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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles
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buckstix
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Loc: Whitetail Country
A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig
      #348095 - 18/12/20 10:17 PM

A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig

Hello All,

I thought you might want to see there are still treasures to be found so I've brought this over from another Forum.

The Auction ended last Saturday ... and the gun arrived here the following Thursday. Four days from bidding to delivery. Remarkable service from this Auction Company.

What a fantastic deal this turned out to be ..... do you recognize this action?

The listing never mentioned the action type, but I recognized it as a rare BREVEX Mauser. I collect BREVEX Mausers - this makes number 11 in my collection ...



I recognized the left side gas vent hole, and the nub behind the extractor, and the distinctive bottom metal. All tell-tale signs of a BREVEX Mauser action.

The Canjar set-trigger seemed a bit strange, but it may explain; that the rifle was intended for Long-Range Benchrest competition, up to 1000 yards. A sport that was very popular in the late 60's into the early 70's, likely the time when this rifle was made. At that time, only a Brevex Action was long enough for the 338-378 cartridge. In the early 1960s this cartridge was a wild-cat developed by Elmer Keith. In 1998 Weatherby added it to their list of standard calibers.

Another one of the Brevex Mausers in my collection ( the top one in 257 Wby Mag caliber ) was also setup for such long range competition.



When I got the rifle in hand, I installed a Vintage Weatherby 2-3/4-10x Scope. A fitting mate to this Classic Rifle.

Here are some additional Specs:

French Brevex Magnum Action
338-378 wildcat caliber
27" Heavy Barrel
11 pounds 11 ounces w/ Weatherby 2-3/4-10 Scope - unloaded
14-1/4" LOP
Red Pachmayr Presentation Recoil Pad
Flush T-Slot Sling Swivels
2-position Winchester Style Swing Safety
Secondary Forward Barrel-Mounted Recoil Lug
Flawless "Wrap-Around" checkering on both the grip and forend
Looks virtually un-fired - a few tiny stock dings from safe sisters

and .... the real surprise was the Maker's Stamp in the stock ... "GEORGE HOENIG" ... the Famous Master Gunsmith ... and one of the very best builders of Custom Rifles ...

Lucky for me - the Auction listing didn't give any details - and I was able to snag this remarkable rifle for less than 1/10th of its true value.

Tomorrow I test fire it, and will report back on its performance.

As always, your comments are welcome.















--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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tinker
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Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: buckstix]
      #348096 - 18/12/20 10:30 PM

Nice looking rifle
Congratulations on the good find!

I'll stay tuned for the field report.

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...

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93x64mm
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Reged: 07/12/11
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: tinker]
      #348097 - 18/12/20 10:55 PM

Done it again Buckstix!
Certainly a remarkable find & a treasure safely secured away for future generations!
As to being a Beverex aficionado.......Nah, there's room for a few more yet!
Can't wait for the range report!
I suppose the 338-378 Weatherby will outdo the .338 Lapua?

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Ripp
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: tinker]
      #348104 - 19/12/20 03:43 AM

Quote:

Nice looking rifle
Congratulations on the good find!

I'll stay tuned for the field report.



Great find for you..congrats..

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: Ripp]
      #348105 - 19/12/20 05:13 AM

Nice - what's not to like.
I see you have rifles by John Buhmiller and Les Bauska, who both hailed from Kalispel Montana.
As an aside, I spoke with John Buhmiller on the phone in the spring of 1975, just after he had a fall and was not well enough for a visit. It was a pleasant call talking about our mutual friend, Lester H. Hawkes who had become a Canadian, with his wife Irene, and lived on Walcot Road. I called "old" John from Les Bauska's shop where I was spending a day, straightening barrels and talking muzzle loaders. I bought some 8 muzzle loading barrels from Les. Small world.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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buckstix
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: DarylS]
      #348114 - 19/12/20 11:05 AM

Hello tinker, 93x64mm, Ripp, & Daryl_S
Thanks for the reply.

Well, I have a range report ..

First off, I discovered the caliber is NOT 338-378 Weatherby Mag. The caliber is just plain 338-378 Mag, sans the Weatherby name. The 338-378 was pioneered by Elmer Keith in the early 60s. (1963) It was based on the Weatherby 378 case, but with sharp neck and shoulders. The Weatherby chambering was standardized and added to their line in 1998, and the cartridge had the standard double-radius neck and shoulders. Upon firing this rifle, the cases show the earlier version, which is in line with when this rifle was likely built. Interestingly, both Elmer Keith and George Hoenig were from Idaho.

I was amazed at the accuracy of this rifle, which reinforces my opinion that it was built for serious long range benchrest competition. The set trigger is a "wink" to shoot and each shot surprises you so there's no thoughts of a flinch. The heavy 11-3/4 pound rifle was a pleasure to shoot from the bench across front and back sandbags. Recoil energy was comfortable at near exactly 30 pounds.

as always comments are welcome.





--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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Marrakai
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Reged: 09/01/03
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: buckstix]
      #348120 - 19/12/20 12:46 PM

Wow! How good is that!

You must be over the moon buckstix. A click or two right, and never touch the turrets again.

Just go hunting!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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tinker
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: Marrakai]
      #348121 - 19/12/20 01:02 PM

You have nothing to complain about!

Excellent!

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...

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93x64mm
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Reged: 07/12/11
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: Marrakai]
      #348126 - 19/12/20 02:05 PM

Quote:

Wow! How good is that!

You must be over the moon buckstix. A click or two right, and never touch the turrets again.

Just go hunting!



Wow that's honking them along to say the least!
Man that is one sweet group matey, I'll echo Marrakai's thoughts - a smidgen right & go hunting!
I think Ripp will be salivating now over this prize of yours, just to try & see how far she could shoot!

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vykkagur
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Reged: 28/11/19
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: 93x64mm]
      #348130 - 19/12/20 03:39 PM

I have to echo all the above - that's some pretty fair shootin'! A great combination of a fine rifle, with a good set trigger, and the right man behind it.

Congratulations on another terrific find!

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Rule303
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Reged: 05/07/09
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: vykkagur]
      #348131 - 19/12/20 03:46 PM

Quote:

I have to echo all the above - that's some pretty fair shootin'! A great combination of a fine rifle, with a good set trigger, and the right man behind it.

Congratulations on another terrific find!




Nah, its a a bum of a rifle. To save you from embarrassing your self I hid it in my gun safe.


That is one sweet rifle for sure.

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tinker
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: Rule303]
      #348145 - 20/12/20 12:57 AM

That Barnes TTSX is still doing over 2Kfps at 600 yards.


Zoom!

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...

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xausa
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Reged: 07/03/07
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: DarylS]
      #348149 - 20/12/20 03:14 AM

Buck, You know about my long relationship with John Buhmiller. I bought my first .505 barrel from John and if I remember correctly, Les took over John's barrel making business, and I bought my first .577 barrel from him. Both were fine people to deal with.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: xausa]
      #348155 - 20/12/20 05:52 AM

Amazingly accurate. I've found the TSX's shoot in most of my rifles, regardless of calibre. Such was not the rule, with the older solid designs.
The Barnes XLC, the blue coated 120gr. did shoot really well though, in 2 of my 6.5's.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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buckstix
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: xausa]
      #348161 - 20/12/20 07:07 AM

Quote:

Buck, You know about my long relationship with John Buhmiller. I bought my first .505 barrel from John and if I remember correctly, Les took over John's barrel making business, and I bought my first .577 barrel from him. Both were fine people to deal with.


Hello xausa,
Thanks for the reply.

Here is the post about the Bauska Brevex Mauser. I was almost exactly 5 years ago that I found it.
It was also mis-identified and a real sleeper. It was purchased for only $720.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....true#Post260545

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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lancaster
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: buckstix]
      #348164 - 20/12/20 07:45 AM

".... do you recognize this action? "

here it is, right?



you have to looks very closely to notice this

congratulation, only some time and you can address every brevex mauser rifle by name

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

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: lancaster]
      #348167 - 20/12/20 08:21 AM

Hello lanchaster,
Thanks for the reply.

There are several things to look for .... including the "purple" look to the receiver (comes from the hot blue an a high nickel content receiver)

I had to use photo-shop to lighten the left side to see the gas vent hole - typ on Brevex.



--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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500Boswell
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: buckstix]
      #348174 - 20/12/20 12:28 PM

Trigger guard isnt original

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: 500Boswell]
      #348186 - 20/12/20 06:40 PM

Quote:

Trigger guard isnt original


Hello 500Boswell,
Thanks for the reply.

You should have asked a question about the trigger guard, in stead of making a foolish statement.


The trigger guard on this rifle is absolutely original Brevex.

Although the "Slant-Front" (Frankenstein) trigger guard is more common by about 3.5 to 1, the "Round-Front" trigger guard was also a product of Brevex.

The 27 Examples in my study of the Brevex Model M300 & M400 & M500 actions had trigger guards that were numbered to the action. Most were marked either FRANCE, or MADE IN FRANCE on the side of the guard or the magazine box, and at least 2 of the Round-Front guards were marked MADE IN BELGIUM. Of the 27 Brevex actions recorded, 8 have Round-Front trigger Guards. The 11 marked with an * are those in my collection.



M400 / 011 - Slant-Front
M400 / 016 - Slant-Front
M400 / 042 - Slant-Front *
M400 / 066 - Slant-Front
M400 / 092 - Slant-Front *
M400 / 104 - Round-Front *
M300 / 140 - Slant-Front
M400 / 172 - Round-Front *
M400 / 193 - Round-Front
M400 / 215 - Round-Front
M400 / 219 - Round-Front
M400 / 252 - Slant-Front
M400 / 254 - Round-Front
M300 / 261 - Round-Front *
M300 / 281 - Slant-Front *
M300 / 300 - Slant-Front *
M300 / 302 - Slant-Front *
M400 / 346 - Slant-Front
M400 / 353 - Round-Front *
M400 / 381 - Slant-Front *
M400 / 383 - Slant-Front
M400 / 422 - Slant-Front
M400 / 431 - Slant-Front *
M400 / 440 - Slant-Front
M500 / 450 - Slant-Front
M500 / 455 - Slant-Front
M400 / 459 - Slant-Front



--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DORLEAC
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: buckstix]
      #348223 - 21/12/20 05:46 AM


http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....true#Post264228

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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grandveneur
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: DORLEAC]
      #348233 - 21/12/20 06:59 AM

I also own an Brevex rifle caliber 460 WBY-Magnum which was made in 1974 by a gunsmith in Strasbourg / France. It's a nice rifle and I'm happy with it.

The system and especially the trigger guard are very similar to the rifle of the TS. The safety catch is classic , like a normal Mauser 98 system.

IMHO and in spite of everything , the Brevex systems are relative mass production. Therefore I don't understand the myth that sometimes arises around this systems. In addition, the Brevex systems are pre-drilled so that a rifle scope mount can be fixed, as on every classic Mauser systems they were used earlier for the production of series rifles. The Brevex system cannot be compared with a classic double square bridge Mauser magnum system.



Edited by grandveneur (21/12/20 07:55 AM)

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buckstix
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: grandveneur]
      #348239 - 21/12/20 08:09 AM

Quote:


http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....true#Post264228


Hello DORLAEC,
Thanks for the reply.

I have read that post in the past, and for the most part it is correct. Tradewinds of Tacoma, Washington, imported and offered 2 models, the M300 and the M400. However, my studies have shown THREE models (types) marked M300, M400, & M500.

Quote:

I also own an Brevex rifle caliber 460 WBY-Magnum which was made in 1974 by a gunsmith in Strasbourg / France. It's a nice rifle and I'm happy with it.

The system and especially the trigger guard are very similar to the rifle of the TS. The safety catch is classic , like a normal Mauser 98 system.

IMHO and in spite of everything , the Brevex systems are relative mass production. Therefore I don't understand the myth that sometimes arises around this systems. In addition, the Brevex systems are pre-drilled so that a rifle scope mount can be fixed as on every classic Mauser systems they were used earlier for the production of series rifles. The Brevex system cannot be compared with a classic double square bridge Mauser magnum system.



Hello grandveneur,
Thanks for the reply.

As I said about the previous post, most of what you say in also correct. However, they did NOT come pre-drilled for mounting a scope. I have seen many without tapped holes and have 2 such in my collection. In fact, one of the chronic complaints from custom gunsmiths using these actions was that the Chrome-Vanadium steel was very difficult to tap for scope mounting. Also, they were NOT relative mass produced. The highest serial number I have recorded in my data base is 459. With estimated production being from 1948-1959 and again from 1960-1968, that accounts for only 24.1 actions per year over a 19 year period. That's only 2 actions per month, a far cry from mass-production.

As to being compared to an Oberndorf Magnum Mauser Action, the Brevex is actually a bit longer at 9.25" vs the magnum Mauser at 8.18" measured center to center of the trigger guard screws. It is a MAGNUM onto itself.

You are correct about many Myths surrounding the Brevex Actions. But, unfortunately like so much folk-lore, not everything that has been written is true. Recorded data wins out every time.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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grandveneur
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: buckstix]
      #348241 - 21/12/20 08:31 AM

You're right , but I think that the production peak was more in the first 10 years , that already increases the number of monthly production. After that there was no longer any need for such systems since France no longer had any colonies.

I don't know if these systems were produced for export , but in the sixties and up to the nineties hardly any custom Big bore rifles were built , and in the nineties the production of Mauser magnum systems started again.

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buckstix
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: grandveneur]
      #348243 - 21/12/20 08:56 AM

Quote:

You're right , but I think that the production peak was more in the first 10 years , that already increases the number of monthly production. After that there was no longer any need for such systems since France no longer had any colonies.

I don't know if these systems were produced for export , but in the sixties and up to the nineties hardly any custom Big bore rifles were built , and in the nineties the production of Mauser magnum systems started again.


Hello grandveneur,
Thanks for the reply.

Even if production peaked in the first 10 years - that's still less than 4 per month. Based on examples in my study, most of the Brevex actions were exported to the USA, Belgium, Germany , and England, in that order. Very few Brevex actions were made for the French market, colonies or not. By the time Oberndorf Mauser magnum actions were again being made, very few Brevex actions were actually purchased because companies like Ruger, A-Square, Granite Mountain, Montana Rifle Co., Weatherby, Champlin, Schultz Larsen, etc. etc., were all producing Magnum actions at very reasonable prices. That's why Brevex Mauser rifles are quite rare.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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grandveneur
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Reged: 21/09/08
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Re: A Fantastic find - A Custom Brevex Mauser by George Heonig [Re: buckstix]
      #348245 - 21/12/20 09:04 AM

All right , thanks for the informations and have fun with your Brevex Mauser.

Edited by grandveneur (21/12/20 09:07 AM)

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