Near MFG

[Mattv]

Has anyone had any dealings with Richard Near from Near MFG in Canada?
Im trying to source a Sako rail from him which they have in stock but the way he wants paying seems very dodgy to me. I’m not prepared to send a photo of my card across the internet to someone I’ve never met on the other side of the world to do with it as they please. He won’t accept a bank transfer from my end either.
All seems to ring alarm bells to me just wondering what the forum wisdom thinks on this subject

 

[deerstalker.308]

I think you’ve answered your own question! Don’t do it

 

[Stalker62]

 

[scotch_egg]

I have bought of him and didn’t have to send a photograph of my card.

I spoke to him on the phone and he was very informative. Might be worth a call.

 

[palo]

I also bought a few rails from him.
I think I sent my card details by fax.
Richards stuff is excellent and he has a good reputation.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again.

 

[Mattv]

I also bought a few rails from him.
I think I sent my card details by fax.
Richards stuff is excellent and he has a good reputation.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again.

I’m still in two minds about the rail as a concept as well. How have you got on with them being a push fit rather than bolted? I suppose the best option would be a bolted near rail but the cost of the rail then the action machining work would start to rack up.

 

[Mattv]

I think you’ve answered your own question! Don’t do it

Yeah that’s my first thoughts, it seems quite a few people have trusted him though and received rails/mounts. Who knows?!!

 

[palo]

I’m still in two minds about the rail as a concept as well. How have you got on with them being a push fit rather than bolted? I suppose the best option would be a bolted near rail but the cost of the rail then the action machining work would start to rack up.

The rails I bought were for the sako trg rifles . They have lugs that fit into the top of the action and are then bolted in.
I would be unsure myself about the sako 75 and 85 rails that push on.

 

[Cumbrian 1]

A lot of there stuff is recknagel and Alan Rhone is the UK dealer have a look in the Recknagel online catalogue

 

[Mattv]

A lot of there stuff is recknagel and Alan Rhone is the UK dealer have a look in the Recknagel online catalogue

It’s a rail for a Sako 85 that I’m after for mounting night vision, I currently have a contessa from Alan Rhone which is far from perfect. Would have loved a custom rail from Neil Mckillop but he is no longer doing them after downsizing, there aren’t many other options that’s why I’m looking at Near, but that’s a push on tolerance fit which is slightly worrying.

 

[Ttocs]

I’ve one for sale for a xs/1 action.

For Sale: - Sako 75/85 Picatinny rail by Near Manufacturing

Very nice (the ultimate) stainless Picatinny rail to fit Sako 75/85 action 1/XS, made in Stainless Steel by Near Manufacturing in Canada. Low profile fits directly onto dovetails. £180 posted within uk mainland

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

They’re very nice rails, they’re not a push fit onto the dovetails - they need to be tapped into position with a block of wood. Once in position ie, the arrester stud is in the notch on the action, it never moves until knocked off agin with a block of wood.
Under recoil, the forces on the rail try to move it forward on the action but its held rigidly in position by the taper and arrester stud. Because there’s no nuts and bolts, there’s nothing to come un-done; looks better too.
cheers
N

 

[Mattv]

I’ve one for sale for a xs/1 action.

For Sale: - Sako 75/85 Picatinny rail by Near Manufacturing

Very nice (the ultimate) stainless Picatinny rail to fit Sako 75/85 action 1/XS, made in Stainless Steel by Near Manufacturing in Canada. Low profile fits directly onto dovetails. £180 posted within uk mainland

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

They’re very nice rails, they’re not a push fit onto the dovetails - they need to be tapped into position with a block of wood. Once in position ie, the arrester stud is in the notch on the action, it never moves until knocked off agin with a block of wood.
Under recoil, the forces on the rail try to move it forward on the action but its held rigidly in position by the taper and arrester stud. Because there’s no nuts and bolts, there’s nothing to come un-done; looks better too.
cheers
N

I get the concept of it tightening under recoil, I just worry that with my heavy NV or thermal scope on and I knock the stock with the gun pointing upwards it will fall straight off, scope still attached to rail. All it needed was a grub screw or something

 

[antsa]

I have one that I bought for a Sako 85 XS action. Can't remember the actual payment process but had no issues with it and the rail arrived as promised. Package suitably marked in order to avoid unwanted Customs attention . As noted above it is tapped onto the dovetail with a hammer and a wooden block or dowel. Full mounting instructions included.

Cheers

 

[Mattv]

Update…. After many an email back and forth to Richard Near, I have managed to order a rail with a slightly more modern approach to paying than originally suggested!
It also turns out the new rails they produce come with a locking bolt underneath to prevent the rail from coming back off the tapered dovetail if they experience a knock from the front. They have had a couple but rare instances where this has been the case hence the mod.
This was my biggest worry when having £7k + worth of thermal and NV scopes with a mount that could, although rare potentially fall off!
Richard is very knowledgeable on the subject of Sako rails with or without the combinations of epoxy’s and the forces generated under recoil of the rifle firing.
Hopefully in about 10 days I will be able to see for myself

 

[scotch_egg]

Update…. After many an email back and forth to Richard Near, I have managed to order a rail with a slightly more modern approach to paying than originally suggested!
It also turns out the new rails they produce come with a locking bolt underneath to prevent the rail from coming back off the tapered dovetail if they experience a knock from the front. They have had a couple but rare instances where this has been the case hence the mod.
This was my biggest worry when having £7k + worth of thermal and NV scopes with a mount that could, although rare potentially fall off!
Richard is very knowledgeable on the subject of Sako rails with or without the combinations of epoxy’s and the forces generated under recoil of the rifle firing.
Hopefully in about 10 days I will be able to see for myself

I forgot he puts the lug on now. Also you need to double check if it’s a full uninterrupted rail. I ordered one and it turned up with cutout to aid ejection so the picatinny slots are only at the front and back of the rail.

 

[Mattv]

I forgot he puts the lug on now. Also you need to double check if it’s a full uninterrupted rail. I ordered one and it turned up with cutout to aid ejection so the picatinny slots are only at the front and back of the rail.

I’ve ordered the full width rail for NV use, he sent me a photo to make sure I was happy with the one I was ordering. Like you say he now does them with a cut out to aid top loading in both right and left hand variants or the full width full slotted rail

 

[scotch_egg]

I’ve ordered the full width rail for NV use, he sent me a photo to make sure I was happy with the one I was ordering. Like you say he now does them with a cut out to aid top loading in both right and left hand variants or the full width full slotted rail

Great stuff. I wasn’t best pleased when mine turned up with the cut out.

 

[hedge hunter]

I get the concept of it tightening under recoil, I just worry that with my heavy NV or thermal scope on and I knock the stock with the gun pointing upwards it will fall straight off, scope still attached to rail. All it needed was a grub screw or something

I have two grubscruws attached too mine and its solid. No problems at all

 

[Mattv]

I have two grubscruws attached too mine and its solid. No problems at all

I don’t quite know why he doesn’t advertise the lockscrews as it’s something that was really putting me off before I spoke to him. I’m sure he would sell a lot of rails and mounts if they found a UK distributer but it’s something he doesn’t really want to do for some reason

 

[palo]

If you can will you post a few pictures of the rail when you get it.