Pine Marten
Well-Known Member
Hello everyone.
Some of you may recall that following a bureaucratic accident, my previous Sauer drilling suffered a sad end earlier this year. But I pulled myself together, chalked it up to expensive experience (never have anything to do with the Proof House if you can possibly avoid it), and set off in search of a replacement. Back in late July, I spotted a likely contender on eGun.de: a seemingly unused 16/16/7x65R Simson Luxus. It was time to brush the cobwebs off my German and to learn some gunmaking terminology (which has been an adventure in itself and a worthwhile exercise). First of all, this gun came equipped with an Einstecklauf (insert barrel) which I didn't want, and was crowned by a huge old 8x56 Zeiss which I wanted replaced with the Kahles Helia 1.6-8x42 that I'd initially bought for the previous, deceased Sauer. Sure enough, the lady at the gunsmiths in Saarwellingen said that we could do a deal on that basis, and that the Buechsenmachermeister (master gunsmith) could mount my scope if I posted it over, no problem. Deal done.
Obviously, it wasn't that straightforward, and I'm sparing you the paper trail story because it's dull. The BueMa (new acronym I've picked up) had a devil of a time obtaining the right rings, and as I understand it had to partly machine the front one in the end. But after four months, I finally went to pick it up in William Evans yesterday evening, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. The lady wasn't joking when she said it was Neuwertig (as new)! I don't think it's ever been used. The wood is beautiful and pristine, the blacking deep and unblemished, the bores sparkling, all the parts still have that tightness of a new gone. Indeed, it took some WD40 and a couple of very light taps with a covered small hammer to unlock the rear mount of the scope. Enough talking, here are some pictures. There remains just one question: can I shoot with it? That's the next episode.
Some of you may recall that following a bureaucratic accident, my previous Sauer drilling suffered a sad end earlier this year. But I pulled myself together, chalked it up to expensive experience (never have anything to do with the Proof House if you can possibly avoid it), and set off in search of a replacement. Back in late July, I spotted a likely contender on eGun.de: a seemingly unused 16/16/7x65R Simson Luxus. It was time to brush the cobwebs off my German and to learn some gunmaking terminology (which has been an adventure in itself and a worthwhile exercise). First of all, this gun came equipped with an Einstecklauf (insert barrel) which I didn't want, and was crowned by a huge old 8x56 Zeiss which I wanted replaced with the Kahles Helia 1.6-8x42 that I'd initially bought for the previous, deceased Sauer. Sure enough, the lady at the gunsmiths in Saarwellingen said that we could do a deal on that basis, and that the Buechsenmachermeister (master gunsmith) could mount my scope if I posted it over, no problem. Deal done.
Obviously, it wasn't that straightforward, and I'm sparing you the paper trail story because it's dull. The BueMa (new acronym I've picked up) had a devil of a time obtaining the right rings, and as I understand it had to partly machine the front one in the end. But after four months, I finally went to pick it up in William Evans yesterday evening, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. The lady wasn't joking when she said it was Neuwertig (as new)! I don't think it's ever been used. The wood is beautiful and pristine, the blacking deep and unblemished, the bores sparkling, all the parts still have that tightness of a new gone. Indeed, it took some WD40 and a couple of very light taps with a covered small hammer to unlock the rear mount of the scope. Enough talking, here are some pictures. There remains just one question: can I shoot with it? That's the next episode.
