Older side mounted scope base from Husqvarna

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'm looking for some wisdom from another classic Husqvarna fan. I have two early Husqvarna Mauser 98 sporters, both with FN-made commercial actions. One of them came with a side mounted scope base fitted, but no scope or mount. This base is attached with three screws, and has an 11mm wide dovetail with a narrow section at the center and two crossbolt grooves.

I've seen other Husqvarna rifles for sale on Gunbroker and at Simpsons that evidently have the same kind of mounting arrangement, but so far I haven't located a mount for sale by itself. Right now I have a stand-in in the form of a unitized 11mm air rifle mount holding an offset scope, sort of in the manner of an M1D Garand. It works, but lacks elegance.

Based on the dimensions shown in the photos or your own knowledge and experience, does anyone know whether there are other scope mounts compatible with this base other than those made by Husqvarna? I'm particularly curious whether the dovetail would work with the reproduction mounts made for German and Swedish military Mausers.

FYI, I contacted G&H and their system is dimensionally incompatible.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I have a similar mount on my 1916 jp sauer & sohn g98. No idea on brand. I've heard of something like EGW making some. Mine was sportsterized in the 50s.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Should add that it uses to lever cams to lock it in place. Scope is a pecar-berlin

I'll have some better pics around 7pm cst

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Should add that it uses to lever cams to lock it in place. Scope is a pecar-berlin

I'll have some better pics around 7pm cst

Thanks dude! It's a start -- I wish there was some kind of maker's TM on these bases.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Okay so I dont know a thing about this gun/scope and mount other than what i can observe. I don't even know what caliber it is yet! It is a 1916 gewher98.

There are two identical markings on the scope base, indicating it's a 5° something or other. You can see that in the pic of the locking cams. I didnt have a caliper nearby to measure.











As a side note, like my vintage wooden rule? It's at least twice my age I assume

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Okay so I dont know a thing about this gun/scope and mount other than what i can observe. I don't even know what caliber it is yet! It is a 1916 gewher98.

There are two identical markings on the scope base, indicating it's a 5° something or other. You can see that in the pic of the locking cams. I didnt have a caliper nearby to measure.

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As a side note, like my vintage wooden rule? It's at least twice my age I assume

Great pics, and yes, I like your wooden ruler! I've got several old yardsticks of the same ilk. And nobody's fault but the maker(s) for leaving off ID or trademark -- I've got the same problem with my base.

Your base looks like a duplicate of mine, and these are the best photos of the underside of the upper mount I've seen. Many thanks!

Now, if only someone else could tell us more about the who and where of this type of mount, we'll both know some new gun trivia!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Okay so I dont know a thing about this gun/scope and mount other than what i can observe. I don't even know what caliber it is yet! It is a 1916 gewher98.

There are two identical markings on the scope base, indicating it's a 5° something or other. You can see that in the pic of the locking cams. I didnt have a caliper nearby to measure.

View attachment 830657

View attachment 830659

View attachment 830660

View attachment 830661

View attachment 830662

As a side note, like my vintage wooden rule? It's at least twice my age I assume

Cool Mauser, btw. I like the low-profile safety and receiver sight. Hope you get the chance to do a chamber cast and shoot it soon!

 

[BigBlue 94]

Thanks! The safety is the original, cut down. Theres plenty of scars on the scope from I assume the original safety configuration.

The peep is a fully adjustable redfield of 1950s vintage.

I'm bogged down with vehicle projects now, but soon I'll cast the chamber. Already have the castaloy for it. My best figuring puts it at 7x57. Bore is correct for 7mm and an empty 7x57 fits I the chamber nicely.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I've got one of those FN action rifle in 9.3x57 missing scope. This rifle came from a friend who had a small collection. He attempted to see if three different tops would mate with that on the FN. No luck. Looks like those mounts came in many variations.My two rifles are 96 based. These mounts go on the rifle with three screws. The mounts are totally different as to swapping any parts.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Thanks! The safety is the original, cut down. Theres plenty of scars on the scope from I assume the original safety configuration.

The peep is a fully adjustable redfield of 1950s vintage.

I'm bogged down with vehicle projects now, but soon I'll cast the chamber. Already have the castaloy for it. My best figuring puts it at 7x57. Bore is correct for 7mm and an empty 7x57 fits I the chamber nicely.

The 7mm Mauser chambering would make it an awesome shooter! Great find.

 

[Skylerbone]

@Dave DeLaurant, Best I can tell this is a Williams SM-70 (discontinued). 1.5” CTC (.75” CTC between each hole) as measured. Offset is 9/16” from mounting point to center of scope rings. Might be a replacement for your current set-up?

Edited to add: offset is on 1” rings.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

@Dave DeLaurant, Best I can tell this is a Williams SM-70 (discontinued). 1.5” CTC (.75” CTC between each hole) as measured. Offset is 9/16” from mounting point to center of scope rings. Might be a replacement for your current set-up?

Edited to add: offset is on 1” rings.

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Nice clear photos, thanks!

Lots of similarities here, but the Williams system is a simpler approach than the Swedes took. If I understand both systems correctly, the rings on the Williams side mount are separately mounted to the base. The Swede used a unitized upper with both rings part of an integral unit that clamped to a base via an 11mm dovetail.

Your photos are still useful, however -- if I get desperate I could probably make a Williams mount fit using the same screw positions. The hole spacing looks close, only I believe mine uses metric measurements. I'd have to be fairly desperate to try removing my base as the screws on my rifle have been peened flush from the reverse side, but it's nice to have options. Thanks again!

 

[Skylerbone]

the rings on the Williams side mount are separately mounted to the base.

Correct. In that way different ring heights could be used as well as 30mm rings. The rings themselves swivel in the mount and the rear can be positioned for windage correction via 1/4 circle slot.


Crude drawing on iPhone, top view:

 

[Skylerbone]

Griffin & Howe? The company still exists, expensive stuff.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Griffin & Howe? The company still exists, expensive stuff.

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Yup -- they were very helpful by email when I contacted them. I've bought entire rifles for less than some of their basic components sell for, though. Sometimes I wish I'd been born to the tweedy-horsey set. . .

 

[Skylerbone]

I’ve been gnawing away at this in my spare time and found what looks like another manufacturer of similar mounts. Davidson (defunct?) is what comes up, and Harrell rings (and they do make offsets) are possible leads. I’ve yet to come across dimensions but Kelby rings I believe also fit.

Again don’t know if this will help, but someone out there has the answers. Best of luck Dave.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I’ve been gnawing away at this in my spare time and found what looks like another manufacturer of similar mounts. Davidson (defunct?) is what comes up, and Harrell rings (and they do make offsets) are possible leads. I’ve yet to come across dimensions but Kelby rings I believe also fit.

Again don’t know if this will help, but someone out there has the answers. Best of luck Dave.


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We're thinking along the same lines! I had looked at several types of offset benchrest scope ring designs for 11mm bases, and if I ever decided to go the custom fabricated route (to get the offset and height just right) this has potential. Can't recall whether PMA tool came up in my search, though -- thanks!