50s Era 30-06 Value?

[Packrattusnongratus]

I am asking for a friend here. He was in a pawn shop and found a 50s era 30-06 M/S. It was priced high, imagine that! It had poorly shortened buttstock, period scope mount, Lyman 4x scope with post crosshair reticle, 4 leaf open sight, barrel was 22 to 24" and overall cared for. Too bad about the stock. Can anyone give a ballpark figure for Alabama, Georgia, USA? TIA

[Axel E]

found a 50s era 30-06 M/S. -- 4 leaf open sight, barrel was 22 to 24"

These parts of the description don't fit a 1950s M-S. They rather fit a very rare Mannlicher – Schoenauer M 1924, the so-called "Sequoya" model. This was the first Mannlicher – Schoenauer adapted to longer cartridges. There was a contract of Steyr with an US dealer named Sequoya for 1000 of such special order rifles in the 1920s. Apparently the deal fell through, as known serial numbers end in the 500 range. Up to 1930 Steyr offerd remainning stocks in Europe at a 10% discount, along with the new M1925 "High Velocity" rifles in 7x64 and 8x60 Magnum. The rarest of all the Mannlicher – Schoenauer models. Here is mine, Steyr serial number 299, receiver ring inscription altered from Mod. 1924 to Kal.7.62x63, metric name of the .30-06. It is "factory option" mounted with a 4x Kahles "Heliavier" scope and Vienna style snap on mounts.

[Packrattusnongratus]

Thanks for the pictures and data. Maybe the pawn shop doesn't know what they have. But yours is a good looking piece. I had forgotten the Euro designation for the -06. Thanks again. Packy

[Packrattusnongratus]

I forgot to mention the folding tang sight. Packy

[Hook]

Thanks for posting, packy. This is a rifle I stumbled across and asked him about. The prices can vary widely on these things and I was wanting someone else's input. To be honest, I did not inspect the rifle closely after seeing the price and the butchered butt on the stock. It was only after leaving that I started thinking of offering a low ball price just to see if they would bite.

I will go back and take a much closer look at it next week. I do suspect it may be a later model because it has a more modern looking scope mounting system with a Lyman 4X scope on it. Of course, that could have been added at a later date.

[Packrattusnongratus]

I'm thinking it warrants some closer inspection without alerting the shop salesmen.

[Axel E]

Some hints for identifying a Mannlicher – Schoenauer M1924:
First glance should be at the magazine floorplate: Pre-WW2 M-S floorplates have two holes, post-war ones only one hole.
Specific for the M1924: Caliber .30-06 only. A three-digit Steyr serial number on the right side of the receiver ring. British style rear sight with four folding leaves, no standing one. Foreend a bit shorter ahead of sling swivel than other M-S rifles, looks a bit "stubby". Hard to see without taking the magazine assembly out: The cartridge guide ring of the M24 holds the cartridges at the bullet. On the M25 and all later M-S it contacts the case neck and shoulder. A folding peep sight was a pre-war factory option, not found on 1950s M-S.
BTW, my own M24 was advertized years ago on an internet auction as "a very early M-S, serial number xxx, altered to .30-06". A few seconds before the auction ended, there were no bidders. So I got it at the starting price of DMark 250.-, then about $ 165.-.

[Hook]

Very much appreciated, Axel. Just what I need for my visit tomorrow. I can only wish that I had not been turned off so much by the shortened stock that I failed to more closely inspect the thing. My fuzzy impressions are that it did have a straight bolt handle and two holes in the floorplate. I know it has the long rear sight with multiple range blades and a pop up tang sight.


I just have to decide if the butt mods are too much to pay the asked price if I can't low ball them. The existing LOP is uncomfortably short for me and there is already a thick, ugly recoil pad on it, so lengthening it back out to something reasonable will be difficult. Any guesses as to the value of a Sequoya with a modified stock would be greatly appreciated. My best guess would likely be a little over half their asking price of $1700 unless the 'Sequoya' part would boost the value considerably.


Axel, what a deal you got. That certainly is a fantastic rifle!

[Packrattusnongratus]

Just send it to me and I will love her even though she is short. 12.5" is fine for me in LOP.

[Hook]

Good call, Axel! It is Sequoya #230. In good shape but highly modified. LOP with a 1" ugly Pachmeyer pad is 13" from the front trigger. Has been D&Ted for a side mount scope base and the wood slightly relieved for the base. The holes were plugged and ground down and the area refinished. Round burnishing marks for the repairs can be seen on the inside of the action. A Leopold base was then added and it holds a Lyman 4X Permacenter scope. The safety will not operate because of the scope. The sights, peep, and all other functions appear to be in good shape.

No collector value left, but could be a good user. The question is, what does it being a Sequoya add to its real world value? The rifle appeals to me, but only as a user. The bore looked OK, but I am not a good judge of bore wear. Other than the mods, I would say the rifle is in very good condition (maybe equal to Axel's, as well as I can tell from his pics) and that would indicate light use or very well cared for use. If it doesn't shoot well, I would like to be able to get my money back.

[mike ford]

Hook,
Look on Double Gun BBS, there is a thread about matching the grain on "repaired" stocks. There are people that can "color" the grain in an extension to the stock, so that it's undetectable. It's really pretty scary to consider what they can do, I would be afraid to pay a premium for figured wood.
Mike

[Hook]

Well, not much feedback on my question, and that is understandable. Determining value of M-Ss in general is somewhat difficult, and whatever extra value a Sequoia model would be is even more difficult. I have a good idea what the rifle would be worth if it were not a Sequoia. It's mods severely impact that. It is just whether being a Sequoia model would add to that value, even considering those mods, that I cannot put a finger on....

Thanks!