Forums.NitroExpress.com

Hello DoubleD,

If you look closely at the photo I posted, you will see the "M400" marking also, albeit light, above the "/92" stamp. All BREVEX actions were stamped "M300" or "M400". The "/92" is NOT a date code, it is the action's serial number. All BREVEX actions were serial numbered. Numbers from "03" through "455" are known. The "1092" serial number was added later by the rifles builder and also appears on the side of the action. It was a common practice to incorporate the action serial number into the rifle's serial number. Several of my BREVEX Mausers have serial numbers ending with the last 2 or 3 digits of the action's serial number.

There are also several other distinctive features which identify this action as a true BREVEX, not least of which is the 45 degree angle to the front of the triggerguard, and the cut-through anti-bind rail, amongst others.

Tradewinds was the "sole" importer of BREVEX actions. BREVEX actions were made "only" by M. Polonsky in Suresnes, France from 1955-1965 by using captured German machinery. This is a well documented fact, not my opinion.

Roy Weatherby was one of the earliest to use BREVEX actions on his first 378 Wby Mag rifles in 1955 - 1956, but there after used only his own Mark-V after it was introduced in 1957.

Yes, Interarms imported actions, but they were not the "Full Length" Magnum actions. Interarms actions were designated as "magnum" to identify "Long" actions with bolt faces cut for "Magnum" cases. Only into the 1980s did other manufacturers begin making "True" Magnum Length actions again.

As to your reference to the 416 Rem Mag., this cartridge was not introduced until 1988, a full 25 years after the importation of the French BREVEX actions ceased. (see this Wikipedia reference)

"...The .416 Remington Magnum is a .416 caliber (10.36 mm) of a belted bottle-necked design. The cartridge was intended as a dangerous game hunting cartridge and released to the public in 1989. The cartridge uses the case of the 8 mm Remington Magnum as a parent cartridge. When the cartridge was released in 1988...

Yes, it is possible that Bauska built the rifle. Also, one of the other forum members suggested that Merlin "Mel" Smart did the stock. Apparently He and Les Bauska worked together on projects such as this and both were residents of the Flathead Valley in Montana at the time. Mel's laminated stock design was the precursor to what Kilimanjaro Rifles now makes.

http://kilimanjarorifles.com/history.html

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

Post Extras