Sunday GunDay: 125th Anniversary Mausers — $35,000 Beauties
To mark its 125th anniversary, German gun-maker Mauser produced a limited-edition, 25-count series of the original Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle. These Anniversary rifles are stunning to say the least. According to RifleShooter Magazine: “Built by Mauser’s master gunsmiths in the style of classic safari rifles from times past, the Mauser 98 125th Anniversary Rifles are a milestone of modern firearms technology. Only 25 of these masterpieces are available worldwide and each in the series is numbered.”
Free Range American explains: “[Mauser released] a small batch of Mauser 98 rifles to commemorate the model’s 125th anniversary. The manufacturer’s master gunsmiths built 25 rifles in the style of Mauser’s famous safari guns. Each uses wood-grade-8 walnut plus steel components decorated with engraving and gold inlay. They’re gorgeous rifles, but before you get too excited, you should know the MSRP for one of these exquisite rifles is an equally stunning $35,000.”
Mauser 98 125th Anniversary Specifications:
Price: $35,000
Stock: Wood-grade-8 walnut
Steel: Color case-hardened with engraving and gold inlay
Chamberings: .30-06 Springfield, 8×57 IS, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby
Special 125th Anniversary Model Features:
— Bolt handle ball with color case-hardening
— Fish scale checkering and gold inlay
— Color case-hardening with English scroll
— Engraved Original Mauser logo, inlaid in gold
— Color case-hardened trigger guard with 1 of 25 serial number
— Red recoil pad
The Number 1 in the series was offered for sale at the Safari Club International convention in February, 2023. Jason Evans, CEO, Blaser Group explained: “The Mauser 98 action is regarded as the forefather of all modern bolt-action rifles. Built in the millions, copied by the thousands, but never matched… We [had] the first 125th-anniversary rifle, marked #1 in the series, for sale at the SCI Convention in Nashville, and it is truly a work of art.” As quoted in American Hunter website.
Stunning Color Case-hardening with Gold Damascus Highlights
On these handsome 125th Anniversary Mauser 98s, the action, bolt handle ball, trigger guard, pistol grip cap, and magazine base are beautifully color case-hardened. The metal is also highlighted with English ornaments and gold damascening. [Editor: “Damascening is a decorative metalworking technique in which a soft metal, often gold or silver, is mechanically inlaid into a harder metal like iron or steel without heat or solder.” Damsascening is not just used for gunsmithing, but it also employed for a variety of decorative fine art applications. See: MetMuseum.org article.]
Photo by Mauser as posted in Free Range American website.
These unique rifles are available in both standard and magnum action versions. Details of the firearms and the caliber/chambering options are listed in the table below. Click to ZOOM TABLE.
