In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Need Help. Fn Mauser made in Belgium Commercial S.

braykmaybraykmay Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
edited May 2013 in Ask the Experts
Hello all, i am new to the gun world and love it! I inherited a pre war Fn Mauser with what i was told might be a Hal Hartley stock. This gun is like new. I was told it could be valued in the thousands, and wanted someone that knows these guns to have a look. I created a photobucket and will link it, if you could take a look and let me know what you think..Thx a lot

http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/braykmay/library/
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This brings to mind The old statement Beauty Is in the eyes of the beholder. IMHO the metal of this rifle has been refinished it has aftermarket Trigger and Safety. This style of Wood work is in an extreme Style that had a big following in the 1950's . However strange as it might seem this rifle IMHO is not worth what it was in the early 1960's I think you would be very hard Pressed to get $1000.00 unless it is signed by Hal HARTLEY and you find a collector of his work.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with Perry Shooter.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • braykmaybraykmay Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thx for the info Perry, even though it crushed me. lol
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • M1A762M1A762 Member Posts: 3,426 ✭
    edited November -1
    Nice rifle! Why not just shoot the rifle and enjoy it? Your rifle was worked over by one of the great master gunsmiths. Hartley had a special technique to bring out the tiger striping on maple stocks. He used a gas torch to scorch the wood prior to finishing, this would raise the grain and result in almost a three dimensional look to the striping.

    It is likely that he cut the blank, cured and carved that stock, did all of the inletting, checkering and finishing himself. There is more value in craftsmanship than antique value - either way you have a beautiful rifle, enjoy for what it is - a great example of how one of the old masters would create a rifle from start to finish alone.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • navc130navc130 Member Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If my memory is correct, Hal Hartley was not known for making "California" style stocks, skipline checkering, putting a forend piece on or diamond inlays. This rifle was obviously built by a professional gunsmith and stocked with a beautiful piece of curley maple wood. It is high quality work, albiet in the "California" style of the 1950's and 60's. Such style is still seen but is not nearly as popular as the English "classic" style.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My Newton rifle came to me with a poorly refitted (bubba in training) fiddle back maple stock. Very nice to look at but not overly strong. Mine shattered during the re-glassing/bedding for the new barrel, due to a very small area failure of the release agent.

    +1 for shoot and enjoy it for what it is.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.