Ludwig Loewe M1895 7×57 Rifle — Unissued, Near Mint

An un-issued M1895 Chilean contract Mauser 7×57 Loewe full-length infantry rifle, circa late 1895 or more likely early 1896. 99% original blue finish with some slight wear on the buttplate. (Probably just from repeatedly being pulled out of a storage rack, for inventorying.) Marked MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN. Serial # G828X. Has just one chip in the edge grain of the stock, near the muzzle and just a few small, scattered wood handling scratches and light dents. Otherwise just about mint condition. It still exhibits brilliant electric bluing on the follower, band springs, bolt stop, and the rear sight elevator. Still has the original German shipping grease inside. Has a crisp Chilean 1895 acceptance stamp on the stock. (See the 30 detailed photos.) No import marks. This truly appears to be a rifle that was never issued to a Chilean Army unit. I suspect that it spent 70 years at a Chilean arsenal, and then 50 years tucked away in an American collector’s vault.   Has all matching numbers—even the cleaning rod! This is one of the nicest Chilean Mauser rifles that I’ve ever had pass through my hands! (CIFA-180)