i believe this is an intermediate large ring Mauser manufactured by Zastava in Yugoslavia using their tooling either purchased or licensed from FN to manufacture the model 24 and 48 action. Some were barreled and stocked and marked Heym on the barrel. Some were sold as Western Field model 720, Herters sold some and some were sold by Franconia. Actions only were sold as the VZ500 by Zastava as I recall. Most I am aware of had lever release floorplates. Some have Browning ejector housing and some have the Mauser ejector box. i believe none had thumb slots. They were machined and not cast.
Both actions being discussed in this thread are STANDARD length.
The Frankonia rifle/action that opened the thread has no "Yugoslavia" marks, but it DOES have similar stamps on the sides of lug and in front of lug on ring.
Metal is essentially identical to this Western Field M-720( without the shotgun style guard)
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_M__WESTERN_FIELD_MODEL_720_B_BOLT_ACTION_RIFLE_-LOT509984.aspxNow that I have the rifle in hand and metal out of the stock, I agree. The Frankonia is very likely built on a Zastava action.
EDIT: Should note that the double set trigger assembly is of a different design than the factory Zastava so possibly installed by Frankonia.
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The other action (Heym) discussed in this thread is clearly stamped "Made in Germany" and "FWHeym".
That said, it also has stamps/marking on the front lug that is very similar to the marks on other Zastava actions.
It also wears a Herter XK-3 barrel.
Thus, I suspect that it is also a Zastava action.
Many Zastava actions made pit stops in western Europe before coming to the USA, as with Interarms and the "Manchester" markings.
This was done, I have read to avoid import sanctions imposed on Yugoslavia.
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Lesson learned.
Don't accept the information from an auction tag at face value.
Be patient and wait until rifle is in hand so you can disassemble and have all information that is available.
I tend to prefer FN Mausers when it comes to "collecting", but I find that I now have commercial Zastava 98s with at least six other manufacturer/importers names on them.
