Sante Fe Sporter price check

[wreckhog]

A shop by me has 2 near identical sporters in 30-06. K98 based I think. Mint. One has a no name scope and Weaver mounts at $350. The other has a busted Balvar 2.5-8 with the external adjustment mounts, and is not priced yet. That is the one I have an interest in. What would you pay?

[Bigeasy]

Sante Fe was a name used by a importer called Golden State Arms, now out of business.  They sold sporterized military rifles, as well as a large number of rifles using the Spanish made model 98 copy.  If I remember right, the commercial Spanish actions were cast, and I doubt up to the quality of a modern casting.  Quality ranged from good to only fair.  A lot of the value would be dependant of the quality of that particular rifle.

Is it a matching # German action, or Spanish?  Does it have nice, pretty, checkered wood, or is it plain, and or roughly checkered.  Little touches like a jeweled bolt, a good after market trigger, well polished blueing, etc. make a difference.

Without a better description, its hard to place a value.  Lot of nice Charles Daly mauser action rifles out there for about $350 or so...  I would make sure you check it with a go/no go gauge, as that was an issue with some of them.

Larry

[Brithunter]

If I remember right, the commercial Spanish actions were cast, and I doubt up to the quality of a modern casting.

Were you aware that Parker-Hale used Spanish, probably Santa Barbra action on their rifles and of course they even made magnum rifles.

[Bigeasy]

If I remember right, the commercial Spanish actions were cast, and I doubt up to the quality of a modern casting.

Were you aware that Parker-Hale used Spanish, probably Santa Barbra action on their rifles and of course they even made magnum rifles.

Yes.  Years ago I owned a Parker Hale, 1200 I think it was, with the Santa Barbra action.  Nice enough rifle.  As per the OP's question of value, not all "Mausers" are created equell.  All else being the same, the same rifle with say an FN, or numbers matching German Mauser action would be worth more do to better over all quality of manufacture.  While certainly adequate in strength, I felt the Santa Barbra action to be a step below say, a Charles Daly/Interarms Mark X action, and well below my 1909 Argentine actioned .35 Whelen.

Larry

[Brithunter]

Hmmmm interesting that you rate the Zastava made actions higher than the Spanish 

The Model 1909 is of course from a different era and not really a fair comparison. Craftsmen were cheaper then and took utmost pride in their craft. Something which is not as true today sadly in modern manufacturing it's more make em quick and make em cheap 

Years ago I had one of the FN special target rifles in 7x57 made for the Pan American games but sadly the bore was quite worn so it went in trade for something else. The crest on the action ring was quite something. I was handling and cleaning one of the Brno made Persian Mauser the other evening and fine example nearly ruined by an ignorant owner who shot corrosive ammo then left it in thsi cold damp climate  .

I have to admit that my very late P-H 1200 Super the action was not as nicely finished inside as the slightly earlier 1200C which is much smoother. The 1200 Super was made up during a take over at Parker-Hale and quality suffered because of it.

[mauser98us]

Santa Fe also converted a number of SMLE's. While pretty decent,the Parker Hale converted ones are really cool. I kick myself for all the ones I passed on at reasonable price. They are seldom seen for sale anymore.

[Siskiyou]

I purchased this Gold State Arms (Santa Fe) Jungle Carbine in 1961.

Last time I had it out was a Sunday at the range.  Every time I fired the young guys who set up at the bench next to me flinched.

The slip on recoil pad is a must because the original hard rubber pad is a killer.

Golden State Arms came up with the Marketing Name of Jungle Carbine.  The rifles are reportedly made up from Mark 4 Enfield’s. 

I am looking forward to more range time with it in 2011.  Hard to believe that I have owned it fifty years come 2011.



  One of my wife’s favorite Aunts lived in S. Pasadena in the early 1960’s.  We referred to her in a loving manner as the Little old Lady from Pasadena.  When visiting I would find myself down at Golden State Arms.  The store was full of surplus arms stacked in barrels, and then they had some that had been sportized.  Remember this was before the Democrats passed the gun control act of 1968.  I believe the GCA of 1968 killed off a lot to the business.