Well, it's been almost a year now since my original post so I thought I'd give a little update on the rifle project.

I decided to have the rifle rebarreled with a new barrel. I decided to make it an 8x60S. Todd, my gunsmith, is friends with Dan Pedersen of Classic Barrel and Gun Works in Prescott, Arizona. Todd called Dan and asked him about the possibility of having a new barrel made, with the same contours as the original barrel, and having it chambered in 8x60S. Dan said "No problem!" Seems that Dan actually had an 8x60S reamer and had chambered a few rifles for the cartridge over the years. What luck! So, the action was sent to Dan's shop in Prescott.

After a few months, Todd received the action with the new barrel. Dan copied the dimensions of the old barrel for the new barrel exactly. It gets better.... Dan also mounted the original sights and barrel band sling eye to the new barrel! Dan mentioned to Todd that the action is very true and straight and in very good condition. That was good to hear.

There's more!.... Dan is also friends with Rube Wells, the son of the late Fred Wells. (Dan used to be the barrel maker for Fred Wells.) Rube is a SERIOUS Mauser collector and became intrigued with my little rifle project when he saw it at Dan's shop. He liked it even more when he found out the new barrel was going to be chambered for the 8x60S. One day, Rube went back to his store and brought a brand new, custom Fred Wells designed replacement bolt handle over to Dan's shop for my rifle! And, he GAVE it to me free of charge! I was amazed when Todd told me about what had transpired. Rube told Dan that, "A guy that's going to the trouble to have a new, custom 8x60S rifle made on an original Oberndorf action deserves to have a quality bolt handle for it!" (Thanks Rube, it's very much appreciated by me!)

So, the rifle is now back at Todd's shop. It's going to be rust blued and Todd has a nice piece of Turkish walnut picked out for the stock. The stock will be finished with a nice, hand rubbed oil finish and hand checkered. Todd has also located original Oberndorf Mauser sporter bottom metal for the rifle.

So, this little project is moving along quite nicely. I haven't seen the rifle since it came back with the new barrel. I'll try to get some photos of the barreled action the next time I'm at Todd's shop and post them on here.

Cheers!
BOB