Custom Mauser (Berlin) Model 98 .35 Whelen Improved by Gil Van Horn. Serial 167250 has a 22-inch tapering sporter barrel (.680 muzzle diameter, ERA banded front sight with folding hood and pop-up moon sight, second recoil lug, ERA island rear express blade with yellow triangular aiming reference, gold wire accent at the muzzle). Features include a jeweled bolt body and extractor, custom bolt handle with checkered knob (three teardrop panels, bottom starburst, gold wire border), custom shroud with locking three-position safety, custom bottom metal with inside-the-bow release and a custom trigger. Finish is a superb rust blue. STOCK: Drawn from a blank with dazzling fiddle, formalities include a rosewood forend tip, 24 lines-per-inch borderless wrap checkering, soft Monte Carlo comb with shadow-lined scalloped cheek rest, sling swivel studs and a Pachmayr recoil pad. Glass bedding extends from the action lug to the forend tip. DIMENSIONS: Weight (with optic) is 10.0 pounds and the length-of-pull is 13.75 inches. CONDITION: The bore is outstanding. Metal finish tightly crowds 100 percent. Wood is over 98 percent with two small impressions. OPTIC: A Leupold VX-7 1.5-6×24 (Duplex reticle, .25 MOA click value) rides in EAW quick detaching mounts. Optics and lens coatings suggest little use. The ocular housing has a dent under the rubber bumper. The price is firm and layaway is available. $5,000 plus shipping.