Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Vinzenz Urbas Ferlach Mauser with Noris scope

I recently bought a really beautiful custom mauser by Vinzenz Urbas Ferlach (Austria).

I saw some knowledgeable prior posts here on 24 hr by folks who have owned Ferlach rifles, so I thought I would ask the questions here.

The gun is marked as having a serial number of 2447.

Post 1945 Urbas is listed as having a code of 36.

Urbas is not in the listing as a maker prior to 1945.

I understand that in 1945 the British required a 2 digit gun makers code . Not sure if this ended at some point.
I understand the gunmakers guild disbanded in 1984, so I assume that was the end of the code.

This makes me think the gun is post 1984, based on this info and the ffl's comments where I received it in.



The gun appears to be 30.06, based on go no go cartridges. Going to have a gunsmith verify.

When this goes to the gunsmith to check the caliber, we will disassemble to check for year.



Scope is Noris. I am seeing Noris mentioned with Schmidt and Bender in some ads . (Noris/Schmidt and Bender heading seen in an ad or two)

Perhaps Schmidt and Bender bought Noris and other companies in the 1950's when they started making scopes under the Schmidt and Bender name. Anyone hear of Noris scopes?

Any info that can be provided would be appreciated.

Sellers description


"Mauser .30-06 (I think, not sure, .30-06 chambers but I can't find any
caliber on it and have never fired it). Only markings on gun that are
readily visible are "VINZENZ URBAS---FERLACH, AUSTRIA" on integral rib
on barrel. Barrel is sporter weight octagonal to round with integral
cross hatched rib with 2 flip up sights approximately 25 inches long.
This is really a fine example of the gun maker's art and probably
needs a pic but I'm going to describe it first and possibly post a pic
late if no one buys it instantly. I think I paid over $3000 dollars
for this at auction, but really can't recall. Rifle has Noris 4X scope
with rear mount on bridge and forward mount on barrel. Euro style
mounts with ring around objective lense and rear around barrel of
scope. German #4 type reticle. Stock is average plus wood with fine
checkering, pistol grip, cheek piece for rt. hand shooter, ebony end.
LOP about 13 5/8 inches with about 5/8 inch recoil pad. Has rear sling
mount on stock and forward sling mount is on bottom of barrel. Action
and small amount of barrel is very finely engraved both with scroll
and cross hatching. Excellent quality work. Floor plate is extremely
well engraved with scroll and forest scene of chamois. Scroll on
bottom of trigger guard. Trigger has shoe on it which is easily
removable. Overall metal is in very good condition with some scratches
on barrel from handling and storage. Stock has same with light dings
and scrapes, nothing really obnoxious or major. I repeat, this is a
very fine example of the gunmaker's art and is probably custom made."

Link to more photos
http://s138.photobucket.com/user/mariogiberti/library/ferlach%20mauser

I know nothing about Ferlach, but it looks like a real treasure

that is a cooool looking rifle!!

"Noris" is a brand name of Wilhelm Meyer, a wholesaler in Nuremberg, Germany. They've put this brand on various guns and scopes they've carried. Scopes branded "Noris" evidently have included those made by Schmidt & Bender, as well as Nickel and others.

Nice looking rifle BTW.

Thanks for the info! Fills in some blanks. Thanks at all for the nice comments.

Fortunately, I live 2 or so miles from a London trained gunsmith.
He worked for Smith or Purdy, or one of those well known makers.

He saw a lot of German guns, and was quite helpful with a German Cape gun I picked up two years ago. Said the hinge was 85%, could replace it if necessary.

On top of that, due to the poor high end shot gun market that started in 2008 or 2009, he started doing 1911 work. Had him do some target crowns and such. Superior work.

Treaure for sure.

Back in the early 70s there were two Mauser sporters in my LGS. One was a7x57 built by Flaig's with a Bishop or Fajen stock, and DSTs. The other was an 8mm, possibly a Guild gun that had some light engraving on the floorplate, but was pretty much a gray rat all over. I got the 7, had the DST replaced with a Timney (mistake, on reflection). Always wished I had gone with the other one, as it was certainly more interesting. The 7 is long gone, another entry on my What Was I Thinking? list.

Update

Brought the Ferlach to my British gunsmith. He said it is 1950s. He will take it apart and get all the marks and inscriptions off it. This should provide the exact date of mfg.
There are one or two dents on the stock, he will take them out . (He is a wizard at that. Makes them disappear. Very labor intensive. Not many gunsmiths steam dents out of stocks these days.)
He will double check it is 30.06.
Should have it back in two weeks.

+1 ...

Wow, my Churchill trained gunsmith gave me 24 hr service. He steamed the 2-3 small dents out of the stock, confirmed it is 30.06, by slugging the chamber. Barrel is also marked 30.06

The other markings under the stocks were

Bohler ant

I found a posting that said
"Bohler is a steel company in Austria that is still in business and they continue to make steel for the Ferlach gun makers for their barrels, etc. "

Read more: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=67194#ixzz3jauWqzVW

36 15 75 30.06 (Made in 1975?)

bettem

VU (with a circle around it)''

Small m inside a large U

Various proof marks

2447-66 (I believe this is 2447-36.) 36 is Vinzenz Urbas. Though everything I see says it should read 36-2447,
makers code (36) is supposed to be a prefix.

If anyone knows what these markings , and bettum, mean, please advise.


Thanks

So I am thinking that

36 15 75 30.06 (Made in 1975?)

Means maker 36 (Vinzenz Urbas), 15th gun made that year, year 1975 , cal 30.06

Any other ideas on

bettem

or

VU (with a circle around it)

or

Small m inside a large U