What is this action

[Deeppace]

I have a 6.5 06 which was built in April of 72. The original paperwork said it was built on a 700 bdl. I received my new Stocky's stock and started the swap. But I found a non 700 action. No name, a hand stamped serial number and what looks like a eagle. I would still like to get a carbon stock for it, after Iget rid of the one I bought.Oh and it was built by my dad, the last time I hunted with it was 1975 because I took up archery. Now I find the weight to be a deterrent.

 

[eric1115]

Did your dad happen to fight in WWII in western Europe?

 

[ARK_Ginger]

Yeah that’s a Mauser

 

[dkim]

Large ring Mauser 98. It may have other markings on the receiver ring that indicate when and where it was made. There are many variations of the Mauser 98, not to mention earlier types such as the 93, 95, Sweedish 96). 98 versions can differ in reciever ring size, and action length, and there is hierarchy of manufacturing locations and years that are preferred.

They are often used as the basis of very expensive custom wwod stocked rifles, and are known to be a preferred action for bolt rifles made to hunt dangerous African game.

I have had multiple Mausers over the years. They can make a solid dependable huntnng rifle.

 

[Cynoscion]

From the little, and I mean very little, I know about this stuff, I think it’s a German k98 Mauser. My understanding is depending on the year, it could be of very good quality if made early in the war or very low quality if made late in the war.
Take all of this with a grain of salt without more pics and no original barrel/stock for other proof marks to compare.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

That eagle is this.

 

[Cynoscion]

Also, the b under the serial number is most likely a location code for the factory that the action was made.

 

[Deeppace]

Thanks for your replies and sharing your knowledge. I doubt I can find a carbon stock so I will reassemble in the original walnut stock. My first post here and after looking at the ste I thought I would get a answer. Thanks again. BTW it shoots very tight groups at average of 2966 fps with 130 gn sst over N165.

 

[RockAndSage]

OP, there were unbelievable numbers of bolt-action "bring backs" from WWII, along with a huge industry importing them from all over the world, all the way through the 1980s. Those rifles were global, and it wasn't just limited to German Mausers. They were license built by many countries. British and American guns also were distributed globally, and were re-imported for our own civilian market as military surplus purchases.

Your gun seems to be what's called a "sporterized" rifle - milsurp actions that were used as donors for custom builds, mostly deer rifles. These come in every grade, from barely-improved garage built guns, that were re-stocked and re-barreled, to some of the finest guns available at the time. This was especially popular from the 1950s through the 1970s, and a whole aftermarket industry was built up around sporterizing milsurp guns, but fell out of fashion by the 1990s. Partly because the surplus guns were becoming more scarce, and partly because they started being valued as historical or collectors items more appreciated for their inherent value.

If you want to see a slice of all of this, go on gunbroker and run a search for "sporter" or "sporterized" - there are always some interesting and sometimes amazing guns on there. Some are barely more than junk, and some are high-performance works of art. Just depends on who the smith/builder was. They are becoming increasingly desirable as a category of gun on their own. If yours is shooting as well as you say, it'd be a keeper with or without a new stock, and was probably built by a competent smith when it was first converted.