Boer War Orange Free State Model 1896 Mauser Rifle (New Zealand War Trophy)

Serial #OVS / 1280, 7mm Mauser, 29" barrel with a good bore that has dark freckling within the grooves.  This is a Ludwig Loewe-made rifle that was one of the third batch of rifles ordered in November, 1896, and has an overall plum-brown patina throughout, with some gray fading along the high edges, muzzle, and bearing surfaces.  The receiver bridge is deeply stamped in large letters: "S.A.T. / 33" (South African Trophy #33). The bolt is mismatched and from a first contract Z.A.R. Mauser with "A" prefix.  The stock has numerous minor handling marks and surface blemishes scattered about the remaining original oil finish, with a set of crudely carved initials on the left side of the butt: "SCL."  This is one of approximately 1,200 captured Boer rifles that were earmarked by Lord Kitchener, and shipped as war trophies to New Zealand in 1904, when it was stamped on the bridge.  This is an extremely rare, Boer War trophy, and would make a fantastic addition to any military collection.  Antique