Published Boer War ZAR 1895 Mauser Rifle w/ Carved Stock Matching Bolt

Serial #8969, 7mm Mauser, 29" barrel with a fine, bright bore that has mild freckling within the grooves at the muzzle. This is one of the third batch of 10,000 DWM-marked, Mauser rifles purchased by the South African Republic (ZAR) in 1897. The rifle has all-matching numbers, and the metal retains 30-40% of the original blue, blending smoothly with a mellow plum-brown patina on the balance. Some bright metal remains on the otherwise mottled gray-brown bolt, and some original fire blue remains on the magazine follower. The stock has numerous handling marks and surface blemishes throughout, especially along the right side of the forend, and extensive Boer carving on the left side of the butt: "H.G. ERRIDGE / VEREENIGING" (a city in the south of Gauteng Province). The carving on this rifle is illustrated on pg. 74 of "Carvings From The Veldt" by David C. George; (2004). This is a fine example of a rare Boer rifle, published in an excellent Boer War reference book, and would make a wonderful addition to any collection. Antique