Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact
NitroExpress.com: another M 88 sporter for the archive

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 >> Mannlicher Discussion forum & Archive

lancaster
.470 member


Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9033
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive
      04/06/17 08:11 PM

https://gundigest.com/reviews/early-german-bolt-action-sporters-set-standard


"Early German Bolt-Action Sporters Set a Standard

In the years before 1914 one could find, tucked away in a corner of the Sears, Roebuck catalog, a listing for a bolt-action sporting rifle from Germany. Variously listed as a Mannlicher, or a Haenel-Mannlicher, or sometimes just a C.G. Haenel (pronounced HY-nul), these rifles were the first steps in a trend that became a deluge: Bolt-action sporting rifles based on military actions.


Generally now known as Haenel-Mannlichers, these German bolt-action rifles were not cheap. In the 1902 Sears catalog, the price was $24.50. By comparison, a Winchester Model 95 listed at only $17.50. What made the German import worth 50 percent more than this state-of-the-art lever rifle? And why, when Model 95s are prized by collectors, are Haenel-Mannlichers all but forgotten except for a few devotees of early custom rifles?

There are two answers to that question, and relative quality has nothing to do with it. They are both finely made rifles, and some of the Haenels especially so.

For most gun collectors, the era of sporting bolt rifles began with the Mauser 98.

Everything good and modern occurred after that, they believe, and nothing much before. But such was not the case. In the frenzy of rifle development in Europe between the arrival of smokeless powder in 1886 and the ultimate Mauser in 1898, several good military bolt rifles made their debut. For sporting purposes, the most significant by far was the German Commission rifle of 1888.

For military collectors, the Gewehr ’88 is almost a cult object, and while it has been widely written about, it is also widely misunderstood. It is sometimes described as a Mauser with Mannlicher features, and sometimes the reverse. In reality, however, the Commission rifle was neither Mauser nor Mannlicher, but that rarest of creatures: A mechanical device designed by committee that was highly successful.

Its stint as the official infantry rifle of the German Army was short-lived – only 10 years – but it went on to a successful career in every corner of the globe as both military rifle and, in its converted form, a hunting rifle. So good was the Commission action that Steyr, in Austria, which manufactured the ’88 under contract for Berlin, modified it into a hunting rifle. The result was the famous Mannlicher-Schönauer Model 1903, a design that set the standard for quality hunting rifles for the next 70 years.

Steyr was not the only company to appreciate the virtues of the Commission rifle. C.G. Haenel, a prominent German gunmaking company in Suhl, also made Commission rifles under contract. Founded by Carl Gottlieb Haenel in 1840, C.G. Haenel & Co. quickly became a force in German gunmaking and, like most German firms, produced sporting weapons when it was not filling military contracts.

Haenel’s civilian rifles on the Commission action followed the German hunting rifle style that existed since the advent of centerfire cartridges. Most had half-octagon barrels with full or partial matted ribs, matted receiver ring, folding leaf sights, schnabel fore-ends and elegant turned-down bolt handles. There was usually a stock-bolt in the fore-end, and sometimes they were fitted with receiver sights. Most had double-set triggers. While the majority were chambered for the standard military 8×57 cartridge (usually the original .318” bullet, rather than the later .323”) they were also offered in pure hunting cartridges like the 9×57.

The first importer of Haenel-Mannlichers was Oscar Hesse of New Jersey, who began bringing them into the U.S. in 1894. There was a strong connection between German shooting clubs in the U.S., German immigrant gunmakers and the German companies, so more and more importers got into the act, and each, it seemed, stipulated little changes to the overall design. As a result, the number of minor variations seems endless.

This brings us back to the two major reasons there is only minor collector interest in these rifles. The first, of course, is the lack of a famous name such as Winchester. The second is the impossibility of classifying rifles by model and year. Model classification and certifiable originality are the backbone of gun collecting, and with Haenel-Mannlichers and other civilian rifles based on the Commission action, this is almost impossible. There were too many importers at this end, too many small gunmakers at the other end, and far too many variations in between.

For the modern rifle lover though, Haenels in their many guises offer an opportunity to own a rifle of stellar quality for not much money. The materials, workmanship and finishing are comparable to fine, modern, custom rifles. On the negative side, they are chambered for cartridges like the 8×57 and 9×57 that by today’s standards are relatively low velocity and suitable only for short-range hunting.

Collecting Haenel-Mannlichers may never make you any money, but it can lead into exploration of a fascinating byway in the history of the sporting rifle. You will find early Mannlichers from Steyr as well as German and Austrian custom makers, and you will find custom-ordered takedown rifles and modified Gewehr ’88s.

There was life before the Mauser 98 and the evidence lies — as with so much of American life — in the pages of the old Sear's



The conversion to a Mauser-style box magazine with hinged floorplate is one of the most beautifully executed floorplate-release mechanisms ever made – far superior to almost any modern rifle, including some ultra-high-dollar custom rifles. It is crisp, positive and unfailing. This rifle also has an excellent double-set trigger.






Haenel-Mannlicher, circa 1909, fitted with a Lyman Model 36 receiver sight and Lawrence sling. The sight appears to have been fitted at the factory, but it is impossible to say for certain.

"

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

Post Extras Print Post   Remind Me!     Notify Moderator


Entire topic
Subject Posted by Posted on
* another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster 27/08/11 05:02 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive buckstix   04/10/16 05:19 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive kuduae   05/10/16 12:36 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive buckstix   05/10/16 01:25 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive kuduae   05/10/16 08:21 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive buckstix   05/10/16 11:21 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   06/10/16 02:49 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive buckstix   07/10/16 10:24 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   25/02/13 07:15 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive kuduae   25/02/13 07:57 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   20/03/13 06:48 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   01/04/13 11:40 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   07/04/13 11:48 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   21/04/13 01:34 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Caprivi   22/04/13 01:06 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   12/05/13 02:34 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   16/11/13 06:56 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   12/04/14 01:36 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   01/05/14 05:28 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive rpeck   05/05/14 03:55 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   11/02/15 10:53 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   21/03/15 12:50 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   01/11/15 03:16 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Ash   10/04/15 12:19 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   26/11/16 04:04 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   09/08/15 02:47 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   02/10/16 06:37 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 2152hq   02/10/16 12:53 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   03/10/16 10:32 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   01/11/15 03:36 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/01/16 03:41 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive casper50   04/01/16 04:49 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   19/03/16 03:45 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   07/07/16 04:37 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive tinker   10/04/15 01:36 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   20/07/15 03:54 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   08/02/17 06:56 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   07/03/17 06:45 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Ash   07/03/17 09:13 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   02/06/17 11:13 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   02/06/17 11:19 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   19/02/18 04:08 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Sarg   19/02/18 07:12 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   19/02/18 03:16 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   27/11/17 05:44 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   12/10/17 01:24 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   03/06/17 04:07 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   03/06/17 06:47 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Bokmal   04/06/17 09:17 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   04/06/17 09:34 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/06/17 09:44 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   28/06/17 04:39 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Sarg   28/06/17 06:58 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   09/09/17 03:27 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   04/06/17 05:52 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   04/06/17 05:56 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/06/17 05:10 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   04/06/17 08:40 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/06/17 09:04 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   04/06/17 09:16 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   04/06/17 09:10 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/06/17 07:41 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   25/08/18 04:10 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   31/12/19 05:15 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   03/05/20 10:15 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   02/10/22 10:16 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Igorrock   05/10/22 06:11 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   13/10/24 04:31 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive sharps4590   14/10/24 08:57 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive fjrdoc   14/10/24 10:47 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   15/10/24 02:40 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   20/08/23 04:20 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   17/01/24 07:16 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive JDL   18/01/24 10:31 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive sharps4590   19/01/24 04:23 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   19/01/24 06:19 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive fjrdoc   20/08/23 05:02 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Rothhammer1   07/10/22 08:37 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   25/05/23 05:02 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 93x64mm   19/01/24 06:44 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   19/01/24 07:08 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   27/02/24 05:07 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Rothhammer1   02/10/22 10:49 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   07/03/22 06:53 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   22/08/22 05:04 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 93x64mm   22/08/22 09:04 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   01/03/21 07:00 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   01/03/21 02:26 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Rothhammer1   01/03/21 08:00 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   02/03/21 01:39 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   02/03/21 01:42 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Rothhammer1   02/03/21 06:14 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive themauserkid   08/03/21 08:34 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 93x64mm   01/03/21 08:44 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   17/01/21 02:49 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   01/03/21 02:22 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Bokmal   17/01/21 02:51 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   17/01/21 07:25 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 93x64mm   17/01/21 08:56 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   15/06/20 01:00 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Spud303   20/06/20 11:07 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   20/06/20 06:39 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   20/05/20 01:28 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   24/05/20 04:45 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 93x64mm   31/12/19 10:03 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   29/11/19 12:33 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive tinker   29/11/19 01:54 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   25/11/19 06:07 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   02/11/19 05:44 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   19/10/19 06:43 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   27/12/18 06:52 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive jebstuart   22/03/19 12:22 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive jebstuart   22/03/19 12:26 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   10/08/19 03:21 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive kuduae   11/08/19 08:53 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive jebstuart   22/03/19 12:35 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   22/03/19 01:59 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive jebstuart   22/03/19 05:56 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   22/03/19 09:32 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive jebstuart   23/03/19 07:43 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   23/03/19 04:12 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Bokmal   25/03/19 05:54 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   25/03/19 06:19 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Sarg   22/03/19 04:16 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   26/11/18 10:44 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive kuduae   25/08/18 06:39 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   25/08/18 02:06 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   29/08/18 05:04 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/06/17 08:11 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   04/06/17 08:25 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/06/17 08:53 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive kuduae   05/05/14 06:16 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   05/05/14 05:34 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   09/05/14 10:30 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   11/05/14 01:48 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Ash   11/05/14 12:15 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   11/05/14 06:22 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Kammerherren   24/10/14 03:07 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   24/10/14 04:15 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Kammerherren   24/10/14 07:05 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   29/11/14 04:59 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   01/12/14 05:42 AM
. * * M-88 Lock Time rpeck   25/06/14 07:47 AM
. * * Re: M-88 Lock Time kuduae   25/06/14 06:04 PM
. * * Re: M-88 Lock Time rpeck   25/06/14 10:20 PM
. * * Re: M-88 Lock Time lancaster   26/06/14 04:26 AM
. * * Re: M-88 Lock Time rpeck   29/06/14 10:12 PM
. * * Re: M-88 Lock Time lancaster   01/08/14 09:31 PM
. * * Re: M-88 Lock Time lancaster   14/08/14 04:31 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   10/10/13 12:18 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   01/07/12 07:29 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 458Win   02/07/12 05:55 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   03/07/12 01:32 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   03/07/12 01:42 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 458Win   03/07/12 02:24 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/07/12 04:05 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   04/07/12 08:15 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   23/07/12 10:48 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive DarylS   23/07/12 11:35 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   24/07/12 02:44 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   24/08/12 03:46 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   14/09/12 12:55 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive JDL   14/09/12 01:38 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   15/11/12 05:52 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   15/11/12 05:57 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   05/02/13 03:37 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive JDL   02/07/12 10:14 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive 458Win   02/07/12 12:40 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   15/06/12 01:43 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive texan72   15/06/12 01:53 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   15/06/12 03:01 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive texan72   16/06/12 04:38 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   28/08/11 07:34 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive chapmen   18/01/12 04:11 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   18/01/12 06:53 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   28/03/12 11:25 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Sarg   28/03/12 11:47 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   29/03/12 01:39 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   21/04/12 12:30 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   04/09/11 05:16 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive mehulkamdar   04/09/11 08:11 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   06/11/11 05:45 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   29/11/11 06:23 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive Dr_Deer   30/11/11 09:41 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   09/12/11 03:41 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive NitroXAdministrator   17/05/21 05:33 PM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   17/12/11 01:17 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   19/12/11 12:13 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   30/12/11 12:04 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   14/01/12 03:16 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive kuduae   16/01/12 07:15 AM
. * * Re: another M 88 sporter for the archive lancaster   29/11/11 06:29 PM

Extra information
0 registered and 120 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  CptCurl 



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

Rating:
Thread views: 163694

Rate this thread

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