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Yes I was referring to Mannlicher's I want to put mine up in a case as close to what was original as possible. It's not a take down but I have another action coming and that one will be a TD as soon as I figure out the best configuration for the Hemburg style.

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Are we talking Mannlicher Schoenauer, M1895...?

As cases were not made by Steyr they will vary widely per the tastes and requirements of gunmakers and customers who ordered them. There were trends, but no certain rules. A compartment closely fitting one's claw mount scope may be the cat's pajamas for those with such optics while the shape would be different if one carries a leather cased scope therein and it would be unnecessary for an arm with iron sights only. An M1895 case may provide a space fitted for several en bloc clips which would differ in size and shape from an MS' stripper clipped cartridges.

If it were me I would take in all of the images I could find of contemporary cased examples, consider my requirements and desires, then search for 'old style' cases available today that could be modified, if necessary, or perhaps custom ordered.

After all, that is likely what you would do in 1925 if you had an uncased rifle for which you were to purchase a case. There were, of course, also 'generic' cases available then as now.


"Rifle covers and cases for Mannlichers"


From the 1939 Stoeger Catalog


Above is a cased M1895 by Daniel Fraser.



Here are a few non - takedown cased Mannlicher Schoenauers:


A long case




MS stutzen, cased

Followed by some 'break open' style takedowns:





Then some MS in the Steyr 'British' take down system, cased:


Empty case with scope case at lower left








This one seems to have a space fitted for the Schoenauer magazine which would fit just as well if installed in the action. To each one's own, I suppose. By the length of the case I suspect it was reconfigured for the MS takedown rather than having been originally made for it.

A general 'rule of thumb' seems to be that Mannlicher cases are for travel and compactness moreso than are elegantly appointed shotgun cases used on the estate from one's shooting brake. Keep it simple, well fitted, and containing necessities without ostentation and you'll have a proper traveling case for your Mannlicher.

Even this more elaborate affair, a cased Mauser 660 factory fitted as a three barrel set with two scopes, keeps case contents down to the basics:




Finding a case: Explora

Brief case history: Midway

Builder / restorer: Huey Gun Cases

Here is one source for 'old style' - ish modern cases. Not an endorsement, just the first one I found on the 'net. There are several more: https://www.jeffsoutfitters.com/product/canvas-leather-gun-case-for-rifle-up-to-45/

Another: DoubleGunShop

Edit - I just found a very interesting tutorial of sorts showing how to rebuild / reconfigure the innards of an old British case: DoubleGun Forums

More about restoration: ShootingUK

Some quite lovely and rather expensive cases: Arno Werner

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