Interarms Mauser information

[tylerugran]

I need someone to give me some information on this interarms mauser. The stock covers up most of the info on the receiver and stock and i cannot find one on the internet with the safety that is on my rifle. My grandfather gave me this rifle and was my great grandfathers. I was told it is somewhat custom also, my gunsmith told me it has a shilen barrel and the stock is either off another gun or custom, but bedded correctly. Would like to know the value if possible too.

 

[black mamba]

That's what is called a wing safety. My old Sears Mauser (J.C. Higgins brand) has the same one. I think they changed to the side safety sometime in the mid 60s. Weatherby influenced "California" style stock, typical of some H&R and also Parker-Hales of the period, or could be Fajen or some other after-market stock. I would put the value at 5 or 6 hundred, if everything is sound and no pitting, major dings, etc.

 

[SaxonPig]

I suspect it a military surplus M98 that was imported by Interarms (hence the stamping) but was rebuilt by a gunsmith into the custom rifle you see today. I don't think Interarms built guns back then and this doesn't look like a factory rifle. Commercial Mauser will not have the stripper clip guide on top or the thumb relief cut into the left side of the action. If it has these features it's a military rifle. That style of stock was popular in the 1960s and 1970s.

A military 98 may or may not have a maker's name on it. Some only have a code number.

 

[PetahW]

.

You definitely have what's referred to as a "sporterized" Military Mauser 98 rifle, that's been nicely rebarreled (Shilen), restocked, D/T'd for scope mounts after the clip-loading hump was ground down, reblued & the bolt handle & safety altered for scope clearance(s).

The safety is a once-common "Lo-Swing" aftermarket replacement for the original military flag safety thumbpiece.

Depending upon the chambering, it'd usually bring from $350-$400 (retail) @ some funshop.

If it's chambered for a (non-standard/unpopular) wildcat cartridge, there'd be a much smaller market (demand) for it - which means it'd most likely bring $100 less, & be hard to sell.


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[Paul B.]

I have to agree. The stock appears to be one from an outfit back in the 60's called Royal something but my memory ain't what it used to be. I remeber seing their ads in the gun magazines. I'm not sure id Bishop or Fajen has a stock that was quite thar radi cal and I no longer have their catalogs.
I did a search ffffor that stock. I found a picture that is very close and the company was Royal Arms Inc. 10064 Bert Acosta street, Santee California no zip code back in 1968. ASd was in the January 1968 merican Rifleman magazine. Just a guess but I think the bolt handle might be a Badger. It's very similar to one I have on one of my customs.
BTW, Interarms as the importer of that rifle, most likely in full military form. back in the 1960's and into the 70's it was popular to buy a milsurp rifle and make a "custom" hunting rifle. Some were strictly bubba jobs and others had some time and money put into them. Yours appears to be one in the latter group.
I'm curious. What is the caliber of that rifle?
Paul B.

 

[smarquez]

I love the 98 action. With a Shilen barrel and a decent trigger it should be a very good shooter and hunting rifle. If you cant find a caliber on it you can take it to a competent gunsmith for a chamber cast to ID the caliber.
I think 30.06 is a safe bet.

 

[taylorce1]

Sporterized M98 for sure you can see the thumb cut on the left side of the receiver in one of the pics. The low swing safety is common aftermarket to clear the scope. The bolt handle is pretty nice and the jeweling on the bolt looks like it was well done.

Old Fajen or Herters stock I'd say in a Monte Carlo rollover style which hasn't been popular in several years. You can still buy that style throug Richard's Microfit gunstocks. That stock could be re-shaped into a more contemporary style by someone with some knowledge and skill.

I'd value it around $300-350, maybe a little more to the right person. Custom usually means it is less valuable to anyone elese buying the rifle. Most will look at it as an action or barreled action only as the stock and scope aren't going to stay on the rifle more than likely.

 

[tylerugran]

Thank you all for the fast answers to my questions. The gun did have the bolt handle replaced but i have no idea what company made it. It is chambered in 7mm rem mag, has a crisp trigger pull and shoots like a dream. I put a new Zeiss scope i bought on it but am rethinking having that quality of a scope on a gun that will probably just be a safe queen. It is a bit to heavy to carry around in the woods all day. Whoever did the work on this job did an awesome job, it even had hand engraved scope rings on it but unfortunately i had to take them off even to fit a 3x9x40 on it.

 

[tylerugran]

I just found this Weatherby vanguard chambered in 30-06 on armlist.com near where i live. If i am not mistaken the stock looks almost identical to mine.

 

[SaxonPig]

The aftermarket stock on your rife was intended to copy the Weatherby design.

 

[taylorce1]

Yes your rifle stock is a copy of the Weatherby stock pictured. It is a great stock to use with heavy recoiling magnums that Weatherby is famous for. The way the roll over cheek piece is designed your face comes away under recoil instead of being slapped by it. Makes a hard kicking rifle much more comfortable to shoot.

As far as the Zeiss scope on it I figured that you were asking value to sell the rifle and that you would keep the scope. Mauser rifles are heavy by nature but there are some things you can do to lighten them up.

1. The barrel could be re-contoured to a slimmer profile and shortened up to reduce weight. Going from a 26" to 24" barrel will only loose you at most 100 fps but could reduce weight by .5 lbs or more in conjunction with re-contouring the barrel.

2. I'm betting the stock has a lot of wood and can be whittled down some or you can replace it all together with some other type of stock. A synthetic stock may or may not save you a few ounces, but you could remove the bottom metal and go Remington ADL style with a blind magazine or find an aftermarket aluminum bottom metal to save a few ounces.

3. Replace the scope mounts with some LWT Talley's and replace the scope with a Leupold. The Talley's will weigh in about 4 oz for the pair, and a 3-9X40 VX-2 will save at least 4 oz in weight vs a 3-9X40 Zeiss Conquest. I'm betting that will shave off another .5 lbs at a minimum from your rifle.