This very fine Rifle Ranch custom Argentine Contract Model 1909 Mauser is from the collection of the late Jim Wilkinson of Prescott, Arizona. Wilkinson grew up spending his summers working the family Granite Dells Ranch in Arizona and returning to his native Illinois for school in the fall. Wilkinson attended the University of Illinois and began his career in his families Central Illinois lumberyards. In 1946, he permanently moved to Arizona to work his own ranch in Granite Dells and established the Rifle Ranch, a gun store specializing in custom rifles, hand loading, and shooting supplies. Wilkinson was an avid hunter with expeditions to Canada and Alaska as well as more exciting destinations such as Africa, Afghanistan, India, and Nepal, all in the pursuit of mountain sheep. Wilkinson would become the 10th person in the world to achieve the "Super Slam" which is a collection of 16 different types of wild sheep found on four separate continents. Wilkinson passed away in 2001. The tapered barrel is not fitted with sights and is marked "NO. 400 - RIFLE RANCH - PRESCOTT, ARIZ." on top, "257 ROBERTS" on the left side at the breech, and the receiver retains the original Model 1909 markings and serial number. Receiver is fitted with a one-piece oak leaf and acorn engraved swivel style scope base, Redfield 6x scope, and Jaeger adjustable trigger. The barrel and receiver are an attractive matte blue, and the trigger guard assembly, floorplate, grip cap, and buttplate are a coin gray. The engraved game scenes feature Northern North American animals including a highly detailed herd of pronghorn antelope on the floorplate, marmot on the face of the trigger guard, bobcat on the grip cap, and an absolutely fabulous standing big horn ram scene on the buttplate. Each animal scene is bordered with deep cut oak leaf and acorn motif borders. The floorplate is signed "F. MACK" for Ferlach, Austria Master Engraver Franz Mack. Highly attractive blonde maple, checkered pistol grip stock with desirable quilted figure, horn forend insert, sling swivel studs, and trapdoor in the buttplate.

Exceptionally fine. The rifle retains 99% of the custom matte blue finish with sharp Rifle Ranch markings, some light scattered handling marks, and some visible small blemishes under the blue. A few holes are visible in the floorplate, possibly caused by overzealous engraving. The stock is very fine with crisp checkering, profuse, highly attractive quilted figure, and a few very small scattered handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Scope is excellent with clear optics.