Dated "1937" on the receiver ring and given a very low serial number (sans suffix), this item was likely a factory produced cutaway demonstrator. The intended end use is unknown, as such items were made as training aids for military armorers, in-house reference material, and to give salesmen a way to show potential clients the "guts" of the product without winding up with a pile of loose parts on their floor. Virtually the entire center of the receiver ring has been cut out, fully exposing the chamber mouth and eliminating the traditional location for 98k maker's marks, with "WaA280" (Erma, Erfurt) on the stock reinforcing bolt and barrel bands, a "1" numbered bolt, and most of the other small parts numbered "2". Fitted with a half-length stock terminating just before end of the receiver tang.

Very fine as mismatched (#1 bolt), with 97% plus factory blue finish, showing some light handling marks overall and hints of a plum patina on the bolt catch. The stock is very fine with some light dings and scuffs. Mechanically excellent.