OT: Rifle memories from long ago

[J Miller]

Idiot's post on the Mauser brought this back to my mind.

Somewhere about 1979 or 1980 in a gun shop called The Shooters Haven in Phoenix, AZ I fondled a Mouser sporting rifle that was just flat beautiful. It was one of, if not the smoothest feeling bolt gun I've ever handled. Beautiful deep bluing, with a polish that glowed but was excellently done. Beautiful wood. Some sort of dark walnut, nicely fitted and contoured. It had commercial peep sights on it, mounted to the right side of the receiver with a very thin post front sight. Not a military type front sight, but nothing I'd seen before or since either. I believe it was British or European design. The barrel was not a military contour barrel, it was a sporter barrel.
Well, that rifle turned out to be chambered for the .303 British and I wanted it bad. But alas it was not to be.
I've always wondered if it was a commercial sporting rifle made by one of the British or European companies, or an excellently sporterized military.

I've never seen another one like it.

Joe

[mescalero1]

Joe,
I have seen my gunsmiths here in Phoenix turn Military Mauser barrels into nice tapered barrels,& make really nice sporters, you could not tell they were once stepped barrels.
It is more science than art form in execution, but the finished product is pure art form.

[J Miller]

Phoenix ...... you best stay there till I get back. Just teasing.

You could be very right. John Mahan ( owner of The Shooters Haven ) was a master gunsmith and did wonders on every thing I saw that he worked on. He or any master could have created that rifle. But somehow I don't think it was a converted military. Of course, this memory is over 30 years old, so there's really no way to know.

Who is your favorite gunsmith in Phoenix?

Joe

[mescalero1]

Two genuine crazies called C&M research.
They are no longer in the buisiness, but still do work for themselves & a few friends.
I am going down this afternoon to do my 1894 Winchester with the Benziod tincture this afternoon, we took before pictures & will take after pictures.
With forum members help, I hope to be able to post the project here.

[Hobie]

Benziod tincture

Please explain.

[bogus bill]

I have had this rifle for 35 years. I really never worked with it much, and just in the last few days learned a little about the smith that put it together. It is a heavy benchrest rifle in .270 winchester. Has a expendsive commerical mauser action, fine checkering on the half knob bolt, a finely metal checked trapdoor butt plate etc. The stock is deep redish black with a fine cheeck piece and different wood forearm cap. Also the pistol grip cap is metal finely checked to match the butt plate. Rifle has a fine adjustable trigger is very heavy and NO safety. The name HW Creighton is finely engraved on the barrel. No other markings or numbers anywhere else. I just found out he was a bench rest gunsmith out of nashville tennisee in 40s, to the 70s. The rifle is spectacular workmenship. I found where Lane Pierce used him and mentioned him in a article. Can any of you add to what I have? It still looks next to newly finnished. Any idea what it might be worth if I sell it?

[mescalero1]

Bogus Bill,
Is that an old Weaver K-8 or K10?

[mescalero1]

Hobie,
The way it is supposed to work is to brush on the B.T.
and let it dry, then play over the area with a pencil torch, the result is a color case hardening " LOOK "
It has as of this moment been unproven.

[bogus bill]

Without digging it out, as I recall a K-10

[mescalero1]

I thought so!

[salvo]

That is a beauty Bogus Bill!

Here is my FN Belgium Mauser "Commercial Deluxe" in .270Winchester, my Dad gave it to me many years ago. From the research that I have done, it came straight from FN in this configuration and was made in the 50's
It has been responsible for many Mule Deer and is still one of my most accurate rifles.

[Sixgun]

Joe, Funny thing you wrote about. Here in S.E. Pa., I run across sporterized Mausers all the time. It was a hotbed of a cottage industry in this area back in the forties and fifties for this type of work. I see them go at auction for next to nothing. A nice one with a decent scope on it can be had for 2-3 c-notes. Most people seem to be afraid of 'em.---------------------------Sixgun

[J Miller]

Scott,

Take the scope of and put a receiver sight on, and it looks like my memory sees it.
Wow.

Sixgun,

I'm armpit deep in pending projects and other situations, but if I came across one I'd be sooooooo tempted. If it were in .303 Brit only.

Joe