All,
Do any of you know the general availability and typical expense of small ring Mauser actions? In what form are they typically found these days? Simply as an action for sale, or by purchasing a surplus Mexican Mauser?

Mexican mausers are hard to find and are pricey. I have two of them one is chambered in 25-06 and the other in 257 bob. They make nice handy litlte rifles, the ones made after 1910 are 98 actions. Most of the other ones are 95, 93 and 96 actions that will not withstand the pressure limits of the 98. The 95 Swede is pretty common and comes in an exelent caliber the 6.5. You can usually find actions and complete rifles at auctionarms.com or gunbroker.com, the prices vary but you can usually pick up a swede at a very reasonable price. Hope this helps.

Some of the other small ring 98 mausers that are a bit more common are the VZ-33, VZ33-40 (both Brno made and pretty good), the KAR-98 (be carefull), and the VZ-47 and ZG-47 Brno commercials. The VZ33-40 is probably the pick of the litter for military surplus and there are a fair number of them around.

Thanks guys,

When you can find a good Mexican 1910 it'll usually run about $300-$400 for the whole rifle and about $150-$250 for just the action. 1936 model usually draws a little more. The shame of it is they use to sell for about $15! Ah, the good old day's.

If I wanted a small ring mauser, I'd look for a commercial BRNO 21H small ring. They're darn near a custom gun from the factory. Well, most stuff you'd have on a custom is already there. Double square bridges, iron sight base milled into the barrel, double set triggers, barrel band swivel, etc. They're very well built.

DickD, I gotta correct you. The ZG-47 is a large ring.

Terry


Not mine, but a good example

In my opinion, some of the nicest of the small ring mausers are the lovely little Husqvarna Sporters. Not the miltary 96s or 38s, but the commercial mauser sporters.

My wife's little 7X57 weighs in at just a tad under seven pounds with scope, and is a joy to handle and shoot.

Ted

doesnt Sarco Inc carry alot of thos Husqvarna sporters? i think i remeber seeing they had quite a few in 8x57 and 9.3x57

Yes, and some of those are BRNO actions. Nice little rifles.

Terry

Here's a cute little 1910 Mexican M98. It's at Mark Stratton's right now waiting it's turn in line. I'm going to have a set of custom bases built for it and an 24" octagon barrel in 7X57. Should be nice.

Terry

Terry,

I see you have installed a BOLD trigger. That should work fine.

Who did the Model 70 style safety?

Ted

TC:

That little rifle that isn't yours... it looks nice. Do you know anything about the stock? Recent job? If it is, do you know, or can you find out who did it?

- TJM

I've been running a G33/40 for about 15 years now, it tis a very nice lil action.

MD

Here's my 1936. Just as it came from the factory <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> .

here is my small ring Mauser 110 Year Old Rifle i think i payed $150 or $175 for it just as it is without the Cerekote. i do prefer the look of a vintage Mauser to be nice blued metal matched up with nice but not to showy walnut. but thats just me. it should look like an honest but elegant looking working rifle. the one Karnis posted is how i like them

.......except for the scope mounts, right? They weren't being made back then. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Very, very fine looking outfit. What caliber?

Ted

.275 Rigby <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here's a list of the "name" items added:

Bastogne from Dressels
Sights from NECG, patridge front, single standing, one folding
McGowen barrel 23", 1-10, .575 at the muzzle
Dakota 3 position safety
Talley B&R
Timney
Blackburn guard
Biesen buttplate
Fisher grip cap and swivels
Stock done by Robert Szweda

Took me years to save the shekels and to decide what to add, pure agony when it came to doing it. Only thing I might have done differently is to have the action case colored or a french gray finish with light engraving. Just not enough $$ at the time.

And I do take it hunting. Shoots those ratty TSX's into small clusters at about 2850. Might have to list it in the classifieds <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Not.

Karnis, I have to wipe my chin every time I see that rifle. If mine turns out half that nice I'll be happy.

Terry

That one belongs to a fellow named Ray Atkinson. he does all his own stock work, But that is a factory stock your looking at! That's what I was saying about these being just like custom rifles. It was rebarrled to a 9.3X62 recently. It was up for sale a few months ago. I don't know if he still has it or not. He post's on accurate reloading a lot. You may be able to hunt him down over there.

Here is a really nice one on guns america. Seller claims it's unfired! http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976562590.htm

Here's mine, It's a 7X57



Terry

Hey Ted, That safety hasn't been timed. Mark will do it when it's barreled up.

Terry

That factory would be Karnis Arms I believe. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[quoteHere's mine, It's a 7X57[/quote]

Well, Terry, this is just getting better all the time. I have a real thing for this kind of rifle. What about your stock? What's the story on that?

- TJM

Terry,
Ok, I stand corrected. I had a fellow in Europe ask for a stock for a ZG-47 and said it was a large ring. I told him it had to be a small ring because that how it is listed in Jerry Kuhnhausen's book "The Mauser Bolt Actions". Never heard back from him. I'll correct the entry in my copy of Kuhnhausen's book because a rifle in hand trumps a listing in a book any day. Thanks.

TC,
That Brno is a pretty little rifle.

Do any of you have experience with the Husqvarna rifles from Sarco? I've looked at them a couple of times, but do not know anyone who has purchased one.

Terry, since I'm learning new stuff today I have another question. I thought that firing pin pull knob on your picture of the 1910 Mexican was only made on the 1936 Mexican. Did the 1910's have them also?

Rattler,

There was quite a bit of discussion about these rifles from Sarco on the board about two months ago. IIRC, they are all large ring actions, but that sure wouldn't deter me from buying a couple of them, especially in 9.3X57.

Unfortunately, they will not ship to Canada or I would have a couple here by now.

Ted

There was a comment that Husqvarna made rifles on Brno actions; I have had Brnos in about every type they made as well as Husqvarnas in both FN and HVA actions. I have never seen or heard of a Husqvarna rifle built on a Brno action of any type as they made most of their own actions except the FNs and Mauser "Banner" commercial 98s that they used post WWII.

The one other maker that did use Brno actions was Parker-Hale for their "Hussar" model in the very late '50s-early '60s as we old geezers recall. This was the ZG-47 action which is a LARGE ring and I own these so this is more than "book larnin'".

As to Brno 21-22 series actions, I consider these to be the very finest commercial sporting actions ever made, period. I have sold off several of my guns recently, but, kept one minty 21H in 7x57 with the nicest wood I have ever seen on a Brno and a minty ZG-47 in .30-06. I have a 21H action with a Timney trigger, Argy 1909 bottom metal and will install a Recknagel Mod. 70 style safety; this will be barreled into a light 9.3x62 with a High Tech stock for my geezer-Grizzer gun.

DickD:

The 1910's did not have the Springfield type cocking piece. You can retrofit them. Here's my 1910... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />...6.5x55. I did the fitting & finish on the stock. Although did not checker it.



Terry:

I know what you are going through. Wish I could do it again. As with most things, nothing like having the first full blown custom done. Nice 7x57.

Karnis,
That is a beautiful rifle!!!!!!!!!!!!

Huntr

DickD, The cocking piece is a 1936 but, the action is a 1910.

Kuteney is correct I was thinking of the Hussar when I made the comment about the Husky's.

Expat, I've done buisness with Sarco. If they have small ring mausers I would make sure I knew what I was getting. M-93,95,96,98 etc.

TJM, both mine and ray's stock have been refinished, but they're still the same stocks the rifles came with. Ray uses an alkylne root dye and mine is an English red. If you'll go back to the post were I gave a link to one for sale on gunsamerica, that's how they look in thier stock form.

Off to work
Terry

Dick:
I believe the VZ 33 is uncommon not common. It is the Brno action that Germans adopted as the G33/40, both small rings with milled lightening cuts below the stock line. I don't know if the VZ33 had hollow bolt knobs...anybody know?-- while G33/40s are around, you will pay through the nose for one.

Considering the price of the action and the work to do to it, the Brno 21 make more sense as said above.

The Husky is a 40 ounce action, too, like a G33/40, but not a true 98 (if your picky).

The FN Brownings small rings made for a few years in 243 and 308 are 37 ounce actions. But they are small ring, large thread like the Kars. They were made in the early 60s rather than the turn of the century so better metallugy. As a bonus they have a M-70 type trigger.

Tom,
Ok, I stand corrected again. Too tell you the truth most of my working with mauser actions was back in the late 60's and 70's, and I've forgotton a lot since then. It was simple then as most of these were available and cheap. If you wanted to build a standard rifle you bought a 1908 or 1909 rifle, and if you wanted a smaller lighter rifle you bought a VZ33 or a G33-40. Lots of these rifles in all the gun stores and pawn shops for a hundred bucks or less. I built one or two rifles a year, played with them and then sold them. The fun was in the building. I did the stock work and checkering and Parker Ackleys shop was just down the road in Salt Lake and they did all the metal work for me.
But I haven't worked with a Mauser action for 30 years now. My tastes and hobbies have changed a bit and now I build my 1000 yd. Bench guns with Nesika Bay and BAT actions, but the real fun is still in the building.

Things sure change in a few decades don't they? Gold was about 14 bucks an ounce IIRC...

How big of a shop did Ackley run, Dick? Did he represent the high end of things as a metalsmith at the time?

Tom,

My bolt action book by the late Frank DeHaas says
the HVA action is 32 ounces light. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Really?? I thought my weight figure came from DeHaas---does that include the bottom metal?

Terry,
Is that a mexican 36 bolt on your 1910?

Guess what, Tom? You are indeed correct at 40 oz.! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Damn, that's only 2 oz lighter than a 93 or 95! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
(Wider loading port and no boxy bolt stop? smooth gas sheild?)

This does not include the old style metal trigger guard. Although it was rather flimsy and had a separate sheet steel box held on by a set screw. Text on page 189 says 44 oz for the all steel version.

Don't have a clue how I came up with 32 oz? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Open mouth, insert foot, buddy. I'm guilty! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Your in good company, Don--I have to be re-trained if my coffee break goes too long...

You had me wondering if the 32oz was HVA's titanium version <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

TC1 where did you get the bottom metal? sure looks good on that action.

If it's like mine it was made by Blackburn:

www.blackburnmachine.com

Yes Chic, 36 cocking piece on a 1910 action. You might be seeing it in person as soon as Mark Stratton finishes with it.

Terry

Yep, It's Blackburn.

Terry

Tom,
To the best of my recollection Ackley had about 3 or 4 other gunsmiths in his shop at the time. There was one or two regular gunsmiths and one or two young apprentises. I don't know if I would call him the "high end" of metalworking at the time. He was a very competant gunsmith and master machinest, but ran a "nuts and bolts" gunsmith shop. Built working guns for the locals and worked on their shotguns and handguns. Parker became well known and famous because he was a bit of an academic, good in metalluragy and interior ballistics, and had an inquiring mind. The main difference between him and many of his contemporaries was that he was a good writer and took the time to write up all the things he worked on and publish it, and he enjoyed teaching. He started up the School of Gunsmithing at Trinidad, Colo, and after he left there his shop always had one or two young "trainees" in it. He also had great people skills and within the limits of running a business would usually take time to answer a young guys questions or show him something in the shop.