This rifle is a Mod 1909 Haenel, not a sporterized Mauser as advertised. Haenel was one of the manufactures of the Mod. 88 Commision rifle for the government and after the Mauser Mod. 98 was adopted they manufactured sporting versions of the Mod 88. They were unable to compete as well as they wanted with Mauser, whose Mod.98 was still protected by patents. The Haenel Mod 1900 and later 1909 were Haenel's efforts to incorporate features in their rifles that would be competitive with Mausers and not violate the patent protections. Mauser had the patent on the W shaped magazine spring and Haenel used a system of levers and flat springs in changing from enbloc clip to strip loading magazine. To avoid the danger of being able to fire without the bolt head in place, Haenel changed to a two-piece firing pin with the front piece attached to the bolt head. To avoid gas from a pierced primer from reaching the face they placed a shield on the bolt shroud, similar in function but different in form from Mauser's. All in all, the Haenels are interesting and quality rifles that are also quite rare. The one on the advertisement has been reblued/finished and by the proof load, I believe it is 8x57.
Mike
