Sorry for the non 6.5 synthetic stock post, here we go...

Im waiting on delivery of this little gem. It’s a pre-ww2(1920’s)custom sporter rifle built on a Mauser 98 action in tradition German style. Caliber is 8x60mmJ, a bit of an odd ball but factory loaded ammo is still available online and components are readily available. Will be perfect for deer or even up to elk and moose.

I’ve always wanted an example of an early German sporter. They didn’t cut many corners on them. The barrel on this one changes from octagon to round, and the full length rib and sling mount are machined integral. On anything but modern CNC machines the barrel alone has a week of work in just contouring. Draw filing, polishing, and the matting of the rib is additional. A select few do this today at astronomical prices.

The rifle is missing its rings for the German claw mounts. I have a guy who can find some and fit them. For a Quick-release setup they are as good as it gets. Very stout, repeatable if fit correctly, and takes seconds to remove the scope in case iron sights become a priority. Another costly piece and usually only seen on the best guns of today.

The engraving done tastefully and well with traditional hammer and chisel methods.

The rifle has seen its years. Not abused, just showing it’s use. The color case hardening and bluing that adorned the rifle have since been removed in carry areas. The bore is in fair condition only showing light frosting. I’m still undetermined if I’ll restore it. This rifle was made in the same fashion and in a similar setting as to what I do.

Info on the maker:
http://www.germanhuntingguns.com/archives/steigleder-ernst-of-berlin/

Nice!! Those older Mauser 98 actioned sporters (along with the Mannlicher-Schoenauers) may be among the best bargains in the rifle world.

Very cool. That needs something like an old Hensoldt scope sitting on top. If you check ebay, those come across every now and then.

Beautiful.

Here's one vote to work your magic on it.

Either way, that is a neat find and a real gem.

Congratulations!

I want to see what you can do with it!!

Awesome old rifle....

old classic piece of fine gun makers work for sure. On whether to renew its luster would be a tough call or keep it the classic warn look, but you are the man to refurbish it if that is the decision.

Great find and congrats.

Very nice. Another vote for you working it over and restoring it as close to original as possible.
Is there enough room and is it even possible to rechamber/rebore it to 9.3x62?

That's awesome!

That's awesome!

Nice. That's something on my bucket list too. Also would like an older Mannlicher-Shoenauer.

Hard to beat the old school Mausers!

You read my mind!

Heh.
This Husqvarna is 9.3x62. Nice round.

I’ve had the rifle a few weeks now, lovely little thing. I had thoughts of boring it to 9.3x62, but the rifles petite nature had other ideas. The bore is in great condition and I’ve found someone who will make loads for me. It stays 8x60mmJ.

Thought I’d share some more interesting traits. Take notice the shaping of the trigger guard bow, as well as the flats filed into the action ring to accommodate a narrow forend. Stamps on the barrel have dated it at 4/33.

Wow, Aaron...that's impressive craftsmanship! Circa '33?

Drool...

Mark

There are some things that make me question it’s manufacture date. In speaking with an Austrian gunmaker he said the 433 stamp on the barrel was it’s manufacture date of April 1933.

There are some stamps on the action side where it was filed flat for narrowing that date it as an earlier rifle. The action and barrel share a serial number of 112218, and the action alone has another serial number. Does that serial number signify an 11/22/1918 date? Possible.

Shortly thereafter the laws were passed that civilians couldnt have calibers used by the military. It’s possible this rifle was originally a 8x57, and was chambered to 8x60mmJ in 1933. That has some credibility due to the bore diameter being .318”(J bore, shares with 8x57), over the more common .323”(S bore).

If that is true it’s 100years old in a couple days. Probably never know.

And nobody else can gainsay you either. Heck, throw it a birthday party on the 22nd...that's what "plausible deniability" is all about!


Mark

The action is an Ex military WWI Gew-98 . There were NO rifles made in Germany in 11-22-1918 . It was sporterized before WWII . I would slug the bore before getting any ammo for it . Even though they used whatever parts they could get , almost all sporters made from military rifle post WWI had .323 groove bores .

It’s been confirmed at .318”, which is odd I agree.

That is why I said almost all . They did use whatever they could get for parts . It may be an old civilian sporter barrel reused . I have a Gew-88 small ring that they used a turned down Gew-98 large ring barrel on . My post WWI 8x60mm sporter is .323 .

The action was made in the Oberndorf factory late 1909 to early 1910 and sold as an action only to a gunmaker. Proof marks show it was proofed post 1911 for the 8x57I cartridge. In 1933 it was either rebarelled or chamber deepened(most likely) to 8X60MMJ and subject to reproof. This totally explains the less common .318” bore.

So theoretically it was made and proofed 1911-1918 due to its caliber.
Proof marks also showed it was proofed with the Spandua 4000 ATM proof powder, there is speculation on when that powders use for proofing ceased, some say 1912-1913, others say it went into the 20’s. I can’t determine if he ceased production of sporting guns during WW1, but if so that would narrow its production date closer to 1911-1914.

Will never be totally sure, three weeks after WW2 ended members of the Red Army ransacked and set ablaze the factory. It was alarming it still stood considering its proximity to government buildings.

The action is ex-military as it still has the remains of the stripper clip guides and the military type thumb cut out for loading . You can see where the military marks were ground off . The action shows very amateur punch marks used as engraving . The barrel looks to be an old reused sporter barrel with old proofs . I do not know what you means by the 8x57I cartridge . There were three different 7.92x57mm [ 8mm ] cartridges in use in the 1890 - 1900 time period in Germany . The original German military P-88 round with a .3188 dia rn bullet used in a .3208 groove bore . A civilian version with a .3158 dia bullet used in a .3178 groove bore loaded to a much shorter OCL than the military round . The later German military .3208 dia 154 Spitzer bullet used in the old .3208 , then later 1896 1/2 .3238 groove bore .