Lot 3312: Rare C. Gebert Bolt Magazine Sporting Rifle

This rare example of a large calibre magazine fed bolt rifle was manufactured circa 1885-90. Blued octagonal barrel with silver inlaid line and flowering foliage at the breech end, ramp mounted front sight, widened sighting-flat bearing the blued rear sight of one standing and one folding leaf and signed "C. GEBERT IN MÜNCHEN" in silver. Partially matte casehardened receiver with blued magazine cut-off, casehardened box magazine beneath, rear tang of the receiver fitted with a sprung aperture sight, casehardened trigger plate, double set triggers and casehardened trigger guard with scrolled dark horn pistol grip finger rest. Figured 13 ¼ inch walnut half-stock with raised cheekpiece and checkered grip, iron buttplate with hinged trap cover, iron sling mounts, period brown leather sling, and original horn tipped wooden cleaning rod. Weight is 9 lbs. 4 oz. This gun bears the German crowned "V" Vorratszeichen mark denoting pre-1891 manufacture. Provenance: Property of a German Prince, great, great grandchild of Emperor Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.

Very fine. 90% of the original blued finish remains with some fading and a coverage of scattered small surface corrosion marks. The receiver and magazine retain 60% of the original faded casehardened finish. The buttplate is polished bright. The stock is good with some storage and handling markings throughout. Checkering remains well-defined with an old small patch of surface storage damage to the right side of the grip. The trigger mechanism sets correctly.