Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact
NitroExpress.com: 375/303 Axite Mauser

View recent messages : 24 hours | 48 hours | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days | 60 days | More Smilies


*** Enjoy NitroExpress.com? Participate and join in. ***

Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Mauser Forum Photos & Archive

Pages: 1
radin
.275 member


Reged: 04/08/10
Posts: 64
Loc: Pennsylvania
375/303 Axite Mauser
      #242468 - 16/02/14 01:40 AM

Hi Folks ,

Attached is a Link to a Thomas Bland Rifle I have been fortunate enough to acquire . You can add this to the Mauser archive . Feel free to use these photos on a site to post better here . I am also looking for a few rounds of brass . Jim



http://s854.photobucket.com/user/radinej/library/Thomas%20Bland%20Rifle?sort=3&page=1

Edited by radin (16/02/14 02:02 AM)


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
lancaster
.470 member


Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 8664
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: radin]
      #242469 - 16/02/14 02:17 AM

remarkable scope















--------------------
Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
radin
.275 member


Reged: 04/08/10
Posts: 64
Loc: Pennsylvania
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: lancaster]
      #242475 - 16/02/14 03:29 AM

Thank you Lancaster . The rifle was delivered in 1905 Jim

Edited by radin (16/02/14 03:32 AM)


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3518
Loc: Colorado
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: radin]
      #242476 - 16/02/14 03:40 AM

Now THAT is a cool rifle!
Thanks for posting.
Westley Richards offered optics similar to this as well.

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
dons
.333 member


Reged: 18/08/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Essex
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: Huvius]
      #242478 - 16/02/14 03:49 AM

These Prismatic scopes were used primarily on German military arms during WW1, but enjoyed a brief popularity on hunting rifles in the pre-war time period. They were produced by a number of German optics manufactures.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
radin
.275 member


Reged: 04/08/10
Posts: 64
Loc: Pennsylvania
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: dons]
      #242480 - 16/02/14 04:25 AM

Folks ,

The scope appears to be a "teleweit" , similar to the G.Z.II , this one has the range dial on the top of the scope above the eye cup specifically marked for the 375/303 Axite with numbers 1 - 10 clicks and is devoid of any other markings other than the Bland address on the mounting rod above . The letter on the rifle does not comment on the scope , only that it was delivered in August of 1905 . Jim


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
chapmen
.300 member


Reged: 26/02/10
Posts: 227
Loc: Middle of germany
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: radin]
      #242574 - 17/02/14 07:17 PM

Thats defintely not an zeiss teleweit. I have never seen any zeiss prismatic scope built in this way.
The prismatic scopes where not used by german army in ww1 , only tests where made. Prismatic scopes
had several problems. Also Hensoldt had some prismatic scopes in their program.

--------------------
some fine old guns from germany :
www.jagdwaffensammler.de


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Sville
.400 member


Reged: 23/03/10
Posts: 1189
Loc: Sweden
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: chapmen]
      #242576 - 17/02/14 07:53 PM

Yes, looks like a great rifle, I have never seen a scope ´like that. Have you shot with it?? /S

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
radin
.275 member


Reged: 04/08/10
Posts: 64
Loc: Pennsylvania
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: Sville]
      #242753 - 20/02/14 07:51 AM

Quote:

Yes, looks like a great rifle, I have never seen a scope ´like that. Have you shot with it?? /S






I did manage to make some brass from 38/72 Winchester , after a several step process , the rifle shot well , but with all the snow in these parts , I did not take the time as yet to really see how well it can really shoot . My off hand shooting would not do any rifle justice but it hit where pointed .
I have no markings on the scope other than the Bland address as above , it was described as a teleweit on a different site ( but that scope was marked and the range adjusting knob was just above the eye piece ) , I personally have no other info to go by due to lack of markings . Any other thoughts on the scope or source of info or photos ? Jim


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Igorrock
.400 member


Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1635
Loc: Finland
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: radin]
      #242785 - 20/02/14 03:58 PM

Take a look to Speed´s Original Obendorf Sporting Rifles page 100. There is fotos of five different kind of old prismatic sight scopes, four of them made by Zeiss. One is made by Göerz.

--------------------
http://promaakari.wordpress.com/


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
radin
.275 member


Reged: 04/08/10
Posts: 64
Loc: Pennsylvania
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: Igorrock]
      #242836 - 21/02/14 11:45 AM

Quote:

Take a look to Speed´s Original Obendorf Sporting Rifles page 100. There is fotos of five different kind of old prismatic sight scopes, four of them made by Zeiss. One is made by Göerz.




Thank you , the other interesting piece of data that counters the books is that these Kynoch 375/303 axite original rounds do not have a 0.330 diameter bullet , they are 0.312 . Jim

Edited by radin (21/02/14 11:53 AM)


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Old_Glass
.300 member


Reged: 17/03/10
Posts: 113
Loc: BC, Canada
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: radin]
      #253966 - 24/09/14 10:55 AM

I have the same model scope with almost identical Thos. Bland mounts. Sadly it is only the scope, mounts and case; the rifle was probably reworked after import to the USA and the scope discarded.

The markings should be in hand-engraved cursive script below the adjustment knob on the rear face of the housing. They can be hard to see! I believe the very last units of this model had the typical Carl Zeiss Jena prism trademark on the side of the scope body, as the later prismatic scopes did. I could be wrong, but I think I see hints of that marking in one of the photos.

On mine the knob or dial is hand engraved from 1 to 10 and with the distance between each 50 yard(?) marking slightly increasing throughout. This suggests a high velocity cartridge calibrated to 1000 yards, but I find that hard to believe for a rifle assembled before WWI.

The case is marked to Thos. Bland also and when I got it there was a name painted over in black enamel that I was able to remove without doing any damage. The name was that of a wealthy surveyor who lived in London in the late 18 and early 1900s. He was a friend of Anthony Gathorne-Hardy, the well known outdoors author of that time, who was in turn a friend of H. Hesketh-Prichard, who was also a travel and sporting author before he became more famous for his sniping exploits in WWI.

The people who have the Thos. Bland records were kind enough to tell me that they could not find a rifle order for that name, (Naylor) and that some of the records were missing. A pity, because it would be interesting to know more of the history.

Bland fitted some of these scopes to SMLE rifles in WWI, but only a few it is believed. There is a photo of one such setup in "Sniping in the Great War" and it appears to be a similar mount.

I've made a bit of a study of the Zeiss prismatics and there were four basic models, which from the "G.Z...." markings on them, were presumably known simply as "Gewehr Zielfernrohr". This is the second model, or "G.Z.II", the "Teleweit" is marked "G.Z.III" and the "Telekipp" is marked "G.Z.IV". The very last production of these models were also engraved with those model names (which were probably telegraphic codes as much as model names)

There is some evidence these were used on Gew98 rifles in WWI, but no photos have surfaced yet apparently. There is a photo of both the Telekipp and the Teleweit in Senich's "Pictorial History of US Sniping" as being among "captured ordnance" sent to the USA for study after WWI.

Hope that's of interest and what a beautiful rifle! Is it built on a purchased action or a captured Boer Mauser?

The calibre was designed to evade the ban on .303 sporting rifles in India? Interesting that the slugs are 215gr.: identical to the most popular .303 loading of that time.

Edited by Old_Glass (24/09/14 11:25 AM)


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Old_Glass
.300 member


Reged: 17/03/10
Posts: 113
Loc: BC, Canada
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: Old_Glass]
      #254411 - 01/10/14 05:39 PM

Some relevant photos. I think I've logged four Thos. Bland units now and every single one has slightly different mounts and case!



















Edited by Old_Glass (01/10/14 06:10 PM)


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Carpetsahib
.333 member


Reged: 29/04/07
Posts: 435
Loc: Western NC
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: Old_Glass]
      #254690 - 06/10/14 12:00 PM

Interesting. It looks like the scope housing is a die-casting - probably Zinc.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3518
Loc: Colorado
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: Carpetsahib]
      #256974 - 19/11/14 12:42 PM

Here is one at Holt's upcoming auction.

http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/asp...1&saletype=

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
lancaster
.470 member


Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 8664
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: Huvius]
      #256977 - 19/11/14 01:38 PM





Sale A1214 Lot 358

CARL ZEISS, JENA
A RARE CASED TELESCOPIC RIFLE-SIGHT SIGNED T. BLAND & SONS, MODEL 'ZEISS PRISMATIC', serial no. 1052,
circa 1910, with black enamelled prismatic body, the rear signed in script 'CARL ZEISS JENA GR No 1052, D.R.P', black crackle-finish prism-housing and side-plate (loss to finish on housing), colour-hardened tubular mount terminating in a single 'foot', the mount signed 'THOMAS BLAND & SONS, 2 KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, LONDON', much original finish remaining except where noted and rubber eye-cup absent COMPLETE WITH a rectangular leather case, the interior lined in red velvet and signed 'T. BLAND & SONS, 2 KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, LONDON', complete with shoulder-strap, buckle-tab at fault

http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/asp...1&saletype=

--------------------
Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
radin
.275 member


Reged: 04/08/10
Posts: 64
Loc: Pennsylvania
Re: 375/303 Axite Mauser [Re: lancaster]
      #257041 - 21/11/14 09:32 AM

Hi Folks

I have recently had the opportunity to shoot my rifle on the range . At 100 yards , benched , it shot about 3 inches to the left with a 3 inch group at 9 o'clock position . The cheek weld is hard to do due to the height of the eye cup . Since it is a take down , I might have not tightened the barrel enough accounting for the 3 inch left on the indexing mark .

The only markings on the scope are on the mounting rail above with Bland's address and on the top of the elevation dial . 100/300 , 200 , 300 , etc out to 1000 and "for 375/303 Axite" .


Again , thank you all for the reply(s), you are all an amazing source of information . Jim


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Pages: 1



Extra information
0 registered and 18 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  CptCurl 

Print Topic

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Rating:
Topic views: 8878

Rate this topic

Jump to

Contact Us NitroExpress.com

Powered by UBB.threads™ 6.5.5


Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact


Copyright 2003 to 2011 - all rights reserved