Mauser- What Is It?!

[Gallahad]

If anyone knows anything about this gun, polease post it. It is an 8x57 Mauser. There is no crest on the top of the receiver. On the side of that thick part of the receiver is 422 with an M underneath. To the left of that is a small symbol that I cannot make out. The barrel is marked with a GV with that same little symbol underneath it. The best I can describe the symbol is a 4 leaf clover. On the strip of the receiver in front of the bolt release it reads CESKOSLOVENSKA ZBROJOVKA, A.S., BRNO
There are four steps in the barrel, five if you count the small section that connects to the receiver. It has a turn down bolt, which is stamped 422 with the M underneath it. The bolt was turned down by a very good gunsmith, so I don't know what the bolt looked like originally. I don't know if the stock is original, as it has been sporterized, but it extends all the way to the muzzle and is held there with a metal "endpiece." There's an old weaver scope mounted on it and the barrel was bedded the whole length of the stock. There's an after-market safety "flipper" which says Mark II.

If you know the name, approximate date, values, ANYTHING, please post 

[jack19512]

Could it be a Czech VZ24 ?  A picture would have been nice.   

[Duckbill]

YEP! Definetly a Czech Mauser98.  It's either a VZ-24 or a 98/22.

Here's a link to some info on them with some pics and markings:

  http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Gorge/4653/vz24.htm

[Robert]

Great info.  Does anyone know anything about early Mausers that were manufactured for Civilian/Sporter use?  I know someone that has one with the same safety 3-way flipper as the VZ-24, but nobody knows what it is.

[TribReady]

Robert,
I'll add a little. Many, if not all, original sporters had the 3-way safety, I think. I have a 1949 Husqvarna 8mm with a 3-way, military style safety.  This rifle may be old, but it was designed for civilian hunting use.  My guess is that scopes were uncommon back in the day, so no need to alter a perfectly functioning and easy safety. 
Didn't the Springfield '03 have the same safety? 
There doesn't seem to be any need for a company to invest in an alteration that at the time was unnecessary.  The fact that every parts supplier has replacement safeties indicates to me that there must be a market out there and that there are many, many 3-way safeties around--and they can't all be from military surplus rifles

[Gallahad]

Here's some pictures. I hope this lets someone tell me exactly what it is and what you think the value might be. Thanks!

[jack19512]

Does the rifle have VZ24 stamped on the reciever anywhere?  If it did it would probably be stamped under the lettering on the reciever like in your top pic.

[Mikey]

I would agree with Duckbill and believe yours is a VZ-24 Chech Mauser.  If it was originally made as a sporter, as were the Husquavarna 8mms, the stock may well be original but I seriously doubt factories bedded actions back then - that was probably done afterward and the stock may be aftermarket.  I don't know if sporters would have carried the crest on the receiver, but my Husky does. 

She looks pretty good.  Have you taken her to the range yet - she may shoot beyond all expectations.  Value:  I would say you have a pre-war (WWII) Chech Mauser in 8mm that has been sporterized.  The value of that rifle lays more in terms of what it is worth to you personally.  I do not think the re-sale value would be very high, regardless of how she looks.  A couple of years ago I picked up a VZ-24/52 with the intent of creating a sporter -  a gun dealer offered me less than half of what I paid for it when I went to trade it for my Husky.  That was a 'no-deal' as the rifle is worth more to me for its overall potential than to sell it cheap.  HTH.  Mikey.

[lucky guy]

Did you get your questions answered about your 8x57?   If not I know a guy that could probably help you.