You don't often see these lovely stalking rifles for sale (this one isn't), nor do you see anything about them being rebarrelled.
For those that are interested - the 90 predated the 100 / 200 models and offered some unique features - some continued into the later models, others not.
The 90 is a stalking rifle with classic lines introduced in the mid 70's
The rifle had the following features -
Three lug bolt which incorporated rear locking lugs cammed when the bolt is closed
Trigger sear utilised roller bearing for zero wear repeatability of release
Barrel held in place with locking set screws at base of a semi split action
Bolt floats in action as smooth as a greased weasel...
Loaded chamber indicator
The rifle came to me for a rebarrel, with the original barrel shot out.
The owner also brought a new barrel (Sassen Cut) to me which was too large a profile - so once id stripped down the weapon, I sent the original barrel and new stainless tube to Sassen Engineering to replicate the original profile.
A week or so later, I recieved the barrels back and I then set about replicating all the dimensions of the original shank.
The Sauer was pretty at the time in that the barrel does not face up to the action shoulder when threaded into the action - instead it abuts to the rear of the action with a set of stainless "washers" that fit on a spigot at the rear of the chamber.
Once the washers are in place, the action and barrel are screwed together to just beyond touch fit and the action clamping screws are tightened (much like the 200 models today)
This system makes it interesting when reaming the chamber, as combined with the rear locking lugs of the bolt, its nigh on impossible to measure chamber depth in a conventional manner to set the headspace properly (when reaming the chamber)
Once this issue was overcome with some lateral thinking, I prepared the chamber using three flute carbide drills, and carbide boring tools to get the unfinished chamber to .030" undersize and then finish reamed to size using a 243 Win reamer
The chamber finished off perfectly with a light polish
The barrel was then cleaned, reset in the lathe and cut to 24" with a M14 thread to spec - checked with Ring Guage
A protective cap was machined to fit
The barrel was then recleaned and fitted to the action, checked with go guage and tape (closing on go, not closing plus .003") so perfect for a sporting application
Barrelled action then reassembled in stock and off to proof this week
The profile fits perfectly
For those that are interested - the 90 predated the 100 / 200 models and offered some unique features - some continued into the later models, others not.
The 90 is a stalking rifle with classic lines introduced in the mid 70's
The rifle had the following features -
Three lug bolt which incorporated rear locking lugs cammed when the bolt is closed
Trigger sear utilised roller bearing for zero wear repeatability of release
Barrel held in place with locking set screws at base of a semi split action
Bolt floats in action as smooth as a greased weasel...
Loaded chamber indicator
The rifle came to me for a rebarrel, with the original barrel shot out.
The owner also brought a new barrel (Sassen Cut) to me which was too large a profile - so once id stripped down the weapon, I sent the original barrel and new stainless tube to Sassen Engineering to replicate the original profile.
A week or so later, I recieved the barrels back and I then set about replicating all the dimensions of the original shank.
The Sauer was pretty at the time in that the barrel does not face up to the action shoulder when threaded into the action - instead it abuts to the rear of the action with a set of stainless "washers" that fit on a spigot at the rear of the chamber.
Once the washers are in place, the action and barrel are screwed together to just beyond touch fit and the action clamping screws are tightened (much like the 200 models today)
This system makes it interesting when reaming the chamber, as combined with the rear locking lugs of the bolt, its nigh on impossible to measure chamber depth in a conventional manner to set the headspace properly (when reaming the chamber)
Once this issue was overcome with some lateral thinking, I prepared the chamber using three flute carbide drills, and carbide boring tools to get the unfinished chamber to .030" undersize and then finish reamed to size using a 243 Win reamer
The chamber finished off perfectly with a light polish
The barrel was then cleaned, reset in the lathe and cut to 24" with a M14 thread to spec - checked with Ring Guage
A protective cap was machined to fit
The barrel was then recleaned and fitted to the action, checked with go guage and tape (closing on go, not closing plus .003") so perfect for a sporting application
Barrelled action then reassembled in stock and off to proof this week
The profile fits perfectly