doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com Aug Wolf Suhl 88 stalking Rifle

Raimey.I don't know where in SA the Mauser was found. It was brought to the US by a former SA who had been visiting his relatives.
I'll add pictures of the barrel and action marks which show a crown over N and not an eagle over N as I stated above. I presume are pre 1939.
It strikes me as allot of work to make this conversion when you could simply use a Mauser-98.
Otto [img:center]http://[/img] [img:center]http://[/img] [img:center]http://[/img] [img:center]http://[/img] [img:center]http://[/img]

Otto:
The 2.5 grams of military flake powder over a steel jacketed bullet stamp is pre-1912 and the 7,9m/m stamp is post 1910. So either the longarm visited the proofhouse more than once, pre-1912 & post 1912, or it experienced proof in the 1910-1912 range.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

"It strikes me as allot of work to make this conversion when you could simply use a Mauser-98."

I can think off of at least three reasons why the old timers would prefer the older system.
First, price: '88 rifles were less expensive.
Second,tradition: they originated a decade earlier and earned reputation and faithful users.
Third, design preference: some people prefered M88 system to M98 system for particular design features, such as a smooth working bolt. This is one of the reasons I prefer Mannlicher-Schoenauer (with its 88-type bolt) over Mauser 98.

With kind regards,
Jani

Lovely insight Jani & I just think the 88 sporters have more soul & aesthetics, pleasing to the eye. Much more of a labour of love vs. some hand cranked mechanized, military weapon.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey,
I was trying to be objective, but I do agree with you about more soul & eastetics.

With kind regards,
Jani

Many of the 88 sporters in the US have the Lyman swinging peep, in addition to the usual open sights. This peep is similar but not identical to the one(s) made for the Mannlicher-Schoenauers. It replaces the bolt stop box and may actually be usable on other Mannlicher designs. Here's one made for the 88.

I'll never forget the first 88 sporter I ever held, a Haenel 9x57 with the usual keyed forearm and open barrel sights but also with the Lyman swinging peep. Of course I fell in love with the 1/2 octagon ribbed barrel and the stockwork and that little peep sight was the crowning touch, it really MADE the look of that rifle for me.
Regards, Joe

Raimey.Was the crown over N proof used before 1912?
Jani.Do you know if the use of M-98 botton metal was a common modification to the M-88?
My question really concerned the addition of the M-98 bottom metal and what was to be gained by this work.If they wanted to eliminate the M-88 magazine below the stock, then why not cover it completely?
Joe. Do you have any pictures of a M-88 porter with the lyman sight?
I had assumed that the Wolf sporter started as a standard M-88 rifle but the stripped front guard screw must have been installed before the saddle and barrel front attachment was added.Is it possible that Aug Wolf installed the M-98 bottom metal or was the M-98 bottom metal the first modification? Based on the quality of the wood inletting,the barrel mounted attachment was obviously mounted later but I can't be sure of the M-98 bottom metal.
Otto

Otto:
It was but in tandem with load data with powder type over bullet type for a volunteer submission.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Otto, I'm afraid I do not know enought about M88 sporters to answer your question with authority; from my limited experience, M98 bottoms are not common on M88 sporters.

With kind regards,
Jani

Otto, I also am ignorant of much detail on these fine little rifles, but will contribute what little I know.

Sorry no photos of 88 sporters, with or without the swinging peep. The sight that I showed is my own, an orphan that I've saved and considered adding to an 88 project I picked up several years ago. But so many projects, so little time.....

I've seen 4 different magazine treatments on 88s: 1)original German miltary requiring the en-bloc clip; 2)sporter and later military alteration retaining the protruding magazine but no longer requiring the en-bloc clip; 3)flush magazine with single-row feeding using a later-design narrow floorplate; and 4)flush magazine with double-row feeding using a wider 98-type magazine. I own examples of the first 2 types but not the last 2.

Major drawback of the first type for a sporter is the inability to mount an over-bore scope without interfering with the en-bloc clip loading from the top. Major overall drawback of the first 2 types is the protruding magazine that makes the rifle awkward to carry in one hand.

I've seen Haenel sporters using the type 2 and 3 magazine treatments mentioned above but not the type 1 or 4.

Military rifles are occasionally somewhat hard in their bolt lift but 20 minutes with lapping compounds will make them as smooth as any Mann-Scho.

The few 88 barrels I've checked have run ~0.327"-0.328" in the grooves; I also found this to be true of the 2 8x56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1908s I've owned. No problem, normal 0.323" bullets have proven quite accurate in my rifles.

Wish I had a nice Haenel 88 sporter, I'd put that little Lyman peep on it in a heartbeat!
Regards, Joe