Bokmal
.275 member
Reged: 10/02/09
Posts: 81
Loc: SW Finland
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Some time ago I managed to sweet talk myself into the store room of a gun shop east of Helsinki. I headed for the corner of "unsellables", "not-worth-an-ad" and generally sad old firearms looking for a possible project rifle. Among all the usual sportered Mosins, Arisakas, Swede 96s and single shot Baikals (sprinkled with the odd Neuhausen and MP38) were some 98s.
One particulary caught my eye, labeled simply "8x57 Mauser 98". It had the signs of a Sako late 1940'ies sporter, military action, typical Sako birch stock without recoil cross bolt (and badly cracked, too) and the Sako civilian front and rear sights (btw, I was actually wrong about the rear sight).

I picked it up, noticed that the stock was very slim, a leftie and that whole rifle didn't feel right, too light... Then I saw the marks on the the receiver...
I paid the barely three digit price and now it's in my home. Now I start having second toughts. What should I do with it? I know this is a luxury problem, but I don't want or need a 8x57 sporter, "restauration" to mil config would give me, at best, something closer to a repro than a collectible. On the other hand, the action, bolt, mag and rear sight all seems to be in an unaltered condition.
While I think this over, and regret my lack of impulse control, here are some pics:

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Caprivi
.375 member
Reged: 30/09/08
Posts: 811
Loc: America's Serengeti, Buffalo W...
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Quote:
I know this is a luxury problem, but I don't want or need a 8x57 sporter,
I do not NEED a 8x57mm but I surely WANT one.....:):):).....If you are burdened, I would re-imburse you the "barely three digit price"....
I like it, very cool
-------------------- To live life as it is handed to me from God
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lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9532
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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the 33/40 is probably the slimmest mauser action ever made in masses
I believe the best you can do is to start a super slim sporter project like the Kesslerin http://www.kesslerin.info/seiten/classic.html



-------------------- Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member
Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA
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Quote:
Some time ago I managed to sweet talk myself into the store room of a gun shop east of Helsinki. I headed for the corner of "unsellables", "not-worth-an-ad" and generally sad old firearms looking for a possible project rifle. Among all the usual sportered Mosins, Arisakas, Swede 96s and single shot Baikals (sprinkled with the odd Neuhausen and MP38) were some 98s.
One particulary caught my eye, labeled simply "8x57 Mauser 98". It had the signs of a Sako late 1940'ies sporter, military action, typical Sako birch stock without recoil cross bolt (and badly cracked, too) and the Sako civilian front and rear sights (btw, I was actually wrong about the rear sight).

I picked it up, noticed that the stock was very slim, a leftie and that whole rifle didn't feel right, too light... Then I saw the marks on the the receiver...
I paid the barely three digit price and now it's in my home. Now I start having second toughts. What should I do with it? I know this is a luxury problem, but I don't want or need a 8x57 sporter, "restauration" to mil config would give me, at best, something closer to a repro than a collectible. On the other hand, the action, bolt, mag and rear sight all seems to be in an unaltered condition.
While I think this over, and regret my lack of impulse control, here are some pics:

I know to the purist collector this might sound crazy but I love it . What a perfect tough condition mountain and forest hunting rifle! Not only that but the little rifle is running over with character and history ! The rifle was obviously altered by someone with an eye for aesthetics and purpose . I am most happy for you my friend ! This is what makes our lives interesting!
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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member
Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA
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Bokmal ,This is my Sako Mauser 30-06 possibly from the 40's also ? The scope is a German Nickel.It is somewhat heavier than your Sako G33/40 and not nearly as "user friendly" when traversing high mountains
Edited by Deutsche_Vortrekker (03/04/13 01:07 PM)
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Bokmal
.275 member
Reged: 10/02/09
Posts: 81
Loc: SW Finland
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That Kesslerin is a beauty, Lancaster! There are several ideas that could be borrowed from that one...
@Vortrekker, the Sako Mauser, i.e. the Highpower, were numbered from 100 000 upwards. Your would be from the earlier end like my 8x60 was. The stocks are also identical. Later stocks had fancier wood etc. Still regret selling it
-------------------- Born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad...
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lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9532
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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yes the kesslerin is the victory of a special idea building a mauser sporter slim and elegant as possible. iirc, core of the success is cuting the magazin down for holding only 4 or 3 cartridges. this giving the rifle an edge over other ligth weight sporter and bring it close to an old Suhler break action single shot.
-------------------- Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member
Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA
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Bokmal : Thanks for the SN# update . I read somewhere Sako started using those Mauser actions to build their rifles in 48 or 49 but I'm not quite certain....
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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member
Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA
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It appears that Sako milled the front end of the original G33/40 rear sight . The front sight is similar to the early Riihimaki Sako built sporters.
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Rule303
.450 member
Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 5257
Loc: Woodford Qld
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Bokmal that looks like a good find.
Lancaster that is a great looking rifle and great timber.
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Bokmal
.275 member
Reged: 10/02/09
Posts: 81
Loc: SW Finland
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I've started thinking about this project again. I have a nice slim small ring stock coming up from Germany, made in Hersfeld in 1966 according to the seller.

But how about scope bases? I would prefer something like S&Ks Skulptured bases but Brownells only list small rings for the M/96. Do you fellow forum members know of other suitable bases and mounts for the 33/40?
-------------------- Born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad...
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lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9532
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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sometimes somethings need some time
whats with the talley mount? http://www.talleymanufacturing.com/Produ...dard-Satin.aspx
from all modern scope mounts its ,imho ,the best looking one
dont beliefe there is a special mount make for the 33/40, the action is to rare.
-------------------- Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians
Edited by lancaster (09/05/15 06:32 PM)
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Bokmal
.275 member
Reged: 10/02/09
Posts: 81
Loc: SW Finland
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You're right as always, the good stuff often take time!
The Talleys do look good, I'll write them.
-------------------- Born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad...
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TexasJohn
.300 member
Reged: 06/04/10
Posts: 174
Loc: Texas
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The pictured Sako is not built on a G33/40 - it is possibly a commercial FN action. The action has no thumb slot.
JC
-------------------- John
"In the Texas Oilfield, everything that does not kill me today, gets another chance tomorrow."
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Igorrock
.400 member
Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1684
Loc: Finland
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Quote:
The pictured Sako is not built on a G33/40 - it is possibly a commercial FN action. The action has no thumb slot.
Read the topic from beginning so you notice you talk about another rifle than topics opener. The rifle in latest foto has, indeed, FN commercial action because it´s formal SAKO High Power but it´s owner is Deutsche Vortrekker, not Bokmal who opens this topic for his much older SAKO -made factory custom rifle.
This is a good lesson to you, TexasJohn; read always complete topic before answering it...
-------------------- http://promaakari.wordpress.com/
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458Win
.333 member
Reged: 15/12/06
Posts: 342
Loc: Alaska
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The first 375 I ever owned was an older Sako like this one with an early post war FN commercial action. it is one rifle I wish I had kept.
-------------------- Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either never used one - or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship
Phil Shoemaker
www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com
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