Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Difference in Interarm MKX Mannlicher rifles

I've noticed some sport a crossbolt. What are the differences between the makers, assembly, ect.
I've seen both single triggers and doubles as well as spoon bolt versions.

I had a Whitworth in 7x57 with a single trigger and round bolt knob on a swept back handle. The knob had a checkered flat on the bottom.

Old70

Interarms imported the Mark X for a long time and over that run there were a variety of styles/configurations, some pretty fancy and some as plain and homely as a mud fence.

I've owned quite a few of them, some configurations that I liked and some that I didn't. I grew up in a "no set triggers" household, so when I got Mark Xs with set triggers, the butterknife style bolt handle, and a Mannlicher style stock the trigger got replaced with a Timney unit. Most of the time I also replaced the butterknife style bolt handles because they have a very high lift and I like to mount my scopes as low as the stock's comb height and the scope's objective bell will accommodate.

I've still have got 5 of them around; a 243, 2x 260 parts guns, a 7x57, and a 9.3x62 parts gun.

i miss the Mark X and to a lesser degree the Remington 798s, primarily because the stocks on the current Zastava M70s and M85s are so poorly finished, the checkering is little more than shallow scratches, that they don't seem to be worth the asking price.

[quote=260Remguy

i miss the Mark X and to a lesser degree the Remington 798s, primarily because the stocks on the current Zastava M70s and M85s are so poorly finished, the checkering is little more than shallow scratches, that they don't seem to be worth the asking price.[/quote]

Seconded!

Its too thick and handles like a 2x4 as well.

I'm looking at two. Both 30-06.
One has a cross bolt and one does not.

Boy Howdy have there been a bunch of them! I owned two, a very basic .30/06 with the worst trigger ever this side of a Russian milsurp, and a BDL-like .270 that had an outsized chamber, but otherwise was okay. I bought them because at the time FNs were almost never seen in gunshops, and were very pricey when they appeared. Since then, the market has changed and online prices are very similar, so I stick with the more consistent FN variants: Sako High Powers, some Huskys, J.C. Higgins, etc. Aside from the typical split tang in the Husky (WTF is with THAT, anyway?) they’ve all been usable as-is, the only problems being heavy triggers and some odd scope mount holes for mounts of the past. I think I have enough for an old man now, but I still cruise the racks in hope. I see more Zastavas than FNs, but few of either. Last one was a Remington, easily passed due to poor finish on the stock and metal, and that odd floorplate release. The actions are solid, but the trimmings can be iffy.

I have owned Interarms Mark X with three different Mannlicher-style stocks.

One style has a classic style stock with a pancake-style raised cheekpiece, cross-bolt, and skip-line checkering on light walnut. This Mark X was originally a 30-06 with DST and the high lift butterknife style bolt handle. Now it is a 260 REM with a Timney trigger and a Brownell's bolt handle.

One style has a monte carlo style stock with a raised cheekpiece, no cross-bolt, and well done pressed checkering on light walnut. I have 2 of these that are a matched pair, one in 7x57 and the other in 9.3x62 via a Lothar Walther barrel.

One style has a monte carlo style stock with a raised cheekpiece on dark walnut with cut checkering. This was a higher grade rifle, but I don't recall what they called it. I haven't had one of these for around 30 years and don't recall seeing more than a hand full since then. The one that I had was chambered in 243 and I didn't feel the need for another 243 with a Mannlicher-style stock, as I already had a Husqvarna and 4 S&W Ds and Es that were being imported by S&W.

I wonder if a fellow could point up the checkering with some tools. And then refinish with something other than the single tea-bag they must have used at the factory.

The current production Zastava 70s and 85s that I've seen and the one that I owned had very shallow checkering that could be recut and the stocks refinished, but how well it would come out would depend on the skill and patience of the person doing the work. If I had found an M85 in 7.62x39 with a Mannlicher-style stock, i would have considered doing that work, but I haven't seen any M70s or M85s with Mannlicher-style stocks in person and given the regular M70s and M85s that I have seen, I would be reluctant to send money to someone for an on-line purchase even if it had good detailed pictured and a return period.

I've not seen the Mannlicher either, but my Zastava has really nice wood that I was able to bring out with some Timberluxe. But the checkering is exactly what you described: it looks like it was done with a butter knife. I might get some tools and give it a whirl. At worst, should I screw it up, I could send it off and have it recut. It wouldn't hurt to put the stock on a diet anyway.

Seconded!

Its too thick and handles like a 2x4 as well.[/quote]

They’re often “rifle kits”; each needs to be evaluated to determine how much work they need to bring them up to snuff. Old FNs OTOH, can be found that are ready to roll. Factory models and store brands can be pretty nice and three I have were builds on barreled actions, one a full-out custom by Paul Morton of San Antonio. That was was pretty spendy, $749 I think. French walnut, Mashburn trigger, M70 safety, and Fisher floorplate.

If I was going to buy a commercial LR 98 action to build on, I would look at parting out a Husqvarna 640 for the FN action.

Simpson LTD usually has a dozen or more FN LR 640s listed on their site and at least one of them will have not been d&t for a side-mount scope base.

Simpson LTD usually has a dozen or more FN LR 640s listed on their site and at least one of them will have not been d&t for a side-mount scope base.

That one will be a 9x57
😜

I bought one with the butter knife handle and double triggers. it was a 270. The inletting around the magazine box was terrible. I had it bedded and installed a Timney trigger and it is very accurate. I sold it to a friend. I liked it, just didn't need it.

I believe I have a Mk x 243 stutzen. I need to look as I think it is a standard length action. It may be a 358 Winchester or a 9.3x 62 one day ?? Be Well, RZ.