Lot 1525: Walther Prototype Rifle 10 mm

This is a beautiful high quality example of a rare pre-WWII Walther prototype semi-automatic rifle that is fitted with a claw-mounted Zeiss scope. There is no information available on this rifle and was manufactured in the mid 1930s at the same time Walther was experimenting with producing the various prototype semi-automatic pistols. The top of the receiver is marked with the standard "WALTHER" inside a Banner followed by "Waffenfabrik, Walther Zella-Mehlis, (Thur), Walther's Patent". The left side of the receiver ring is stamped with the early Walther proofs of a single Crown next to a "crown/N" pre-war Nitro proofmark followed by "St.m.G./18,3 Gr.". The right side of the receiver is stamped with serial number "1001", certainly indicating a prototype rifle (and most likely from the factory). In looking at the muzzle of the barrel it appears to use a gas operated system similar to the Bang system (or early G41s) that has a small operating rod underneath the barrel, however the bolt mechanism appears to strictly function as a blow-back operated mechanism. As noted the bolt latch and bolt mechanism are mounted sideways on the right side of the action that uses a toggle action similar to Luger. It is chambered for a 10.5 mm cartridge that uses a detachable box magazine that appears to hold 4-5 rounds. Based on the length of the box magazine the cartridge appears to be approximately 3 1/4 inches long. It is fitted with a detachable, silver beaded front sight similar to what was used on early Mauser hunting rifles, with a three leaf rear sight; one standing and two folding, all are unmarked. The rifle action and all internal parts are all machined and beautifully fitted, so the action is smooth as glass. The top of the receiver is fitted with a pair of double claw scope bases with a cross-hatched pattern on top of each base, which are fitted with a prewar Zeiss Duraluminum Zielvier hunting scope. The top of the scope is marked with the Zeiss logo over "Zielvier/Nr. 58286". The scope has the standard prewar German three-bar hunting pattern reticle. It has a beautiful full-length, pistol grip walnut stock with a small checkered pattern on the underside of the forend with a checkered pattern on each side of the pistol grip. The pistol grip is fitted with an unmarked black plastic grip cap and it has a black plastic checkered "Walther" marked buttplate. It comes with a set of early brown leather commercial scope lens covers that is marked with "Zielvier". Certainly a very rare, fresh to the collector market, experimental/prototype Walther semi-automatic rifle!

Excellent with 95% of the original pre-war blue finish overall showing only minor edge and high spot wear. The stock is also in excellent condition with only very minor handling marks on the sides from general handling with excellent checkering. The scope retains 98% plus of it original anodized finish with crystal clear optics. Just a really interesting prewar Walther rifle.