I am in the shop of a friend who has come into possession of an old Germanic-looking schuetzen rifle.  It is based on a mid-sized Martini action, has double set triggers, and is in a one piece stock of typical German or perhaps Swiss profile.  It has a quite pronounced dished cheekpiece and a hooked buttplate with the lower prong about normal length but the upper one truncated.  There is a matted rib on top of the barrel with what appears to be a platinum inlay saying "Emil V. Nordheim, Mehlis I/TH."  Font is fairly plain and is done in large and small capitals.  There are two inlaid rings of the same metal near the action face and the action is lightly scroll engraved with case colors.  The wood is fairly plain with just a little burl at the butt and near the fore end tip and just a little checkering.  A positive note is that the original tang, barrel rib, and front sights are all present along with the adjusting key.  I can't get a picture posted with this message, but will try to do so from home.

OK everybody, what have I got?  Biggi, are you out there listening?

Thanks in Advance,
Froggie

I don't mean to high jack this thread but, this is the first time that I've seen Nordheim come up in a thread.

I lived for 10 years in Yreka, California (20 mi South of the Oregon border) and there was a gunsmith that was in business there building rifles name George A. Nordheim. I believe that he started business by about 1860 and built many Muzzle loading rifles for sale, a friend collected them. I don't know if he built SS with his name on them but, I would think so. I believe he lived after the turn of the centry but, can't say for sure.

This is a 1885 directory listing for him.

Nordheim, George A. - gunsmith, dealer cigars & tobacco

Biggi, is he listed as any of the german gunsmiths?

Frank

OK, I've gotten home and have downloaded some pix from my i-phone.  Hopefully I can get these uploaded to the sight.  Notice how "blonde" the wood looks.  Is it perhaps Birch or Beech?  Here's the first group;

And one more.  Sorry I still don't understand reducing pictures like I thought I did. 

Froggie

Frog, I love that barrel mounted rear sight, looks like it is adjustable for windage and elevation through a square key shaft. Nice.

Neither birch nor beech. Best guess without a closer look is Juglans Regia, the walnut that grows from England to Turkey to China. The color, texture, and figure varies widely. Walnut fades with time and UV exposure to extremely blond shades. Even taking a sliver and sending it to a dendrology lab might not be conclusive. Sure is right pretty, wood and metal both.

Did that come through OK?  Sorry for the lack of sharpness, but it was taken with my i-Phone in a dimly lit shop, and close-ups don't do that well in that type of set-up.  Although it doesn't show up in the picture, this is a nice silvery color without any polishing, leading me to the suggestion that it may be a platinum inlay.  Ideas?

Froggie

Bore condition and caliber will drive the final price. But the rifle has its sights and these are often missing.  The rifle overall looks good. My est range is $1,000 - 1,500. The Martinis bring slightly less money than the Aydt falling block type rifles. 
... My $0.02
... Joe D