doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com gunsmith to evaluate/restore 1950s M-S carbine?

My brother wants to restore a 1950s Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine in 7x57. He needs somebody who KNOWS M-Ss to strip it, let him know what works and what needs fixing. Check headspace and bore, see if stock needs repair internally, check for the blank sidemount plate that some of them have hidden under the stock inletting, review trigger function, etc. He says the bore is pitted and shows some tool marks, and wants to know if it needs rebarreling to the same caliber. I've advised him against doing that if the gun will still shoot "minute of deer." Don't know if he's tried it out yet, but he will. It has a peep sight on the bolt, but no scope at the present.

He's in the Seattle area and would prefer somebody there, but will consider shipping the gun to a smith in another area.

Any recommendations?

Mike Armstrong

Try Steve Nelson in Corvallis, OR. Here is his contact information:http://www.acgg.org/index.php/member-by-name/userprofile/NelsonS

You can also Google his name for other comments.

before you have it re-barreled take note that there is a barrel extension protruding back from the chamber end which is beveled to assist in lifting the bolt to cock/open it. It will have to be timed into final position, and the headspace has to be correct at that time...not a job for any bubbasmith. Often, worn barrels still shoot acceptably well, are just difficult to clean. The rotary magazine is extremely hard to change to another cartridge case, so you will be keeping it that original, as well. Contact the Mannlicher Collectors Association for technical help...BTW, one of the things I like about my MSs is the ability to field strip the bolt and rotary magazine without tools! There are several options for scope mounting, and even a knock-off Redfield mount is available. Steve