Sold
8# 3oz
20"
This fantastic rifle has just arrived from an estate of a passionate rifleman who treated himself to some fine guns from some of the best custom riflemakers of the 1950’s-’60s.
This full stock Mannlicher rifle has a 20″ barrel and weighs only 8 pounds 2oz. It is chambered in 7×57 Mauser on a commercial Mauser action. Metalwork is finished in deep lusterous blue with no wear evident. 99.5% blue. The bolt and bolt release lever are beautifully engine turned polished.
This rifle is hand marked underneath the classic Niedner style buttplate: “Hal Hartley 1952” along with the handwritten serial number and the name of the gentleman who ordered it. I bought it from his estate, this is a one owner gun!! Hartley was one of the best rifle stockers back in the ’50s-60s so I’ve learned on the internet. He was noted for his work with tiger-tail striped maple. This example is incredible…borderless checkering, shadowline cheekpiece and flawless inletting. Gorgeous hand-rubberd finish.
I was privalaged to review the original owner’s gun diary (as he was an AVID handloader and kept meticulous journals) and I found the following entry for this rifle in his own hand: “Cal. 7×57 Mauser Paul Jaeger Custom rifle. stocked by Hal Hartley in tiger tail maple. Full length stock. Serial number written under buttplate. 2×7 Leupold scope Paul Jaeger rings and bases.”
I am of the opinion that this is a Jaeger metalwork rifle stocked by Hartley. I have not taken this rifle apart to see if it is marked under the barrel, I will not take a screwdriver to it. There are other rifles in this collection by both gunsmiths.
The bottom of the bolt is hand filed, folding rear sight, Jaeger quik-release sling swivels included. Nice trigger pull…no slack, no creep. Mint bore. Quick dump floorplate. The gun does not show use. There is the smallest of blems in the wood next to the floorplate (It hardly deserves mention).