My Masterpiece Mauser Project

[AJumbo]

Since the 6.5 Swede isn't a thumper of a round, I vote for the Neidner, though I think the skeletonized gip cap is a nice touch.

 

[RPRNY]

I agree, I don't see full on $3-4K commisioned customs coming around all that often, the bread and butter work would put food on the table but to be honest what is holding me back is I think I am 30-40 years too late, there just isn't a market today for custom mausers vs custom AR's.

I'm not sure about that. The issue is more the potential lack of cheap Mausers to fix up, but I think there's a generational change afoot there. With the exception of predator hunters and a few pig eradicators, these ARs are range toys or SHTF tools. There will always be a market for the custom deer rifle. And there is a price point between the Tika and the Cooper that will drive both margin and volume. FN made Mauser action JC Higgins are still selling for $500 -700 with their fugly red stained, plain-Jane stocks. I have a moderately done Bishop stocked Interarms 94 Swede that screams for a Mannlicher stock (I have a well executed one on my M49 Persian Mauser carbine). There's volume out there and the Interarms Swedes and 50's/60s cheap surplus 98s that were Bubba'd are changing hands now and calling out for reasonably priced prettification. You need to establish your model that delivers options people want at an affordable price that gives you reasonable margin. After that it's just marketing. And in this small, incestuous, chatty world, good work will go a long way.