Mike Kokin's 7 M/M (7x57mm Mauser) Standard Rifle - 1952

Who knew that one of the US's most prolific and controversial arms dealers was also a pre-64 model 70 collector? It's true, and now you can own one of his guns.

Mike Kokin was the founder and president of Sherwood International Export Corp - a small California arms dealer. Small until a secret deal with the CIA made Sherwood the distribution arm for every imaginable type of weapon to hotspots around the globe. Sherwood was at the epicenter of moving 150 Belgian 5.56mm Minimi machine guns into Honduras, while simultaneously moving heat-seeking missiles and armored personnel carriers into Iran - a sequence of arms moves we all now refer to as the "Iran-Contra Affair"

Well, it turns out Mike Kokin, while he was building his reputation as an international arms dealer, was also building a collection of pre-64 model 70s.  Roger Rule knew this and in the late 1970s and early 1980s photographed some of Kokin's rifles for his book "The Rifleman's Rifle". Among those rifles is a beautiful and unique 1952 standard rifle chambered in 7x57mm Mauser. You can check it out on page 237.

The rifle is rare and valuable in its own rights, with the 7MM being the fourth most rare model 70 chambering - just 0.23% of model 70s were chambered in this cartridge. This rifle also has a unique combination of features fitted with what was Winchester's new (in 1952) Monte Carlo stock, yet equipped with the Winchester 22G rear sight rather than the folding Marble 69 rear sight. This combination is unusual and adds an interesting twist to the crazy history and impeccable provenance of this particular rifle.

At the time of Rule’s writing, this rifle was still a part of the Mike Kokin collection. 20 years later it was in the collection of the late Mike Holmes of Florida. Upon his death, Holmes passed his entire collection to a friend in Louisiana, which is where we acquired it. 42 years later, the rifle still appears exactly as it did when Rule photographed it for his book.

The rifle is entirely original with little to no evidence of use. It grades in NRA excellent condition. 

The metal is in excellent condition with original bluing and no wear except for minor wear on the bolt components and receiver rails. Likewise, there are no notable scratches, dings, freckling, repairs, or other metal defects.

The original Monte Carlo stock is also in excellent condition with only a very few light handling marks but no repairs, splits, cracks or other notable damage. The stock retains its steel buttplate, which has minor finish wear. 

The bore of the 24" barrel is in excellent condition. It may have had a few rounds put through it, but nothing more. We grade the bore a 10 out of 10 under borescope examination. Absolutely no wear, no pitting.

Both the bolt and receiver are marked with serial number 234057, indicating a 1952 manufacturing date. 

NOTE: This item can only be shipped directly to you if you are an FFL or C&R license holder. If this is not the case, the item must be shipped to an FFL holder near you who can complete the transfer. If needed, we are happy to assist you in locating an FFL holder near you who can assist in this way.

This item is only available for shipment to US addresses.