I know this is not the site for that - but I was wondering if there is a way to figure out what its worth? It is a Paul Jaeger built, Model 1909 Argentine Mauser 98 in .35 Whelen Ackley Improved. Are his guns listed in the Bluebook?

Paul Jaeger operated in Jenkintown PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. His rifles are highly prized as he was one of the premier custom gun makers. I have been to his store many times, but they are no longer in business. Depending on the work done to the gun, and condition it could be worth several thousand dollars. Engraving, grade of wood, checkering and condition will be big factors in determining value.

If you can, send me some pics [email protected]

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Gary Grace
S&WCA #1837

You will sometimes find Jaeger built rifles listed on Guns America or one of the other online auction sites. Most seem to be priced in the $1500-2500 range.

I have a beautiful Jaeger .25-06 built on a Sako L61 action from about 1966. As I recall I paid about $600 for the stock work.

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback.

I called and talked to Dietrich Apel at New England Custom guns. He is Paul's nephew. I told him what I could about the rifle and he asked me to send him some pictures at the end of May. My rifle looks like it has a medium to heavy tapered Douglas barrel, Timney trigger and a Laminated Stock w/o checkering. I think it was built in the mid to late 80s? He said when they closed and left PA, they moved to TN and it may have been one of the TN guns?? I asked if the SN would help and he said no. When they closed the TN operation they had to turn over alll SN records to ATF and they dont have those records any longer....this is getting frustrating. So I may have to wait till he gets back from GE at the end of May?

A local collector had one for sale the last couple of years at a local gun show. The asking price on it was $1650. I understand it's been sold. It was a Jenkintown gun. Mauser 98 in 7x57. No engraving, nice point style checkering.
Classic style stock with somewhat plain grain walnut (looked like European walnut). Kolmorgen(sp) scope in redfield mounts. I was interested but the barrel was a heavy (sporter?)weight and the gun was just too heavy for me. Anything closer to something more suitable in weight and I'd have bought it.

Ran down another piece of this puzzle tonight. There was a young up and coming smith in training that worked under Dietrich, his name is Steve Rorick. He operates Inland Accuracy in Riverside, California. Think I might call him and if he thinks he could identify my gun, I'll send him some pictures and see if this was one of the TN built guns??

UPDATE: His phone number is no longer in service??? Back to waiting on Dietrich to get back from Germany in May.

I have two rifles that were sporterized by Jaeger, and would be very curious to have more information myself. Both rifles belonged to my Grandfather who lived near Jenkintown. I have several animal mounts in home from his hunting trips to Canada, along with pictures of the kills with him holding the one weapon. They have become a family heirloom and I am planning on using them myself (for other than target practice) to hunt this winter.

One is an 8mm WWII Mauser 98K carbine. The other is a 7mm built on Fabrique National de Belgique (FN) Mauser action. Both are in excellent condition. I am planning on having them insured this month, and I have a general idea of their value. Any further info would be wonderful.

I was lucky enough to win an estate auction in Ft. Littleton Pa in the spring of 2009 for an M1903 30-06 sporter with a bunch of Jaeger components including scope mount, trigger and safety. Only cost me $250.00 and has turned out to be a great rifle. It came with a cheap Jap scope which I later replaced with a period correct Weaver KV.



I doubt that it was built by Paul Jaeger since it has an early pattern Bishop stock with no checkering. However, the Jaeger scope mount was the only reason I bid on it as I had never seen one "in the flesh" before and remembered the ads in the American Rifleman when I was a teenager in the 1950s. Later finding the Jaeger trigger and safety was "icing on the cake".

Check out the used gun section of Griffin & Howe's website. They usually have several Jaeger rifles. A phone call to them, Champlin Arms in Enid, OK, or Chadick's in Terrell, TX, would likely get you all the info you seek.


Okie John

I have a 7x57 german mauser ,and on the trigger it says jaeger , its a hunting rifle with a peep site on the rcvr , redfield site , all the numbers match except the floorplate trigger mec . this rifle shoots like a dream . very lil recoil and very smooth trigger pull , very accurate !!! how can I tell if it was made by paul jaeger ?on the butt pate or pad it has three patent dates 1912 1918 1925 , need to make sure on them dates ,