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I know Rothhammer. People on other sites are always going on to me about the split bridge and how hard it is to mount a scope. I believe that it comes from hearing that from others and no actual experience with a MS rifle. I've never heard of one failing. If it was good enough W. Bell and so many other they will do for me.

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That's what makes this forum so valuable.

The internet is rife with decades old misinformation and often well intentioned (though usually wrong) 'advice' regarding Mannlicher Schoenauers. NitroExpress provides a haven for and resource of actual, factual, information and first hand knowledge of these firearms.

When I was gathering information regarding Grand Dad's M1910 in the late 1980s U.S., that from local 'gunsmiths' (some quite capable), gun shops, and such was scarce and generally inaccurate at best.

Often heard 'advice' ranged from "It can't be original because..."
- it doesn't have a 'Mannlicher Stock'.
- it has a single trigger, all MS had doubles.
- it's too long.
- it's too short.
- no tellin' who cut up the stock like this (it's an original Take Down Model).
- if it wuz mine I'd ream it out to... .
- it's a wall hanger.

I was told outright to not shoot it as 'Those furrin' guns had crappy steel', 'You'll never find ammo for it' (fairly accurate there, but one can handload), and other sage advice.

I was entirely certain that the MS was (still is) as it was when purchased by my Grandfather in Ceylon, circa 1930, fitted case and all, and that it was among the premier firearms of its day.

A saving grace was the Stoeger 'Shooter's Bible' of (1989?) which ran a Don Henry article about 'Mysterious Metrics' which, along with a few original DWM531 cartridges from the MS' case, led me to reloading information and to the archives of the Mannlicher Collector's Association (thank you, Kevin Tikker).


Those who point out difficulties / expense of mounting 'scopes to early MS are, however, correct.
As time goes by it is increasingly difficult to even locate someone capable of properly mounting and sighting an MS and who is willing to do so. I am fortunate that Grand Dad's wears a properly claw mounted Gerard B that was on it when he bought the 1922 proofed M1910 'second hand'.

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Citizen of the Cherokee Nation

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