I was lucky enough to find an original scope, claw mount and rings for my 1905 MS. My gunsmith needs to know how deep to make the dovetail. Has anyone got a 1905 with original type claw mounts that they could measure the depth of the dovetail for me? I would really appreciate any help. Thanks.

Mike,
Was it dovetailed into the receiver ring? If so, I don't think proof houses allow that any more. In any case it has to be the same height as on the other rifle, or he will have severe problems fitting them up. Every rifle's mount was fit individually to the rifle, for the particular scope. You are lucky you have the scope, that avoids several problems. It is likely that dovetailed plate has some marks, where it was fit to the other rifle, he should go by them.
Mike

Mike I have a 1905 that has claw mounts, the front mount is on the receiver ring but is not dovetailed. It is mounted with screws on a milled flat. The measurement from the bottom of the receiver to the top of the mount is 36.04mm, if needed I can take some photos and send to you.

Dovetailed into the receiver ring. I got the scope and claw mounts from an auction so I can't find out from the previous owner.

Just thinking about it,,not having done it,,,
Would this work??

Mount the rear scope mount to the recv'r. It pretty much goes in one place on the M/S so as to keep it's top surface flat and square with the action. Not canted to one side,,,

Then with bbl'd rev'r in a vise and a optical bore sighter in place, I'd put the scope w/claw mt on the rifle,,securing it in the rear mount. (I only say an 'optical' bore sighter as that is all I have ever used..newer tech may apply!)

Scope should have it's elevevation adjustment centered for this.

Then raise and lower the front of the scope and claw over the front recv'r ring till it's elevation is centered in the bore sighter.

Using simple number & letter drills betw the scope claw mt and the top of the recv'r ring to prop it up to the right height will give you the dimension of how much of the dovetail mount sits above the ring.
Simple math and the thickness of the mount block will then tell you how deep the dovetail cut in the ring should be.

How's that sound!

I've got a couple M/S that were scope mounted w/the dovetailed front recv'r ring. One, a M1910 is missing it's mounts & scope.
I can measure the depth of that one if you want. I remember that you can just start to see the tops of the threads in the bottom of the cut and that's not uncommon.

I think I have a couple of the front claw mt's for M/S that mounted on the bbl shank just in front of the recv'r ring also.
They are a full band w/the mount block and were soft soldered on. One has it's thin band cracked IIRC,, but no matter.
The measurement from that (top of the bbl to the top of the claw mount right in front of the recv'r ring) might be helpful also?
I will see if I can find those mounts.

Kutter has it right. I mounted an orphaned h&h scope with mounts to a rifle I 're-barreled and used the same method. Lots of measuring and math involved. Big job that is not for the faint of heart.