The first thing that caught my eye was the Oberndorf Mauser inscription on the left side of the action. Then details like the location of the stock reinforcing screw, the straddle magazine box cover and last but not least, the square bridge (very hard to make out) came to light.
I was able to look up the length of the scope and gradually enlarge the photo of it and the action until the image on the screen matched the actual length of the scope. Then I was able to measure the length of the action, which proved to be over 9". A Magnum Mauser action is 9.150" long.
What remains a mystery is the absence of markings on the receiver ring, such as serial number and proof marks. However, the serial number was repeated on the bottom of the action behind the recoil lug, revealing it to be in the 90 thousand range. According to Jon Speed's authoritative book, that dates it in the years 1924-25. Jon lists two Magnum rifles sold in that time frame, both in caliber .280 Ross, which could very well have been the original caliber of the rifle this action came from.
As I had hoped, the muzzle brake was easy to remove. However, with it removed the barrel length is only 21.5" to the face of the bolt. .375 H&H Magnum brass chambered easily and the action feeds empty cases flawlessly. However, firing a reduced load revealed that the chamber is for a .375 AI, which means either resizing the cases to standard H&H after each firing or acquiring special dies.
All of this points to a new barrel, which I have already commissioned. At the same time, I will have the bolt handle replaced with one which looks appropriate and does not have a knurled knob, which is hard on my index finger when I use it to cycle the action. Add a banded ramp and Sourdough patridge front sight and a fresh low glare blue job, and the rifle meets virtually all my expectations. The white line pad will need to be replaced with a Silvers, with possibly a spacer to adjust the length of pull.
A discussion with Dennis Earl Smith, who once ran Fajen's custom shop, reinforced my surmise that the stock was a product of Bishop's custom shop. He gave me a list of names which reflect possible stockmakers. The inletting is so precise that it looks like the proverbial glass bedding job.
The design of the stock, the Tilden scope mount and the vintage of the scope all point to the late '60's as a probable date for the build.
Credit goes to Physdoc, who spotted this mislabeled diamond in the rough and called my attention to it.
