DORLEAC
.333 member
Reged: 22/01/12
Posts: 469
Loc: Perpignan, France
|
|
The Brevex firm in Suresnes was led by former Radom engineer Mr. Polonsky and remained active from 1948 to 1959. They manufactured two types of actions on Mauser factory machinery obtained after the factory was dismantled by the Allies in 1946, the M300 for the .375 H&H Magnum rimless length cartridge and the M400 for.416 Rigby and .505 Gibbs, obviously adaptable to other munitions, including .460 Wby. These true magnum length actions were used by many gun-makers and among them Rigby's for building large-bore rifles. They were imported to the United States by Tradewinds of Tacoma,WA. However, at the beginning of the sixties, Marcel Pigatti resumed the production and produced a few samples of these very sought after big bore actions. Some changes have been done like a lower bolt handle, simplified firing pin while the receiver was no more of the C type. These actions are machined from drop-forged blanks and were well heat treated and Rockwell hardness tested. Here is a sample bearing serial number 8 and SRP marking (Société de Rectification Pigatti). It has been entrusted to us by a customer who wants we use it to build him a .505 GIBBS…nice work to come !
Regards to all.
DORLEAC www.dorleac-dorleac.com
Notice the Rockwell hardness test point on the right side of the rear bridge





Markings



Bolt


Reveiver
|
lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9534
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
|
|
its unbelievable that such actions still in the white floating around after so many decades.
I am sure you will make the best out of this old piece of scrap metal
-------------------- Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians
Edited by lancaster (26/04/15 07:40 PM)
|
93x64mm
.416 member
Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4450
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
|
|
What a marvellous piece of history - bet you do a cracker jack job on this one DORLEAC! I've never really taken much notice of the inside of a Mauser action (barrel thread side), makes you appreciate the thought that the Mausers' went thru to get to this point - the milling processes must be quiet complex & obviously done in a very prescribed order. I never realised that there was a barrel abutment inside the Mauser action, or is this only for the Beverex? When you look at the photos, there is not a lot of metal holding back the locking lugs of the bolt back inside the action; the calculations required must have been fantastic for engineers to work out how much is good enough with a safety margin of "X"! And we just pick them up & shoot them without thought about what really goes on, on the inside that is. I would love to be able to see a whole action being built - would be a fantastic experience to do so! Will love the pictures as you build it up DORLEAC Cheers 93x64mm
|
eagle27
.400 member
Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1216
Loc: Rolleston, Christchurch, New Z...
|
|
Is there two different bolts in the photos? The bolt shown in the receiver looks to have a cut away in the bolt guide for the tail of the short extractor to turn into (looks like a small lug ahead of the third safety lug) whereas the bolt shown out of the action in the last few photos does not appear to have this feature?
|
redoak
.224 member
Reged: 07/02/13
Posts: 33
Loc: Michigan
|
|
Looks like the same bolt to me, it is just rotated so that the guide rib is partially hidden.
|
eagle27
.400 member
Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1216
Loc: Rolleston, Christchurch, New Z...
|
|
Quote:
Looks like the same bolt to me, it is just rotated so that the guide rib is partially hidden.
Ah yes you are correct can just see the guide rib cut out in the 2nd to last photo, same bolt. Obviously just using a standard length extractor in the stretched action.
Edited by eagle27 (27/04/15 02:35 PM)
|
pondoro62
.275 member
Reged: 15/12/12
Posts: 53
Loc: Norway
|
|
That is a very nice Mauser action monsieur Dorleac...we look forward to see the end result..:)
|
Wanabebwana
.300 member
Reged: 11/01/13
Posts: 221
Loc: Canada
|
|
Thanks for a very informative post . Can't wait to see the finished product. The original Brevex 400 had a swept back bolt handle almost identical to the FN Deluxe/Supreme. What is the function of the small lug on the bolt behind the extractor in the first pic? Is the bolt diameter larger than the standard 98 action? Is the bolt handle integral with the bolt body? I don't think the owner of this action could have put it in better hands. Cheers
|
DORLEAC
.333 member
Reged: 22/01/12
Posts: 469
Loc: Perpignan, France
|
|
Hi Wanabebwana,
You are right, the 400 and 300 actions produced by Polonsky had an FN type swept back bolt handle. Here is a photo of a 400 model we got still wrapped in factory oiled paper.

The same action after blue printing, fitted with an Oberndorf bolt handle and a magnum extractor blade (after TIG welding of the notch in the guide)

What appears like a small lug behind the extractor is the guide rib portion that is not covered by the standard length extractor blade originally fitted. Notice that if the bolt is of the same diameter than the Mauser, all other parts of the receiver are beefed up. The bolt handle comes from a machined drop forging blank and is integral with the body. Thank you for your interest.
DORLEAC www.dorleac-dorleac.com
|