Jerry Fisher custom Mauser 98 .358 Winchester, 1959, featured in Kennedy checkering book, shortened to Kurz length by Fullington, 22-inch Apex, Heilman, Farman, provenance, updated and refreshed to 95 percent

Important Jerry Fisher custom Mauser 98 .358 Winchester. Made circa 1959 as a gift for Jerry’s brother-in-law and retained by the family until recently, it is an interesting rifle on multiple levels. ACTION: The military Mauser action was shortened .50-inch by John Fullington. The work is exceptional as it is nearly impossible to detect the weld line. Fisher smithed the bolt handle himself and added two bordered teardrop checkering panels. Bolt body, extractor and follower were jeweled. As was common at the time, the follower was not modified to permit the bolt to close over an empty magazine and the extractor was not reshaped to “snap over”. Capacity is three rounds, all feeding from the magazine. A carefully-tuned single stage Jaeger trigger was pressed into service. BARREL: An Apex 22-inch light sporter barrel (recessed crown, .565-inch muzzle diameter, six lands/grooves) was selected as it was one of the top brands of the era. STOCK: Fisher crafted the stock from a select blank of California English walnut in a pattern attributed to Monty Kennedy. The 22 lines-per-inch checkering pattern features complex borders, bold ribbons and outlined fleurs. A deeply figured tapering grip cap with pedestal provides an elegant contrast to the honey-blonde stock. A blind magazine, what Jerry called “concealed magazine job”, adds much to the sleek lines. OPTIC: A period Lyman All-American 2.5x (1-inch tube, straight crosswire reticle) is mounted in Redfield hardware. DIMENSIONS: Weight (with optic) is 7.2 pounds. Length-of-pull is 13.7 inches. CONDITION: The bore is outstanding, strong and bright. Feeding is positive although the follower spring seems weak. As recently refreshed and modified, the Bruce Farman rust blue metal finish is approximately 99 percent. Steve Heilman reprofiled the original high comb and cheek rest, replaced the aged butt plate with a Pachmayr recoil pad, matched the finish over the butt to the original and added a two-position wing safety. Overall, wood condition approaches 95 percent. PROVENANCE: Pictured and described in Monty Kennedy’s Checkering & Carving of Gunstocks (page 291) and supported by a letter from Celeste Fisher (Jerry’s widow), both included. A period leather sling with Jaeger swivels is also present. The price is firm and layaway is available. Trades for fine sporting rifles (particularly customs, rimfires and dangerous game calibers) and handguns will be respectfully considered. $7,500 plus shipping.