I picked up that 7x57AI this morning. It appears to be well put together, the onky name i can find is on the bArrel and that is C. hottenstein. A google search turns up a Carl Hottenstein, gunsmith, Richland Pa. Has anyone wver heard of this maker?

My only comment is that if a 'smith is proud enough of his work to put his name on the barrel, Then it is likely done well...

I can find reference to a Carl Hottenstein but can't be sure. And I hope folks here can enlighten me further, as well as on this action

Richland Pa is out side of Johnstown Pa. Cambria County. Guys buy the name of FOX up that way do pretty well on the Groundhog shoots (BR with no flags)had/have a gun shop did minor repairs. They are still around. Dad was a cop. Another decent smith in the Portage area, think he is still in business old timer. Cant think of his name. Just throwing it out there might help expand your search, track down somebody from the area that knew the smith or dealt with him. Most of the shops in the Portage area are old timers or been around awhile. Portage is about 20 minutes east of Johnstown. Got to go through Richland to get into that whole.

Richland is in Lebanon county. He owned Richland Shooters. The shop is still open but is run by Jim Bucher but I think he is a son-in-law to Hottenstein.

http://www.richlandshooters.com/our-store.html

Richland is in Lebanon county. In the 60s I purchased a German made Mauser from him. My cousin, who lived in that area, dealt with him often and liked his work. He was in business for a considerable number of years.