Mowgli Terry
Active Member
Ben, could you tell me about your trigger guard. In the day all my FN actions did not have the floor plate release inside the TG. A nice rifle with first class workmanship.
7X57 mm Custom Rifle
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
Charles Graff
Moderator Emeritus
Wow, I am very impressed!
I have not touched this rifle in the past 30 years.
The rifle has been in FL in the back of a gun safe.
My friend who originally built this rifle( and is dead now ) hired me to do the stock work. He had a large supply of 98' Mauser bolts, bottom metal, stocks , etc. Specifically what type of bottom metal this one has on it, I don't know. I do know that he had a gunsmith that he shipped off some of his better bottom metal for a conversion similar to what you see in the photo.
When I get it home and can examine it , I'll know more.
Ben
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Mowgli Terry
Active Member
Thanks
SWISS SHOOTER
Banned
Nothing beats an FN action !
RBHarter
West Central AR
I don't know , I had a 1916 DWM Berlin GEW 98 and a 197? FN 98 , it'd be pretty hard to call one or the other clearly better .....that MK X was pretty nice too .....it's pretty hard to call a true superior 98 that cocks on opening with a non GI safety .
Non collector , gave up on knowing all of the minutiae , unabashed Mauser junkie .
Non collector , gave up on knowing all of the minutiae , unabashed Mauser junkie .
Mowgli Terry
Active Member
The way I feel: The non-military German made actions are wonderfully finished. Also the pre-WW2 German actions are very finely finished. I've got a Mauser Banner marked action from one of the rifles sold to China prior to WW2. That action is saved for a special project. New bolt handle has been welded on already. Has a MarkX TG assembly.
I was shown a nice custom Mauser using a GEW 98 action in 300 WSM. My first thought is the newest of those actions one hundred and three years old for a short magnum? My last rifle was built up on a BYF43 action that was salvaged from a Bubba hack job. The barrel had the standard Bubba barrel break-in using corrosive ammo and not cleaned for a year.
I was shown a nice custom Mauser using a GEW 98 action in 300 WSM. My first thought is the newest of those actions one hundred and three years old for a short magnum? My last rifle was built up on a BYF43 action that was salvaged from a Bubba hack job. The barrel had the standard Bubba barrel break-in using corrosive ammo and not cleaned for a year.
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Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I don't mind them from the shoulder either. I've used one enough that the "funny" bolt lift seems natural. Same with the SMLE. Now, working the Steyr 95 or Swiss K31 from the shoulder, that's just awkward although it should be easier!
I have a commercial FN action with a shot out 6.5-06 bull barrel on it. I always was going to build a 375 or 400 Whelen on it. Probably never get to it.
Mowgli Terry
Active Member
You gotta admit that the inventors saw fit to cock on opening along with other changes. . After the improved model hit the market the world of bolt actions was never the same.
I am still very impressed with OP's. The thought of duplicating that rifle at today's prices is staggering. I had a mid-50's FN based gun in 257 Roberts. I had been stocked in curly maple. It was the rifle where I learned 257 Roberts was no maypop cartridge. My old, now long gone, rifle was nice but could not hold a candle to OP's.
I am still very impressed with OP's. The thought of duplicating that rifle at today's prices is staggering. I had a mid-50's FN based gun in 257 Roberts. I had been stocked in curly maple. It was the rifle where I learned 257 Roberts was no maypop cartridge. My old, now long gone, rifle was nice but could not hold a candle to OP's.
Mowgli Terry
Active Member
The cock on closing rifle are fine. The 98 based sporters come out much better. How would OP's rifle look built on a Carcano or Arisaka action? The cock on closing rifle had their own history. When the 98 came it was the end of an era. It ended with a bang not a whimper.
I got a two volume set of books on American custom rifles. OP's rifles would fit right in there. What action was most commonly shown? It was the 1903 Springfield. Uncle had to pay Germans for patent infringements on rifle and cartridges after the Great War. The cock on closing had become a dinosaur. Using up 1917's to make the Model 30's Remington had a cock on opening modification.
I got a two volume set of books on American custom rifles. OP's rifles would fit right in there. What action was most commonly shown? It was the 1903 Springfield. Uncle had to pay Germans for patent infringements on rifle and cartridges after the Great War. The cock on closing had become a dinosaur. Using up 1917's to make the Model 30's Remington had a cock on opening modification.
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Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I've never found the cock on opening to be better or worse. It's just different. I can say that the older cock on closing allows you to tell when the bolt lift is stiff from a hotter load vs some cock on opening where the bolt lift is always somewhat stiff. Either way, they both work great.
Wasalmonslayer
Well-Known Member
Very beautiful rifle glad it is making its way back home to you!
The days of craftsmanship like that are coming to a pivotal time I feel.
Seems like the new mentality is if a computer can not do it for you with a program people don’t want anything to do with it.
The days of craftsmanship like that are coming to a pivotal time I feel.
Seems like the new mentality is if a computer can not do it for you with a program people don’t want anything to do with it.