I've read that claw mounts and bases from different makers didn't always interchange in the old days, but that modern ones generally do.

Could anyone tell me what those dimensions might be? Even partially?

I'd like to make a set of mounts and bases for my rifle. I'd like for them to interchange with something "standard" if possible.

I can get the dimensions off an existing ring or base. Every now and then a ring or base pops up on one of the auction sites, but I don't have any way to tell which might fit what, which would limit their use as patterns.

Well, does anyone know if the "Mauser sniper" claws match any "sporting rifle" claws?

I've got a number of claw mounts that have come with old post-war German scopes, probably because they were soldered on the tubes or too hard to get off the rails without an impact driver. Also, leaving the claws on covered up the holes drilled in the rails underneath.

Bases are harder to come by because they may still be soldered on the original rifles, but some matched claw/base sets can be bought separately s/h.

Non-matched claws and bases may not readily fit together - the brands and models are rarely visible and smoking and stoning was probably employed to give the precision needed to allow continuous detaching.

The individual claws are often about 4mm wide, the front ones about 12mm long (10mm along the small of the claw); the rear claws about 9mm long o/a.

The two front claws are mostly 15mm across but some of the rear pairs are as narrow as 11mm across the outsides but most seem about 13mm. This is partly explained by the gap between the front claws being 8mm but the rear ones usually only 7mm (the narrow set is only 3.5mm).

There may be some mix-and-match aspect to take account of the front claws having to be on bigger-or-smaller objectives, to allow for the tipping needed in the detaching process.

The rear ones usually have lateral adjustments to account for the needs of the (superior ) reticle-movement scopes, many of which lacked windage knobs. Making the bases might be easier than the claws but I would try to buy some, perhaps grilling the seller about the exact dimensions, once you had the upper parts. If the outside width of the claws are fractionally wider than the base slots, at least you have some chance to stone the claws to get the fit right.

Thanks, Sambar! That's a lot more information than I had before...

You're welcome, TRX.
BTW, if you find some bases to buy, with or without the upper claw parts, you might find they were made to go on S/S double rifles, apparently to be let down into the ribs and soldered directly to the barrels.

In fact, I would say most of the scopes I've bought were once on db rifles or drillings, as the rear mount is way forward (you would not want to bump one with that leverage).

You could probably mill off the curvy bits incrementally (to get elevation) and maybe drill them to fit the action holes in American rifles.

Cheers