Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Kesslerin - A super-slim Mauser 98

Hey everyone, I thought I'd share a pretty interesting rifle a local gunsmith here makes based on the Mauser 98.
At the core of this system is a Mauser 98 with a shortened magazine box, still holding three rounds, and a special lower trigger allowing for a very light and trim Mauser stalking rifle, coming in right around 6lbs, as far as I am aware this makes it one of the lightest CRF rifles currently on the market. I was wondering what you all think of these fine rifles. Doing a lot of Jack O'Connor reading recently, it seems like a real treat of a rifle with the only downside being a hefty price tag.

Anyways, here are some pictures:




Also made in the .375 Magnum:



The trigger system:

A sub 5# .375?! The design is easy on the eyes... seems a little impractical on the shoulder?

Darn you made me see the mistake. Used a point instead of a comma while converting the weights. It's actually around 6 pounds. Which is admittedly still pretty light.
I'm just gonna go ahead and edit that in the OP.

Even an honest Left Hand option....

Really nice looking. Makes you make sure you hit your target with the first shot.

Does not fit the model shooting it though. She would have done better with the Bavarian.

I can’t seem to find a price on there. Any idea what a very plain version of one of these would cost?

Beautiful rifle!

No worries! Even 6# is lighter than I'd want a rifle that powerful. Seems like a recipe for limited practice and flinching.

I see a few spots where a little more weight could be shaved. Attractive for sure.

Not a horrible concept. I dislike the trigger design. GD

Theres no way that rifle weighs anywhere near 6lbs. Maybe 6.75 lbs-7 lbs. Put it on a scale and show proof.

I wish I had one of those to put on a scale, the reviewers example landed at 6.15lbs, that's all dependent on the density of the wood, though.
I'm sure they can go up to 6.8-7lbs with very dense wood.


I don't know precisely either, my best guess is that the ones on new actions start around 8000€. Recently a "used" (like new) one went for 5500€.

Nice looking but also fragile looking.

A small ring Kurz version could come close.
Wasn't much to my M77 .308win ultralight
and that for sure didnt come close to 6lb...
IIRC the diminutive WSSM Featherweight
doesnt either.

Btw: has anyone ever put a 1903 Mannlicher
full-wood 6.5x54 carbine on accurate scales
to see if they really weigh only 5 -1/2 lbs ...?
Personally I believe that figure be wrong for
a number of reasons.

Kesslerin is not new to me , came across
them a good number of yrs ago.

I like the look of that 375 but would rather it in a 6.5x57 or 7x57.

Those hogback stocks look like a crippled up old crone, but that .375 is beautiful. One in 9.3X62 would naturally be the best choice.

Beautiful rifle but recoil would get your attention at 6 pounds. I agree with pabucktail, a 9.3x62 would be the ticket.

Do you have contact info for the maker?

This is his website: https://www.waffen-kessler.de/contact.html
and Email address: infowaffen-kessler.de