Another FN mauser comes home

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My aging uncle tells me the other day he picked up a minty commercial mauser at a pawn shop for $300, just because it was a good deal, he doesn’t hunt anymore. I really dont need another rifle, but I told him if he could hold onto it long enough for me to appropriate funds (launder the money from my wife’s knowledge), Id buy it. Yesterday he tells me he’ll trade it for 2 cords of split birch delivered. He heats with wood only and his stores are low. I usually cut And split two or three cords of birch a year just to burn bonfires on the weekends, so I have a good supply on hand. Now we’re both happy. This is my first .300 Win mag, already have an Fn mauser in 300 H&H, so Im excited about on the shelf ammo. What Im curious about is who built this rifle? The stamp on the barrel reads “Self spenard alaska”. My uncle seems to think “self” is bob self, a gunsmith from long ago, but internet search comes up dry. Anyone familiar with that gunsmith?
 

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I owned a FN DeLuxe and it was one of the smoothest rifles I have ever used. I especially liked the safety and I figured out that you didn't have to raise the safety lever all the way to the scope, just half way up, and that way it was easy to push down even wearing gloves. I also liked the way the floorplate came out which made it easy to dump the cartridges in your hand. You're going to have to get some sticky gloves to hold onto it or get someone to do some checkering. I think that rifle was made in the early 1950's which also dates the scope and mounts. FN changed to the Supreme action in the late 1950's and it didn't have a safety on the bolt shroud. I agree with your uncle as 2 cords of firewood would just about get me through the winter, and I really like to burn wood. I think he was planning to give the rifle to you and that was an easy way to get wood. Great looking rifle!
 
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In the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's when a gunsmith wanted a stock for a rifle they bought the pre-shaped stock from two companies that were located in Warsaw, Missouri, and they were Fajen and Bishop. I would guess that your gunsmith fell into that category. Your stock has traditional lines which indicates it could have come from either company, but more than likely your stock was made by Fajen. The gunsmith would get the stock which was inletted for a particular rifle and then do the finish work himself. It looks like your gunsmith took the liberty so do some additional shaping in the area of the grip and the front of the cheekpiece. He either didn't take the time to do the checkering, or didn't have the skill to do the checkering. In either case he came up with a good looking stock.
 
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The only thing I could come up with is Spenard is a suburb of Anchorage, Alaska. (Probably known.) I could not find 'Bob Self' as a gunsmith on bing. (Did find 'Bob Self' the shotgunner.) Didn't find a 'Robert Self' gunsmith, either. I would read the inscription on the barrel as you do.

In any event, the rifle shows signs of a very competent gunsmith. I'm not great on 'magnum' cartridges, but that rifle appeals to me. And an FN made Mauser '98 type action rings my bell.

Looks good to me. Nice score for your uncle and then you.
 
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