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Now I call it a Christmas gift, because it arrived just before Christmas this year, but in reality it has been a long winded process and thanks to perserverance the two items finally arrived.

People may have read me mentioning expecting to have two Steyr/Mannlicher Schoenauers arriving some time or other. Well they have finally arrived, from Germany via the UK.

Back in April last year, one of NE's members put up two rifles for sale on the forums. There was some problem with displaying the photos and I offered to load them up for the member. Chatting about the rifles, I asked what sort of price was he looking for, but only out of interest, as I couldn't afford to pay for them currently.

I once came close to acquiring a 6.5mm and a 9.5mm MS in rifle not stutzen form before buying even my .375 H&H many years ago. I think $1600 each. From a visiting dealer at a gunshow. Of course regretted not purchasing them at the time, and as usual with hindsight, but one must always keep in mind dollars are not always available.

Now the member's prices were higher but reasonable. I wished him the best for his sale.

I think it was the next day and I saw he was saying he had found a customer alread. Now that was fast!

Then read a message and email, he was going to give them to me! Unbelieveable. I replied it was too much, and then I should pay for at least one of them. Rolf was giving them to me in thanks for providing the forums. And was going to pay the costs to get them to Australia. Then the problems of modern day freight of firearms hit us. I think the first broker/shipper quoted something like $4500 ! Another a number still way too high. For the shipment from Germany to Australia and various paperwork. Obviously not sensible prices. Then I enquired from a friend who is an agent of Holt's in Australia, and after many delays, etc etc, finally got it arranged to be picked up by Holts in Germany or sent to them, then freighted in the agent's usual shipment to Australia of firearms bought at Holt's auctions. When the bill arrived, and I paid it, I think I might still be able to buy one MS for the same dollars.

But unbelieveable generosity by Rolf. I can't thank him enough. And finally since April 2017 have the rifles in my hands and can actually handle and see them. Next will be loading up some ammo, getting some reloading supplies for them. Again more then generous Rolf sent me the dies and assorted projectiles and brass. Customs here were a pain in the arse over these, and demanded a police permit for them (B709) even though in the past empty brass and projectiles have not required a B709. Some enthusiastic employee in the local office is the tip I had passed onto me is the cause. So bureacracy slowed i down again. So getting some projectiles and brass from local makers and suppliers and work up some loads. I HOPE I can try one or both of the rifles out somewhere not just on paper in 2019 somewhere.

I invited Rolf to visit Australia in 2017 and also 2018 to hunt buffalo, but unfortunately he couldn't make the trip. Then very disappointing to me, when my wife decided we would travel to Romania and Transylvania this year at short notice, chatting to Rolf about what hunting was possible in June, he said come over to Bavaria. Unfortunately our flight tickers were all locked in place already and the schedule would not permit it. Hell I could have carried the rifles back to Australia in my luggage, and get arrested in Dubai, Bucharest or somewhere if my luck was the usual.

It would have been a great opportunity to meet up with Rolf. I was very disappointed to not be able to meet up.

Rolf has some medical issues from a recent email, and I will leave it for him to elaborate if he wishes, but I really wish him the best and hope these can be overcome.

As for the rifles, he did ask what I thought of them. I still did not have them when I read that email! My first impression was the stutzen's were a lot longer than I expected. I am sure the 6.5mm stutzen's I have seen and handled in the past were carbine length. These two rifles, on in 8x56 and the other 9.5x57 are full length full wood rifles. Of course beautifully slick in handling. Scopes in German claw mounts with German style under the scope rails. Both have set triggers of course, one might need some work. The 8mm has a tang safety in addtion to the bolt shroud safety. Sling swivels are fixed. I need to acquire some nice slings with old fashioned buckles so the slings can be removed easier as required. But the gunshops said no one supplies them anymore! Will find them or get some made for me. Can't wait to shoot the rifles. Even just to put some holes in paper.

I was primarly interested in the 9.5mm with a 270 gr projectile, should make a dandy sambar deer rifle. Or anything else, mostly, in Australia. Should be a great running game cartridge.

But the 8x56mm excites me a lot too now. Rolf mentioned the bore is over bore and not .323 and shoots I think .325" projectiles better. He sent a small quantity. I think i read somewhere some Steyr 8mms were actually made with .325 or similar bores.

I know Bertram used to make 180 gr .330 projectiles and also 250 gr in .330. If a die can reduce the diameter a little, the 180 grs might make a useful projectle. If .323 projectiles are too inaccurate. I will have to look who else makes projectiles in the .325 to .330 inch range.

I can see the 8mm being used alot for deer hunting, pigs and goats and anything medium sized if suitable loadings can be made up for it.

So here are the photos of one of the rifles from the thread last year. Soon I hope to post some photos of my own, handling these two very nice rifles.

A very generous gift given. I think one day I will see these rifles are also passed on also in a suitable way. Quality vintage rifles should have a history, of one owner to the next, one adventure to the next. Its a pity their owners and exploits are often not known for rifles which are a hundred years old or even more.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (20/01/19 04:12 AM)

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