Fantasy League Rifle Selection: newly-made Mannlicher-Schönauers! (No, really!)

[Pine Marten]

I have absolutely no need for another rifle nor do I have the spare cash for one of these, but I was delighted to discover that Thomas Miedler in Austria has been making brand new rifles on new Mannlicher-Schönauer actions/barrels since 2015. Turns out he bought all the old machines from a previous gunmaker in 2015 when he went bankrupt, having himself bought the equipment from Steyr when production ceased. Here's the website, and the catalogue and price-list (not unreasonable for what we're looking at here, I think).

I can't quite decide whether the colour case-hardened action is superb in a kitsch sort of way or just gaudy.

Also, does it count as a real one? I mean in a strict sense no, but then nevertheless sort of. What do you think? Available in a dozen common European and US chamberings, any stock you like, modern scope mounts to match. No evidence that he would contemplate threading these for a moderator and quite right too.

 

[Kalahari]

Well the modern Mauser 98s are still 98s.

David.

 

[trickie]

Well I think the case hardening looks fantastic - slightly gaudy, but different enough for me to like it.

Sadly not currently in the market for such a fantastic bit of kit.

Thanks for posting

 

[375win]

Please Santa, I'll be extra good....
Agree, color case hardening, I would have to see in the flesh.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I can't quite decide whether the colour case-hardened action is superb in a kitsch sort of way or just gaudy.

It’s not compulsory to colour case-harden whatever super-slick rings & mounts you fit, so fear not the critical eye of your friendly BSRC RCO.

K

 

[Dalua]

Well I think the case hardening looks fantastic - slightly gaudy, but different enough for me to like it.

This is an interesting point, which I've seen raised on a German forum. The comment was that the German colour case-hardening tends towards gaudiness in comparison to the more-restrained colours on English work of that kind. This made me think of the German word for it 'Bunthärtung', of which the second bit means 'hardening', but the first ('bunt') is often used alone for 'colourful' rather than merely 'coloured'. I wonder how the techniques differ.

 

[C h r i s]

Nasty thing!

 

[trickie]

Nasty thing!

Would you not like one at all?

 

[harrygrey382]

The idea of a new Mannlicher-Schönauer is very cool (almost as cool as a new 98), and potentially a beautiful rifle. However, I put colour case hardening (and that colour case hardening is particularly offensive - it looks like someone’s massively f*cked up a bluing job and oiled it half way through) in the same group as overly figured walnut, gold inlaying, engraved patterns, overly ornate checkering and any stock inlays - that is gaudy and over stated. Why ruin what could be a superb rifle with glitzy bling? All it is is a distraction from the fundamentals- it either hides something good or hides something bad. Good rifle design needs to rely on impeccable design with flowing or complimentary lines, perfect fit and finish, uncompromising attention to detail and very subtle embellishments- you should love it without being able to say why, not because of a glaring in-your-face bedazzlment

Damn I’m an opinionated party pooper

 

[harrygrey382]

Would you not like one at all?

I wouldn’t say no - could always strip it back and rust blue it

 

[Pine Marten]

I mean if you look at the catalogue you'll see it comes in plain black too...

 

[Klenchblaize]

Nothing wrong with colour case-hardening provided restraint is exercised. IMHO just the action and scope bases should be given the treatment. The bolt should be left in the white or jewelled which would contrast nicely. The handle to match all other blueing.

Neither can I understand what’s wrong with highly figured wood and imaginative checkering.

K

 

[willie_gunn]

One can only hope it looks better in the flesh!

 

[Klenchblaize]

I guess there are always exceptions:

K

 

[Heym SR20]

I really do like Mannlicher Schoeneurs. My Pa was given one in the 1950’s by his Godfather. He used it to shoot Spurwing geese and crocodiles on the Kafue flats in the then Northern Rhodesia. Sadly it had to be sold when we came back from Africa in the mid 1970s along with his 280 Mauser - its what he always referred to it as. Not sure exactly what it was.

A very good, sadly now a late friend, John Low had many mannlichers in his gun room. He dealt in them and he had a number of custom rifles built on these actions. @Edinburgh Rifles has a number of these in their gun room.

I would love one. But realistically be a lefty they are not a gun for me.

However I do understand that the new makers in Austria have built some left handed actions - I would love one.

 

[User00040]

Worth about £50 scrap value

 

[harrygrey382]

I mean if you look at the catalogue you'll see it comes in plain black too...

I did, and that’s great. But the question was asked about colour case hardening one

 

[harrygrey382]

Also, does it count as a real one? I mean in a strict sense no, but then nevertheless sort of. What do you think?

That’s a subjective one - I think by most definitions yes it does count as a real one. Eg - is a new Mauser 98 a real one? Compared to the original - it’s made in a different factory, with different machinery, by a company that has fairly tenuous links with the original. In fact to take that further - is an FN, a Steyr or anything that isn’t made in the Oberndorf factory a real Mauser? Most would say yes, although there is room to say not quite

 

[Heym SR20]

 

[20-250]

Worth about £50 scrap value

What's it like going through life hating pretty much everything whilst apparently consumed by a desire to let everyone else know?!