The Modern Mauser 98

[London Jaeger]

I had a really good look at one about three years at Jagd & Hund. Nice well made rifle that will last several lifetimes. I have also had a good look at the Rigby Highland stalker. Basically the same rifle - hardly surprising since Mauser own Rigby. Rigby has a more English style stock finished in London, Mauser is finished in Germany.

And don’t understand the comments re it not being a usable rifle cos of wooden stock. Well I have a 50 year old Rigby in my gun cupboard - it has shot many many deer. Yes the bluing is somewhat worn, and the stock has a few dents, but I take it out quite regularly but do take care. I don’t through it on the back of a quad, or use it as a walking stick. Its an heirloom and I am using it and looking after it for future generations. I have changed the original 4x36 Scope for a Leica, but original scope can go back on very easily.

And it shoots very well.View attachment 190380View attachment 190381

Thanks, yes the Rigby was the other option I was realistically looking at, for all the reasons you said above - it is essentially the same Rifle but with British skin and marketing. For some reason I was drawn more toward the Mauser than the Rigby, mainly I think due to both effectively being a Mauser at heart.

Before making a decision I would defiantly like to go to the Rigby London Gunroom and look at the stock. I am sure it would not take much for a good salesman to sway me one was or the other.

I agree with the wood stock - as long as you are careful with it there is no reason you would have any issues. This a special rifle to take out on memorable stalking days - the impracticality of the wood stock is part of its charm! Just like fiddling around with socks and garters before a day on the pheasants is wonderfully unnecessary.

 

[Dave Scott]

I thought a Rifles from there is more in the £50K starting point? I have never actually seen one for sale but I know how much there shotguns costs and it is comparative to Boss or H&H.

Yes, similar prices to a Rigby 'London Best' and certainly much more expensive than the Highland Stalker or a new Mauser '98.

 

[Jagare]

Heym SR20's post #23 summed it up well. I too looked at the new M98 at Dortmund a few years ago and very nice it was. I see the usual tripe is being trotted out about how fast you can cycle the bolt on a driven boar day compared to a strait pull. You won't be at all wanting with the M98 when shooting driven boar. As another post said 8x57 would be a nice caliber to have one in.
My LGS has a new Mauser M98 diplomat in 416 Rigby at the moment. Real shame I'm not interested in shooting DG.

 

[norcan]

I disagree. The rifles were originally designed for open sights, with glass being a secondary consideration. Integral bases are fine for modern rifles (and fashions have changed dramatically since the inception of the 98, as have the available scope options), but for a classic it makes sense to leave the design in its original incarnation

If you prefer open sights, a V-notch and post is inferior to peep/ghost ring sights. So the M98 didn't do everything right.

And as soon as optics became a reality, the original producers of M98 adapted. And made permanent square bridges.
Original Oberndorf M98

New Prechtl

Machining the bridges round, then drill and tap them is just 3rd world standards.



.

 

[norcan]

Now here is a nice single square bridge Mauser, with peep sight.. and a redundant quarter bridge.

More photos here:

R.G. Owen custom Mauser 98 7x57, single square bridge, Krupp barrel, banded, quarter rib, exceptional craftsmanship, 95 percent - Sportsman's Legacy, Fine firearms, related books and sporting collectibles. Representing estates, collectors and nonprof

R.G. Owen custom Model 98 Mauser in 7mm Mauser (7×57). A true museum-quality custom rifle in every respect, serial number 756 features a 23-inch Krupp Fluid Steel barrel with a banded front sight (serrated rib, brass-beaded blade, flip-up night bead and quick release knurled hood), banded sling...

sportsmanslegacy.com

 

[Heym SR20]

There are several grades of Mauser 98 actions depending on who made / Makes them.

Most of London Best Mauser 98 actioned rifles are either a Mayfair action or Prechtl.

Home | Mayfair Engineering

mayfairengineering.com

and

Prechtl M98 Standardsystem gefertigt nach den Originalzeichungen von Paul Mauser.

Mauser Systeme für Jagdwaffen Sportwaffen Gewehre kaufen Repetierbüchse Waffenausrüstung

www.prechtl-waffen.de

Or

Mauser M 98 | FZH Waffen GmbH

Manufacturing of the renowned M 98 bolt-action rifle.

www.fzh-waffen.de

These actions all several thousand £ just for the action but build into beautiful rifles.

The Rigby Highland Stalker is c £7000 to £10,000 depending on your own requirements

But a London Best or Westly Richards Magazine Rifle in 7x57 or similar will £25,000. Big game calibres start at a bit more.

There are still gunsmith such Haygarth guns who can build a very nice mauser actioned stalking rifle for substantially less, built on either a commercial action or an original military action - but these are becoming few and far between. J Roberts when they owned Rigby’s built lots of very good big game rifles on Brno and Zastava actions.

My Rigby is on a “commercial mauser” from the mid 1970’s - awfully similar to the Santa Barbara on a Parker Hale.

 

[stevec]

Thanks, yes the Rigby was the other option I was realistically looking at, for all the reasons you said above - it is essentially the same Rifle but with British skin and marketing. For some reason I was drawn more toward the Mauser than the Rigby, mainly I think due to both effectively being a Mauser at heart.

Before making a decision I would defiantly like to go to the Rigby London Gunroom and look at the stock. I am sure it would not take much for a good salesman to sway me one was or the other.

I agree with the wood stock - as long as you are careful with it there is no reason you would have any issues. This a special rifle to take out on memorable stalking days - the impracticality of the wood stock is part of its charm! Just like fiddling around with socks and garters before a day on the pheasants is wonderfully unnecessary.

I went to the Rigby showroom in London a few years ago, they couldn't have been better, let me look at all sorts of things, showed me around the workshop and gave me a book. Fantastic, even though they probably knew there was no prospect of a sale. I had a similar experience at Purdey about 20 years ago. The salesman said he knew I wasn't going to buy one but he thought I would remember my time there and if I made a lot of money, I might come back.

 

[Dunwaters]

I wouldn’t get fixated on issues with the wooden stock, you can get a synthetic/ laminated handily enough if you’re worried about damage.
Personally I think the odd nick and dent adds character...

 

[1894]

At last an interesting topic. Mausers and their top end customisation is a biiiiiiig subject.
I would really suggest caution and possibly building up to the dream rifle. I’ve built cars, rifles, mountain bikes and houses and in each case the first effort was the basis for the dream because ‘racing improved the breed’ ie I learnt things from using my creation.
I would suggest looking on the gunsmithing forum on accuratereloading.com to see what is possible.
Maybe buy something like a decent Proctor to try and go from there

 

[243varmint]

There are several grades of Mauser 98 actions depending on who made / Makes them.

Most of London Best Mauser 98 actioned rifles are either a Mayfair action or Prechtl.

Home | Mayfair Engineering

mayfairengineering.com

and

Prechtl M98 Standardsystem gefertigt nach den Originalzeichungen von Paul Mauser.

Mauser Systeme für Jagdwaffen Sportwaffen Gewehre kaufen Repetierbüchse Waffenausrüstung

www.prechtl-waffen.de

Or

Mauser M 98 | FZH Waffen GmbH

Manufacturing of the renowned M 98 bolt-action rifle.

www.fzh-waffen.de

These actions all several thousand £ just for the action but build into beautiful rifles.

The Rigby Highland Stalker is c £7000 to £10,000 depending on your own requirements

But a London Best or Westly Richards Magazine Rifle in 7x57 or similar will £25,000. Big game calibres start at a bit more.

There are still gunsmith such Haygarth guns who can build a very nice mauser actioned stalking rifle for substantially less, built on either a commercial action or an original military action - but these are becoming few and far between. J Roberts when they owned Rigby’s built lots of very good big game rifles on Brno and Zastava actions.

My Rigby is on a “commercial mauser” from the mid 1970’s - awfully similar to the Santa Barbara on a Parker Hale.

Some nice actions there.
My 9.3x62 is based on a commercial Mauser action, PH.
Work done by Mike Norris at Brock and Norris. Lother Walther heavy sportier barrel, invisible end cap. Deep blue finish.
It's a shooter too.

 

[Heym SR20]

Some nice actions there.
My 9.3x62 is based on a commercial Mauser action, PH.
Work done by Mike Norris at Brock and Norris. Lother Walther heavy sportier barrel, invisible end cap. Deep blue finish.
It's a shooter too.

Nice rifle. Thats a Docter Comfort 1-4x20 scope? I have one for use on my 7x65r

 

[243varmint]

Nice rifle. Thats a Docter Comfort 1-4x20 scope? I have one for use on my 7x65r

Thanks.
No it's just a nikko 1-4x24 ill. I would like a swaro on there but this does the job

 

[WildBoarHunter]

Some gunsmiths here build custom M98 rifles, based on a Zastava actions. Had one of them years ago. It was a lefthand action. They polish the action so it runs smoothly, add a custom barrel from Ferlach, Walther Lothar, Heym... Mine had a Ferlach barrel. They do a custom handmade stock. Hand made suhl claw mounts and german set trigger... It felt and shot nice. And this thing isn't very out of the budget. Even nowdays you could get something like this for about 1500 - 2000 €. The options are limitless however. Fine grained hand carved stock, custom engravings, higher quality barrels... Those do cost though.
These are heirloom rifles with a budget price if you ask me. Modern plastic rifles are nice workhorse rifles. But a Mauser with it's all steel construction is a heirloom rifle.

 

[angusb1]

Some gunsmiths here build custom M98 rifles, based on a Zastava actions. Had one of them years ago. It was a lefthand action. They polish the action so it runs smoothly, add a custom barrel from Ferlach, Walther Lothar, Heym... Mine had a Ferlach barrel. They do a custom handmade stock. Hand made suhl claw mounts and german set trigger... It felt and shot nice. And this thing isn't very out of the budget. Even nowdays you could get something like this for about 1500 - 2000 €. The options are limitless however. Fine grained hand carved stock, custom engravings, higher quality barrels... Those do cost though.
These are heirloom rifles with a budget price if you ask me. Modern plastic rifles are nice workhorse rifles. But a Mauser with it's all steel construction is a heirloom rifle.

That sounds very interesting. Have you got any contact details for someone who could do that kind of work in Slovenia please?

 

[WildBoarHunter]

Well, here's a few of them. The most well known ones. There are others offcourse. Many without net pages. My rifle was from Bock Kranj.

BOCK d.o.o. - dejavnosti

kontakt

puskarstvo-steh.com

Puške - Puškarstvo s tradicijo pri izdelavi in popravilu puške

puškarstvo popravilo orožja pušk ter prodaja daljnogledov dvogledov rdečih pik montaže zasučne fiksne swenk suhl optika zeiss bushnell nikon servis zračne puške

www.puskarstvo.si

Then there's one schooled and trained in Ferlach (there are some others offcourse). He uses top quality materials and does most work by hand. His M98 actions are probably German or Austrian made (perhaps he even makes them himself, don't know about that one...). His pieces are Ferlach quality but perhaps somewhat less expensive. Still premium priced though, but his work is second to none.

[:sl]Enocevna prelamača H&H/ petelinka[:en]Single shot rifle“Side-lock or special hammer locking“[:de]Seitenschloss oder Hahnschloss kipplaufbüchse[:] - Puškarstvo Špendal

Merkel, Merkel Helix, Merkel K5, Merkel B3, Merkel B4, Merkel SR1, Merkel dušilec zvoka, premovlečne repetirke,-Marsupio nahrbtniki, Chevalier lovska oblačila, Sitka lovska oblačila, Merkel Gear oblačila-Heym , Mauser ,Steyr Mannlicher, CSV-9, CSV-9 polavtomatske puške za IPSC, polavtomatske...

guns-spendal.si

Gunsmithing in Slovenia is very highly developed due to proximity to Ferlach. Ferlach is in Austria, just a few miles beyond Slovenian border.

 

[angusb1]

Well, here's a few of them. The most well known ones. There are others offcourse. Many without net pages. My rifle was from Bock Kranj.

BOCK d.o.o. - dejavnosti

kontakt

puskarstvo-steh.com

Puške - Puškarstvo s tradicijo pri izdelavi in popravilu puške

puškarstvo popravilo orožja pušk ter prodaja daljnogledov dvogledov rdečih pik montaže zasučne fiksne swenk suhl optika zeiss bushnell nikon servis zračne puške

www.puskarstvo.si

Then there's one schooled and trained in Ferlach (there are some others offcourse). He uses top quality materials and does most work by hand. His M98 actions are probably German or Austrian made (perhaps he even makes them himself, don't know about that one...). His pieces are Ferlach quality but perhaps somewhat less expensive. Still premium priced though, but his work is second to none.

[:sl]Enocevna prelamača H&H/ petelinka[:en]Single shot rifle“Side-lock or special hammer locking“[:de]Seitenschloss oder Hahnschloss kipplaufbüchse[:] - Puškarstvo Špendal

Merkel, Merkel Helix, Merkel K5, Merkel B3, Merkel B4, Merkel SR1, Merkel dušilec zvoka, premovlečne repetirke,-Marsupio nahrbtniki, Chevalier lovska oblačila, Sitka lovska oblačila, Merkel Gear oblačila-Heym , Mauser ,Steyr Mannlicher, CSV-9, CSV-9 polavtomatske puške za IPSC, polavtomatske...

guns-spendal.si

Gunsmithing in Slovenia is very highly developed due to proximity to Ferlach. Ferlach is in Austria, just a few miles beyond Slovenian border.

Brilliant. Thanks very much.

@London Jaeger sorry for the threadjack.

 

[Ronin]

For your budget it would be worth considering obtaining a Pretchl Mauser action as they look almost complete and have it barrelled / blacked then commision a stock from someone like Gary Cane

 

[harrygrey382]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Dorleac & Dorleac - they’re right up there with the best. They use surplus actions but only the best and blue print and if needed heat treat.

Classic Plains Game | DORLEAC & DORLEAC

www.dorleac-dorleac.com

However, if you have the money a new 98 is kind of the holy grail of rifles IMO. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one above all else if I had the money, good on you for making the perfect choice... only thing I’d change is the caliber - you’ve chosen the latest incarnation of the grandfather of the best bolt action rifles, to fit it with a short cartridge designed for an auto loader in the 50s doesn’t fit I reckon. A *x57 or *x64 or even 06 based case would be more “fitting”, not that the ballistics will make much difference probably. But then again, it’s your rifle...

 

[HandB]

I have shot a pal's Rigby Highland Stalker in 30-06 at Bisley. The wood to metal fit was good and it shot accurately. So definitely worth trying out.

 

[Ronin]

Have a look here

Custom Built Rifles - Forum

forums.accuratereloading.com