What rifle and scope is this?

4

4V50 Gary

Staff
Can anybody ID this rifle and scope? It's not a SMLE or Ross. Both of those have an external magazine. Note the front scope mount appears to be beneath the objective housing.
 

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  • Seaforth Highlander sniper, 15th-Scottish Division -Uelzen-16-April-1945..jpg
    Seaforth Highlander sniper, 15th-Scottish Division -Uelzen-16-April-1945..jpg
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Looking at it again, that is a front sight. The scope is prominently slanted downward. I can’t get a good detailed look at the rifle because of the lower resolution, but I’m interested in finding out what it is as well.
 
German Mauser 98, probably confiscated from a civilian given it does not have a full military stock like most military sniper rifles would have had.

The front mount is attached to the front bell so the claw can be cammed in.
 
Agree with Scorch. Also note how casual the fellows are around that Bren Gun Carrier. I don't think this "sniper" photo was an actual in combat shot, just some troops who got their picture taken while "playing around" with a captured/surrendered German sporting rifle.
 
It could be a posed shot. Other soldiers are too casually exposed. That said, the significance is of a non-standard rifle being pressed into service.
 
Scorch got up earlier than me.
Definitely a commercial Mauser.

The thumb cut and bolt are distinctly Mauser. The rest of it is clearly commercial market. (Even the comb is different.)
We'll probably never know, but I'd guess the base action is an 1893 or 1904 export pattern.
 
Those three guys in the foreground are Paras. Nobody used a Ross except our Zombies(the CF was all volunteer. Those who refused to do so, like Junior Trudeau's daddy were called Zombies.) during W.W. II. The rifle in the back ground (the troopie next to the one with the beret) is NOT an SMLE. It's a No. 4 Mk I* Lee-Enfield.
"...captured/surrendered..." Looted...I mean Liberated. snicker.
"...a posed shot..." Yep. Nobody is carrying any kit. Guy's eye is way too far from the scope too. Although it's possible and maybe likely the guy had never seen a scoped rifle before.
And that should be the 51st Highland Division not the 15th.
 
A hunting rifle, probably "liberated" from some well off Jerry's den...looks like a Mannlicher-Schoenaur. Probably with a butter-knife bolt knob :)
 
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