headoftheholler
Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2012
- Messages
- 345
Got another project complete this weekend. This rifle started life in 1937 in Nazi Germany (has Weimar Republic stamps as well as the standard Nazi eagles) as a K98 mauser infantry rifle. Somewhere down the line it came to the US and the stock had been cut and drilled and tapped for scope mounts for use as someones deer rifle. Ethics of sporterizing a piece of history aside it doesnt make much financial sense today to cut an original K98 as they are worth much much more complete, but this one was already D&T'd so I was good to go.
This is the grandpappy of all modern rifles, the 98 action and features were nothing short of a revolution in modern rifle tech, that still carries on today with the Winchester mod 70, Remington 700, Ruger M77, Kimber, Cooper, the 1903 Springfield, Dakota, and the list goes on and on, all copies of the Mod. 98.
My project ideas were twofold.
One, I wanted to create a rifle that my grandpa might have had made in the 50's or 60's when sporterizing war trophys was the rage. I think I did well with the stock choice as it looks the part, time wise.
and Two, I wanted to take something that most certainly took part in our Worlds history as one of the most evil and hated powers (nazi germany) and transform a former arm of evil and hate into something more useful , to give it a new life.
Chambered in 8mm mauser (8X57) this caliber never really took off in popularity here in the US. Partly because it was a kraut round but also because US loadings of the 8mm are tepid, more akin to a bolt action 30-30 balisticlly. This is due to our litigious society and fear some dumbass would chamber a hot 8mm in an old GEW88 commission rifle and blow his face off. European loadings maintain the original ballistics sending a 196 grain softpoint that will outperform a 150 grain 30-06 bullet. I lucked into two dusty boxes of NORMA softpoints for 19 bucks a box (these sell for close to 50 a box) and these things scream.
Anyways, to the before and after and the glory shots.
Here we have the mauser as I bought it, chopped military stock, cheap scope mounts and a mangled bolt handle.
Step one was to send the bolt off, I added a commercial bolt shroud before sending it to Skip Baldwin ( www.baldwinboltjeweling.com )
He cut the old handle off and forged a new one on with a hollow bolt handle before polishing and jeweling.
Next I got a stock off ebay, this one looks to be maple, and came off a Flaigs mauser sporter. It has decent figure and was very well made, most likely in the 50s or 60's. Stripped everything down and prepped and rust blued all the metal. I used Leupold mounts and rings and a vintage steel tube Weaver K4 with an appropriate post reticle. Here is the finished project minus a sidesafety Timney that hasnt came in yet, hope you like it.
This is the grandpappy of all modern rifles, the 98 action and features were nothing short of a revolution in modern rifle tech, that still carries on today with the Winchester mod 70, Remington 700, Ruger M77, Kimber, Cooper, the 1903 Springfield, Dakota, and the list goes on and on, all copies of the Mod. 98.
My project ideas were twofold.
One, I wanted to create a rifle that my grandpa might have had made in the 50's or 60's when sporterizing war trophys was the rage. I think I did well with the stock choice as it looks the part, time wise.
and Two, I wanted to take something that most certainly took part in our Worlds history as one of the most evil and hated powers (nazi germany) and transform a former arm of evil and hate into something more useful , to give it a new life.
Chambered in 8mm mauser (8X57) this caliber never really took off in popularity here in the US. Partly because it was a kraut round but also because US loadings of the 8mm are tepid, more akin to a bolt action 30-30 balisticlly. This is due to our litigious society and fear some dumbass would chamber a hot 8mm in an old GEW88 commission rifle and blow his face off. European loadings maintain the original ballistics sending a 196 grain softpoint that will outperform a 150 grain 30-06 bullet. I lucked into two dusty boxes of NORMA softpoints for 19 bucks a box (these sell for close to 50 a box) and these things scream.
Anyways, to the before and after and the glory shots.
Here we have the mauser as I bought it, chopped military stock, cheap scope mounts and a mangled bolt handle.
Step one was to send the bolt off, I added a commercial bolt shroud before sending it to Skip Baldwin ( www.baldwinboltjeweling.com )
He cut the old handle off and forged a new one on with a hollow bolt handle before polishing and jeweling.
Next I got a stock off ebay, this one looks to be maple, and came off a Flaigs mauser sporter. It has decent figure and was very well made, most likely in the 50s or 60's. Stripped everything down and prepped and rust blued all the metal. I used Leupold mounts and rings and a vintage steel tube Weaver K4 with an appropriate post reticle. Here is the finished project minus a sidesafety Timney that hasnt came in yet, hope you like it.
