to name the other. I believe it's a stalking rifle. Anyway....that is a lovely old Mauser and I too have a fondness for them. The side panels and keyed fore end just suck me in as does the DST's and butter knife bolt handle. If you don't already know, and if you're going to shoot it, slug the bore. I would expect it to be .318 groove diameter but, one needs to be certain.

The engraving is quite similar to what is on a Thieme & Schlegelmilch drilling I used to own. Whatever its quality, it's still light years better than laser etched.

I agree with Carcano about the rear scope base wing. If you should have rings made, a pricey proposition, I would demand they be made period style. I have two rifles so equipped with modern made claw mount rings that are of modern style with Torx head screws and IMO, they look dorky but, at least I have them. Both sets are on double rifles and neither rifle was regulated with a scope so if the scopes are installed it renders both rifles as expensive single shots.

Indeed, the engraving is not that of the masked engraver from Herzberg, whose steady hand applied the tap, tap, tap of the „Raschsche Karreegravierung“. This Zella-Mehis adornment is of the nature of „Altdeutscher Laubgravur“ or moreover, „Wetzlaub“.

It appears to have the 4000k ATM „ Atmosphären-Pulver “ stamp on the left side of the receiver. And when the wood is removed, the marks will more than likely point to proof @ the Zella-Mehlis Proof Facility.

Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Thank you Carcano for the article and comments on the rifle. While I was researching Rasch prior to bidding, that rifle appeared in my search results. Along with a similar one auctioned by Holts in July 2022 that was serial numbered 40 above the one you shared (0260 at Holts vs 0220 at germanhuntingguns.com.) Both are quite beautiful!



https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/holtsauctioneers/92/725292/H1121-L294283275_original.jpg

Sharps4590 - That is good advice that any new rings must match the style and vintage of the rifle (no Torx!). I haven't decided if I will even attempt finding/fitting a scope yet, but I do know the missing 'wing' will annoy me every time I look at the rifle!

Raimey, I had to look up "Altdeutscher Laubgravur", so thank you for that nugget. https://www.engravingglossary.com/Hand%20Engraving%20Glossary%20A.htm

I visited my local gunsmith to have the stock toe put right. He also had the correct screwdrivers to remove the 2 very tight/reluctant takedown screws holding the action to the trigger guard. I happy to report that there is no rust under the wood line. The stock is incredibly light. Too light actually by my tastes as I'm worried about the thin wood along the barrel line. Some oil staining but nothing to the point of ruining the wood. He is looking at options for re-attaching the missing wing. It appears the cross piece that catches the claws of the scope rings broke. He's looking at removing the rear base to see how complex that part is and if a replacement is feasible. He's a retired engineer and licensed smith who thankfully has taken on some odd work from me -- and he's 3 miles from my house!

Proof marks

Yeah, August 1909 in Zella - Mehlis, with the 4000 ATM test.



I have seen this maker's mark prior but I just cannot put my fingers on it??? Thieme & Schlegelmiilch???


Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

CJF,
I don’t know if you have the broken piece of the wing, and I don’t know what kind of force the wing has to sustain, but Tony at Microsoft Precision Welding does amazing work. He’s done a couple of jobs for me, and the results were super impressive. I’m sharing this in case welding is an option.

https://www.microprecisionwelding.com/

https://germanhuntingguns.com/archives/archive-thieme-schlegelmich/

Yeah, look down 8 images & you will see the same trademark on a dreiling.

Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Thank you Raimey.

Good idea earlyriser.

2nd Tony at microprecision welding. He is an amazing craftsman.

CJF
Gunsmiths that Mount new clawmounts on old rifles will likely have "take off" parts that will replace the entire broken "slider". Failing that, it can be repaired. If you take the screw out of the "good" side, it will come off, and the broken part can be pulled out. Note, you will find two small springs inside, save them. If you examine the broken off "wing" carefully under magnification and strong light, you will see that it is also mounted to the broken bar by a screw, like the "good" side was. It has been polished and engraved to hide the screw head. The screw slot may or may not still be visible, but if it is, try to back it out with a screwdriver that has been ground to fit the slot precisely and held in a drill press to keep it from twisting out of the slot. You may need to deepen the slot with a graver. If you can remove the broken piece, just make a duplicate bar. You will notice that the old one has been filed on the bottom side. This was done to fit the hooks to the base, without "play". Don't duplicate the file marks, leave this to whoever fits the new ring (the front foot, "Hackenstuche" will come with a new "plate", prefit tightly to it). After removing the screw, it may need replacing or, at a minimum the engraving may need refreshing. Good luck.
Mike

Thanks Mike. While I was there yesterday, and had the rifle on the bench, we could see that the slider section in the broken off wing had moved. I couldn't see a screw on it then but I didn't do a detailed look with good lighting and magnification, so perhaps one is there. Thank you for sharing this info.

Chris

Chris,
If you can't find a screw, there is a chance it is soldered (likely soft solder, but possibly silver solder) and application of some heat may loosen the broken slider or may reveal a screw. Good luck.
Mike

It *I*S* soldered, with 95 % likelihood. Can still be broken off though, at the soldering line.

Good grief, put some Elmer's Glue on it, and keep your peace henceforth; many commentators here do not seem to understand how the rear lower base of an SEM (Suhler Einhakmontage) works. Although it was ably explained.

No, 7,35 Carcano, here in the good ole US of A, JB Weld is the solution for everything that Gorilla Glue doesn't repair.


Serbus,

Raimey
rse