doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com unusual bolt treatment

Recently, I picked up a sporterized Mauser. I won't say
custom because the quality isn't that great. It was on
an all matching WWI Mauser action with a pre-64 Winchester
Model 70 barrel. But what I did find interesting was the treatment of the bolt, it wasn't jeweled, I don't think this
is scraping. I think I know what was done to it but I'd like
to read the opinions of others. Here are two pictures.

Looks like it has been "scraped" somewhat like a lathe bed is scraped to get a flat and parallel surface. It has been done in the past to help the bolt hold lube. Michael's book, I believe, remarks on this treatment in one of the chapters. I suspect it could have been done better.

The treatment goes by various names. It was common on Neidner rifles, and Tom Shelhamer continued the practice for as long as he continued building rifles. I would be interested in seeing the rest of the rifle.

Thanks for posting.

John

At first, I thought it was scraped too. But I think
I am conditioned to believe that if it isn't jewelling then it is
scraping. Now I think it is something different. Any other
thoughts. I will take some pictures of the rifle tonight, but
trust me, it is nothing special.

This surface treatment looks like a different process than G&H used on their bolts, which was truly a scraped finish. This type can be done with a pointed stone chucked in a drill press and simply run over the lightly oiled bolt surface under light pressure. It takes a while to get much "coverage", but it's easy to do and has a nice visual effect.

Looks like some sort of etching to me, but I can't understand why it doesn't end evenly toward the rear or go all the way back to the bolt handle. That makes me wonder if it was even intentional.

IMO...leaving a bunch to be desired. Thank god someone figured out jeweling.

I think I see a little bit of pitting? Has the look to me like someone tried to clean it up with a small abrasive rubber wheel or point on a dremel. After a while, they probably realized it wasn't working like they imagined, and figured, do a quick even up all over. I haven't seen many scrape surfaced parts, but I think scraping appears much cleaner.

I will give you my opinion when I see a picture of the complete rifle.

It looks scraped to me.
Mike