Who is the best Mauser gunsmith?

[Doesniper]

I have a Swedish 96 that I am working on and am wondering if there is someone who specializes in building custom Mausers.  I need someone who can do everything from mashine work to stock work to metal finishing.  Can the 96 be made to cock upon opening the bolt rather than closing?

[Rocky]

Check with the American Custom Gunmakers Guild www.acgg.org for a listing of top notch gunsmiths. Most any of the members should be able to
build what you want.

M96 actions can be made to cock-on-opening. I have converted them although I doubt it's worth the expense and extra work as cock-on-closing can be master with just a little practice and switching back and forth between the two isn't even noticed once one becomes proficient.

If you decide to convert it to cock-on-opening, be sure your gunsmith knows to surface harden the cocking ramp that gets cut into the bolt. I've seen some that weren't.  

Rocky

[1911crazy]

I have a Swedish 96 that I am working on and am wondering if there is someone who specializes in building custom Mausers.  I need someone who can do everything from mashine work to stock work to metal finishing.  Can the 96 be made to cock upon opening the bolt rather than closing?

If your looking for a modern stock for a swede small ring mauser numrich gun parts has a sale on boyds stocks they have a thumbhole stock thats is $125 they are really nice stocks. And bluing isn't that hard either I have done cold bluing that has lasted over twenty years.    Frugal BigBill

Happy New Year!!!!!!

[Mikey]

Doesniper:  where are you located?  

Rocky was right about the cock on opening change-over.  You are better off staying with the original working of the action.  I got the parts to do that to my Swede and my Mauser gunsmith advised against it.  

Let me know.  Mikey.

[Doesniper]

Mikey
       I live in Ky.  I saw a mention of the cock on opening, and thought of maybe having it done.  What did your smith give for reason agianst doing it?

[Mikey]

Doesniper:  He said that the parts don't always fit, the conversion doesn't always work and sometimes you wind up screwing up the bolt in the process.  If you do that you're in Dutch, because you then have to find and fit a new bolt.  

As I mentioned, I had thought about that conversion. I thought my Model 38 had too much resistance on the bolt when cocking on closing but it was the postion of my hand on the bolt that caused that.  I shifted my scope some and made certain my magazine floorplate was properly cut so she wouldn't hold open after the last round and by being able to properly work the bolt I was able to overcome what I thought was excess resistance.  Now, she is just smooth.  

Hope this helps.  Mikey.

[Rocky]

Hey Mikey. Looks like you found yourself a good gunsmith.

Also, even if the conversion turns out ok, if the bolt isn't properly hardened where the cut was made (where the cocking piece rides on the bolt body), it'll ruin the bolt in short order.

Bottom line is it's not worth it - better to practice until working the bolt becomes second nature and spend the money elsewhere.

Rocky