In looking through my Mauser book, which I am about half way through, there is a photo of a JP Sauser rifle that is captioned as being pre WWI, and it looks identical to mine in almost every feature. And yes, the One number does put it in 1911 Oberndorf production.
I have contacted the modern day Sauer company to see if maybe they have any records that might tell me anything. I am not hopful, but you never know.
That photo in the book shows a stock oval. So maybe that oval was a standard feature on Sauer Mausers of that era.
The gentleman who owned my rifle and has his name engraved in the oval very well may have purchased the rifle second hand in the 30s, in Europe and has his name engraved in the oval after the fact. Not purchased the rifle new.
