Churchill 7x57 Mauser

[Dougal McGuire]

I recently bought this rifle over here in the USA, a Churchill brand 7x57 Mauser that looks like it has been sitting a closet since the late 60s. It has a Fajen stock, so hard to match with what I've seen in old Churchill catalogs. It's clearly a repurposed military M98/Kar98k action of some sort. How common are these Churchill Mausers in the UK? Anyone have some good insight on this one? It shoots well, so I'm reluctant to take it out of the stock to look for further markings. I managed to take a feral hog at about 200 yards using 150 grain S&B Exergy Blue load, anyone else have experience with that load? It gets my endorsement for anyone looking for a nontoxic 7x57 load.

 

[tim@tcs]

It looks lovely but I dont think they are still trading, customers can specify stock design when buying custom rifles so a Fajen style stock could have been an original option. The lining up of the serial number on the barrel is a bit disappointing. I know a former Purdey manager, I will drop him a line to see if he knows anything about these?
Edited to add, Churchill buy in shotguns but were bought out in 1971 by Atkin, Grant and Lang. The name exists although I havent found any new rifles. The one in the post below sounds similar to your rifle.

 

[tim@tcs]

Churchill Gunmakers - The Firing Line Forums

Churchill Gunmakers The Harley Nolden Memorial Institute for Firearms Research

thefiringline.com

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I worked next to a modelmaker/patternmaker in ca. 1999 in Maidstone UK who once mentioned to me after I told him I was a shooter that he had done rifle stocking for Churchills in his shed when he was in his twenties for extra cash as he had all the tools and skills needed, I think he was around 50 years old when I met him.

 

[Heym SR20]

Looks like pretty much the standard British stalking rifle built from the 1950’s to 1980’s. They all used Mauser actions of one sort or another. Some repurposed military, others newer commercial ones from FN, Santa barbara etc.

Many came out of Birmingham - Parker Hale and BSA but rebranded a more sulubrious name. Some would have been built by the maker whose name appears on the barrel.

A lot were built for the American market as there was still a great affection for British gunmaking. Monte Carlo cheek pieces, white spaces etc were common. I have a Rigby in my cabinet - better wood but very similar style stock.

Fajen stocks were much more extreme - roll over comes, flared and hooked pistol grips and reverse foreends.

Regardless they make good nice rifles that deserve to be used.

 

[Heym SR20]

 

[Dougal McGuire]

Thanks for all the comments, the misaligned serial number is definitely a little disappointing but it's just a reminder that while it's a nice rifle, it's not that nice. That being said, 7x57 hunting rifles are hard to come by over here, with most being either rough Bubba sporterized Spanish/Chilean Mausers, overpriced and inaccurate Ruger M77s, or very nice but expensive Winchester M70s. I got this one for the price most Bubba sporters go for, so I'm pretty happy. I look forward to making many memories with it. I'd say fit and finish are about Remington 700 level. I researched Fajen stocks, it looks like mine is the Scout model. A poster over on AfricaHunting said these were also sold as barreled actions so I wonder it may have been assembled in the USA with a drop-in Fajen stock. I looked up the address in London, looks like there is an art gallery there now.

 

[VSS]

Thanks for all the comments, the misaligned serial number is definitely a little disappointing but it's just a reminder that while it's a nice rifle, it's not that nice. That being said, 7x57 hunting rifles are hard to come by over here, with most being either rough Bubba sporterized Spanish/Chilean Mausers, overpriced and inaccurate Ruger M77s, or very nice but expensive Winchester M70s. I got this one for the price most Bubba sporters go for, so I'm pretty happy. I look forward to making many memories with it. I'd say fit and finish are about Remington 700 level. I researched Fajen stocks, it looks like mine is the Scout model. A poster over on AfricaHunting said these were also sold as barreled actions so I wonder it may have been assembled in the USA with a drop-in Fajen stock. I looked up the address in London, looks like there is an art gallery there now.

The misaligned serial number adds character, and suggests it was worked on by a human being, not a machine. Nice touch, imo.

 

[Dougal McGuire]

That's a good way of looking at it. I wanted a nice unique sling to go with it, so that's a Harkila sling I ordered from a shop in Swillington that made the journey across the pond. No one over here sells them.

 

[VSS]

That's a good way of looking at it. I wanted a nice unique sling to go with it, so that's a Harkila sling I ordered from a shop in Swillington that made the journey across the pond. No one over here sells them.

I bought the exact same sling.
I used it for a couple of years.
I no longer use it.
Enough said.
Be interested to know how long you stick with it....


(Incidentally, if anyone wants to buy a little-used Harkila leather & canvas sling as per the one in the OP's photos, drop me a PM).

 

[sh1kar]

That's a good way of looking at it. I wanted a nice unique sling to go with it, so that's a Harkila sling I ordered from a shop in Swillington that made the journey across the pond. No one over here sells them.

If it was me I would put a Rigby canvas and leather silent sling on that. A bit more in keeping

S

 

[cjm1066]

Shot my first deer in 1978 with a Churchill in 308 and open sights. It was posh then, lots of 303 Enfields about.

 

[harrygrey382]

I think it’s a really nice rifle - I’d be happy with it in my safe (although I’m starting to amass too many 7x57 mausers…). I’d put it at a cut above your average Parker hale, maybe more of a Voere level but a little below say C&H - ex military actions are definitely more desirable than Santa Barbara. What’s the twist? The serial number notch wouldn’t worry me in the slightest. I’d be p*ssing white line spacers right off though - good thing there isn’t one at the tip.