Very Early A-Series Prefix Chilean 1895 Mauser Short Rifle

A very early A-series prefix Chilean 1895 Mauser Saddlering Short Rifle, Serial # A73X, indicating that it made in the first few weeks of the1895 contract.  7×57 Mauser. 22” barrel, blued finish, hardwood stock, inverted ”V” front sight and folding leaf rear sight, with cleaning rod. Marked on left side receiver rail ”MAUSER CHILENO MODELO 1895 MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN”. Worn unreadable crest on receiver ring and left side buttstock. Mismatched numbers on bolt and floorplate. Condition overall is very good with approx. 80% finish remaining on the metal, showing cleaned old pitting on the bolt. The lacquered wood is very good, as refinished. The serial number is not visible on the wood, but the stock was not over-sanded. Action is smooth and the bore is very good with distinct rifling, but it could benefit from cleaning. The reversible saddlering is correct and intact. No visible import marks, so this appears to have been imported before 1968. (UPL-896)