Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles Mark X Mauser actions info (interarms) Harry Lawson

So I have a Harry Lawson interarms mark x rifle that probably was from the 1970s that is an amazing rifle. I was wondering if anyone here has any knowledge about Harry Lawson using the mark x actions and what the general consensus is about the Mark X actions?

Commercial 98s of varying quality depending upon date of manufacture with good, modern steel. I have some in LH and they clean up quite nicely. Tell us more about the Lawson specimen. Pics?

While they are very serviceable, they are very crudely machined in comparison to the FN commercial actions. The BEST indepth descriptions of the Mk X, as well as virtually all the other commerical mauser rifles and actions that I've seen is the book by Frank DeHaas " "The Bolt Action." If I wanted a rifle based on a commercial mauser action, the commercial FN action would be my only choice. DeHaas talks VERY highly of the FNs and based on my observations, I completely agree.

For those of us seeking an affordable Mauser 98 action the Zastava wins. Wish I had the sheckels for a GMA.

Agree with earlier poster..FNs are a dandy action, however Ive had a couple Mark X and haven't found anything to complain about them, and both have a considerable round count under their belts...

I currently have two customs based on Mark X actions and am very fond of both. Both were customized by very good gunsmiths, and both work every bit as well as my customs based on pre-64 Model 70s.

SOME of the Mark X actions were as nicely finished at the factory as FN's. The late gunsmith Dave Gentry, a 98 nut (he made them in various sizes, including left-handed actions) had a Mark X he showed me that was very well-built. But I would also assume the typical level of machining on Mark X's was due to having to undersell FN to get more business.

I own several FN's, and Whitworth Mark X's. I find no difference in finish and quality... MOF a couple of the Whit's are really nice... :-)

If you look at the Zastava 98 clones you'll see fit and finish issues.
Still good basis for a custom?
Possibly, but I remember an old article by John B.
Look at what you can buy in a new factory, or semi custom like a Nosler and the customs don't make much sense.
However, to a Looney, be they into firearms , or cars, or motorcycles, or.....
Sense has got nothing to do with anything.....

I've had a couple, and also five (IIRC!) FNs. My impression is that the Zastavas are built to the standard demanded by the importer of the day. A lot of the roughness seems to be below the stock line. One Mark X had a truly horrendous trigger reminiscent of a Mosin Nagant, and checkering that looked like I did it.

Due to the dearth of affordable FNs at the time, my late brother had a 7mm RM built by Brown on a magnum Mark X, and it was (is) a fine rifle in every respect, and they left the adjustable factory trigger in place. Killed my first WV buck with it, as my son was using my only CF rifle at the time.

Nowadays, with prices usually about the same it seems, I'll take an FN over the Serbian rifle most of the time, just because, although every Mark X I've seen has had a genuine steel hinged floorplate in place of the slide-off or alloy ones often found on FNs.

It seems as if it depends on who is running the machinery on the day any particular MkX is made as to how smooth or well polished it comes out.
I have had a handful come through my shop that seemed to be cut with "case hardened corn-cobs" and others that were as nice as any FN Commercial action I ever saw.
Most are between the 2 extremes.

However in 50 years I have never seen one that was poorly made, as far as the steel and heat treatment goes. As good as any standard Mauser and better then many.

Even the very rough ones polish up well if you know how to do it, and many rifles made with them have turned out VERY nice and reliable. I like military actions because of the classic look, but I would not turn down a MKX for any of my own rifles either. In fact I have 2 rifles of my own that are made with them.

I've had two, one the Alaskan in .375 H&H which had a problem and the other a .300 Win. Mag. that I'm still kicking myself for letting it go.

The .375 looked good but the top edge of the feed ramp was so rough that it looked like the top jaw of a great white sharp and left very deep gouges in the sides of the brass. Kind of sorry I got rid of that one as accuracy was very good.

The .300 mag. was something else. Either the previous owner altered the original stock or restocked but regardless of which it now looked like a pre-war European Mauser complete with double set triggers. It seemed to be quite a bit lighter than normal and recoil was a bit snappy but I liked the rifle. Guy at the range liked it too and stuck enough cash under my nose that I let him have it. The only other Mauser acton I've owned that was slicker than that Mark X is an M98 Husqvarna with the FN action. I need to get that one D&Ted so I can put a scope on it and see if it will shoot.
Paul B.

I own a number of Mark X's and am switching to this platform for all of my bolt rifles. The two rifle battery is 375 Ruger and 30 06 that can do anything I need it to world-wide and the ballistics are very similar for both rounds. Also have a 450 Bushmaster and .308. The reason I am using the Mark X Standard Size action for the 450 Bushmaster and .308 is parts interchangeability between rifles and in the real world, short actions lighter weight and faster bolt time amount to nothing in the field.

The quality does very between all 4 of these actions. The Whitworth action is the best, an early Mark X probably from around 72 is next best, and the other 2 late model Mark X's are basically functional starter kits for what has the potential to be as good as the others, just takes a lot of work in the smoothing and polishing arena. All of them are accurate, zero issues in this area. Only the 30 06 has a factory mark x barrel on it, the others are custom.

I have a collection of various other mauser actions and I have to say the pre WWII German Mauser military actions can be outstanding with the South American 98's consistently good. The FN is consistently excellent across the board.

Slightly off topic, but I handled a used Zastava M70 a few days ago and I really liked the looks of it. Looked like it was almost brand new, did some researching and nobody has them in stock. I guess they were discontinued also?

I think the Zastava site still lists them but I dont think anyone is importing them.

Zastava makes good, solid actions. During the 1970's Mauser thought highly enough of them that they had Zastava build them with the Mauser logo !

Here is my Lawson