The Modern Mauser 98

Well, here's a few of them. The most well known ones. There are others offcourse. Many without net pages. My rifle was from Bock Kranj.




Then there's one schooled and trained in Ferlach (there are some others offcourse). He uses top quality materials and does most work by hand. His M98 actions are probably German or Austrian made (perhaps he even makes them himself, don't know about that one...). His pieces are Ferlach quality but perhaps somewhat less expensive. Still premium priced though, but his work is second to none.


Gunsmithing in Slovenia is very highly developed due to proximity to Ferlach. Ferlach is in Austria, just a few miles beyond Slovenian border.
For similar money you could probably have a rifle custom made from Ferlach.
Depends on what you are looking for and whether you want a hunting rifle or a work of art. I have a Ferlach built combination and the likes of Hambrusch still built good solid working rifles, but also do some very nice work. The action of a 700 Nitro express. Below. But they also were taking an old Rook rifle that had been bored to 410 and lining in to 22 hornet and adding sight mounts. Cost c€1,200.

also German gunmakers such as zimmerman - Zimmermann Waffen oHG

or in France Dorleac & Dorleac
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I'm considering a new rifle for some time now. Chosing between steyr mannlicher sm12 and custom built 98. The Sm12 is an Austrian rifle with tradition in modern style. The 98 however is the mother of traditional rifles. Also one has to choose between modern materials and the all steel construction of a 98. The 98 appears to be more solid and might last longer. The modern sm12 is a more modern design and thus more user friendly. The sm12 does look more stylish right out of the box. But with a custom built 98 you have the option of complete customisation. Tough choice.
 
I'm considering a new rifle for some time now. Chosing between steyr mannlicher sm12 and custom built 98... Tough choice.
Each to their own - it would be no contest for me, 98 all the way. As you mentioned - all steel/walnut, time proven unbeatable reliability and rugged construction, timeless styling and still the most revered action. It has the best/safest gas handling characteristics, is easy to rebarrel, world wide parts availability is exceptional.

And the Steyr as always (early Mannlichers aside) looks awkward and off in its proportions with the overly long and bulbous receiver and the ejection port looks tacticool. I’m sure it would be a beautiful rifle to use and accurate as you like, but I would put it in a different (and lesser) class to a 98 and priced accordingly

Disclaimer- I may be biased...
 
Each to their own - it would be no contest for me, 98 all the way. As you mentioned - all steel/walnut, time proven unbeatable reliability and rugged construction, timeless styling and still the most revered action. It has the best/safest gas handling characteristics, is easy to rebarrel, world wide parts availability is exceptional.

And the Steyr as always (early Mannlichers aside) looks awkward and off in its proportions with the overly long and bulbous receiver and the ejection port looks tacticool. I’m sure it would be a beautiful rifle to use and accurate as you like, but I would put it in a different (and lesser) class to a 98 and priced accordingly

Disclaimer- I may be biased...
Thanks, very interesting opinion, worth considering.
 
 
Got to admire the workmanship, but surely I am not the only person to think this is impossibly bling.

David.
 
Agree overly bling but if a 308 is wanted this is a commercial Kurtz action
If I spent lots of money and got a a standard length 98 with a magazine block not knowing a to scale action was available I’d be sad
 
Yuk. WR really do go in for excessive bling - they must cater for the sheik market... here’s another ghastly offering
 

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Well if I had enough money to pay for that grade of engraving and a taste bypass. but not on the NHS, I would at least like a commercial action not a recycled military one with a thumbcut to weaken it. :lol:

David.
 
recycled military one with a thumbcut to weaken it.
I agree with that; however, I understand from reading Holts catalogues that a rifle with a thumb hole cut out cannot be exported to the States.
Anybody care to enlighten me as to why this is?
 
military one with a thumbcut to weaken it. :lol:

David.
Well, the thumb cut doesn’t make it weaker where it matters. It’s behind the locking lugs so is irrelevant to strength where it matters. The only time it’d be an issue is if you took it out of the stock and started hammering rocks with it...

It’s also been stated a few times that it provides a path for excess gas during a case rupture - the bolt stop blocks the travel down the raceway and the thumb notch provides an alternate route.

Originally Mauser put thumb notches in all their rifles - commercials as well, so it doesn’t signify ex mil necessarily. FN even continued it in their commercials to start with, although went solid around the time they decided they couldn’t be bothered making a full C ring.

Personally I like a thumb notch - you can tell at first glance it’s not a Santa Barbara or zastava...
 
^ " The only time it'd be an issue is if you took it out of the stock and started hammering rocks with it.... "
I would never use one of my 98s to do that , that's what my Baikal SXS is for .......... I think it likes it .

AB
 
^ " The only time it'd be an issue is if you took it out of the stock and started hammering rocks with it.... "
I would never use one of my 98s to do that , that's what my Baikal SXS is for .......... I think it likes it .

AB
You’re quite right, it’s better to use the correct tool. I hear S&B scopes don’t mind a hammering, although here they prefer vortex ones...
 
I don’t know if it counts but I have a 98, Argentinian model 1909 action classic stalking rifle in 270Win, it works for me. I’m not sure about the heirloom thing though, medium bore rifles tend to get used and say 5,000 rounds wont last as long as you think so maybe plan on having it re-barrelled?
The action itself is pretty bomb proof once its properly set up and you run it hard, it does tend to hang up if you try to load it quietly.
I also have one of these in 30-06 in my case, yes run the bolt and all is well. baby it and it may hang up.
 
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