A member of our Collectors Club in Darwin has a .458 MS. It's the one with the over-done Monte-Carlo stock including dished cheek-piece, white-line spacers, the whole works. Despite looking like a canoe-paddle, it centre-punched the bull perfectly at 50 yds on the one occasion I was invited to fire it.

I don't like Mannlicher Schönauers.....

...........................I LOVE them!

Why? Superb quality of manufacture, intriguing design, silky-smooth operation, stunning accuracy....

Need I say more?

Must admit, though, I much prefer the classic design over the flamboyant variations produced for the American market post-1952.

In fact, its time for a grumble. I have never understood why the American importers (Stoeger?) insisted on a swept-back bolt-handle on the post-WWII imports from Steyr. The spoon-handle bolt should be operated by placing the thumb on the base (top) and the fingers under the extremity, and lifting. This is made quite difficult by fitting a curved spoon-bolt. In fact, it is made quite difficult by fitting a scope! I often read criticism of the MS by authors who could not operate the bolt from the shoulder, couldn't operate it quickly or efficiently, etc. Bolt-handle too far forward of the trigger-guard, they say. Makes me wonder if they've ever fired one. They certainly never hunted with one!

IMO Steyr stuffed-up a perfect system when they agreed to alter the bolt-handle on the Model 1952.

...and don't get me started on plastic detachable boxes to replace Otto Schönauer's marvellous rotary spindle magazine!!