kuduae
.400 member
Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1799
Loc: middle of Germany
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14 years ago I was given the barreled action only of a British sporterised, Birmingham proofed Mannlicher – Schoenauer model 1900. There is no maker’s or retailer’s address on the barrel, but there are three serial numbers: The receiver is dated “Steyr 1901” and the Steyr factory number is 98. Then there is the George Gibbs, Bristol, serial number B3452. So it was sporterised by Gibbs and retailed by someone who engraved A808 on the triggerguard, Purdey?
The photo shows it beneath my 1905 dated G.Gibbs Mannlicher – Schoenauer M 1903 # B4843 and above my 1899 G.Gibbs Mannlicher number B3085.
As there was no hope for ever finding a proper Gibbs style stock, I made one myself, trying to ape the British style. As I am no gunsmith, let alone stockmaker, but merely a gun tinkerer and hobbyist, the results were never satisfactory to my eyes.
For years I contemplated about altering the shape, but never did so.
Then, a few weeks ago, a stray M-Sch stock was offered on egun, described as a stock for a Mannlicher – Schoenauer GK. (Well, many Germans are apt to call any true Mannlicher – Schoenauer a “GK”, as 1960s rifles in 7x64 marked GK are the most often encountered here)
To me, the photo looked like if “Gibbs” was written all over. So I bought it at Euro 160.- gross. When it arrived, it turned out to be for a M-S M1903 and of the same dimensions, shape and checkering pattern as the one of my G.Gibbs M95 rifle. On cleaning, I found the remains of a number B6017(?) inside the barrel channel. So it is an original G.Gibbs stock indeed. Some work on the inletting of barrel channel and triggerguard fitted it to my M1900 action perfectly. Here it is, shown below my M95 Gibbs Mannlicher. (It’s just perspective and my photographing inability. Both rifles are of the same size with 26” barrels)
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LRF
.333 member
Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 442
Loc: minnesota ,usa
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Very nice find, work, and completed rifle!
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lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9399
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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Fuchs kann immer kommen!
the internet is sometimes a strange thing, I have stoped to say never if someone ask me about a hard to find part.
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Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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Parabola
.224 member
Reged: 09/01/21
Posts: 26
Loc: England
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Dear Kuduae,
As I am sure you are already aware, Purdey did use an A prefix when numbering rifles retailed by them but not of their make.
At one time I owned a .22 Savage High Power 1899 take down which they had sold to Lord Tredegar. It had their number (think it was A1281?) engraved on the guard bow.
In Christopher Austyn “ Classic Sporting Rifles” at page 77 he shows a Purdey cased and retailed 8x56 Model 1908 MS, Steyr number 3005, Purdey number A1228 retailed by Purdey in 1912.
I have much appreciated the information you have posted on loading for the 9.5mm. My 1910 Stutzen is proofed as .375” and was retailed by Watson Brothers in 1914.
Good Hunting!
Parabola
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Rothhammer1
.400 member
Reged: 06/01/17
Posts: 1853
Loc: The Redwoods of California
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Fortune smiled upon your M1900.
A Gibbs stock reunited with a Gibbs MS. True romance.
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Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1484
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Now THAT is a winning lottery ticket.
Very nice.
- Mike
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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JDL
.333 member
Reged: 25/12/10
Posts: 260
Loc: Louisiana
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What a lucky find. Congratulations!
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27506
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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Very nice indeed - nicely finished/re-finished as well.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40458
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Amazing find and well matched. Both rifles look spot on and appropriate.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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