I had a Mark X, a few years ago with that "Mannlicher" stock in .308. Nice gun and I miss it now that I traded it. ( when will I learn ). My question is: What's the purpose if the full length stock? I never got an answer other then "it's just sexy".( I have to agree with that!)
Anybody know the "real" reason?

Simply provides protection for the barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by interboat:
Simply provides protection for the barrel.

Couldn't say for sure but I suspect you are pretty close. Possibly for aesthetic reasons too back then. My favourite version for visible appeal is the laminated version from the Remington Custom Shop.

Mannlicher stocked rifles were sometimes called "Stuetzen" or "Stutzen" models in German speaking countries. The first word means to 'support.' I once read that these stocks were made to turn the rifle into a type of walking stick for alpine hunters. I don't know how true this is but it makes sense according to the definition of "Stuetzen". The second word, "stutzen," is a verb that means to 'trim' or 'clip'. This would explain the shorter barrels and shorter overall length of these rifles. I have seen both spellings here in the states and I am not sure which one is correct in German. The walking stick is the only explanation of function for the style that I have come across. You might have better luck on the European Forum. I love this style of stock and it is one that is rarely seen anymore. Sorry I could not be of more help.

I have to agree with Cobra about the Remington custom shop M-7 Mannlichers. They are as close to cloning the original M1903 Mannlicher- Schoenauer as anyone has done. I have two, a 7mm-08 and a .260. Both shoot extremely well, the .260 gave a 3/4 inch group in my first out of the box zeroing session, easiest zero job I have ever done, and it seems to like plain old cheap Remington 140 grain CoreLokts too, only equalling their performance with 120 grain AccuTips. Mannlichers are sweet, my only detraction being that they give lesser velocity via the short 20 inch barrels.
LLS

Just a design and it gives a rifle more weight in the barrel and that lends itself to good off hand shooting...downside is unless one is extremely careful in choosing his wood, and knows how to pick wood, they tend to warp..Also one should stay with rather stiff short barrels, However a good manlicher with properly laid out wood and a short stiff med heavy barrel is as reliable as any other gun..and yes they are super sexy...I love them.

The original "RepetierStutzen" were carbines for the Austrian cavalry, made by cutting down standard rifles and turning down the bolt handle. These had full length military stocks with metal tips, to protect the barrel from rough handling while on horseback.

It wasn't long before alpine hunters found these same rifles very useful, when trying to prevent the rocks from damaging barrels.

The Remington 7MS resembles the original M-S1903 on sattelite images, but upclose has little in common (other than both being a 2-lug turnbolt). The laminate stock aids accuracy, but is thick and heavy.

The Ruger 77RSI has the size and weight of the original, but again doesn't come close in quality.

The Mauser models M and S come very close, as do the Brno 22f carbines.

Yeah to what Ray said...

MD

Ray is right on - Never hurts to hunt with a handsome rifle!!

I happen to know a gunshop where a really clean (like new) Mark X full-length stock in 30-06 is currently located. PM me if you are interested.

If you take a look at the large-caliber wheel-lock and flintlock rifles used in Germany beginning some time in the mid-1500's(!!), you will note that many (most) of them had full-length stocks. When the German gunsmiths moved to Pennnsylvania and mountain Maryland, most of them continued making fullstock rifles, even after the barrels began to grow longer and longer. Whether the original idea of the fullstock was to protect the barrel I cannot say, but such stocks eventually became part of the trademark of "Pennsylvania Rifles", and obviously many German gunsmiths continued to make fullstocks as well. The Mannlicher carbines with full-length stocks were hardly anything new, but merely a continuation of German gun-building practice dating back four hundred years, to the days of the first rifled arms!

I also note that many of those original guns (wheel-lock rifles as well as flinters) sported patchboxes, so the idea that the use of patched balls in rifles having originated in the American colonies in the early 1700's is obviously wrong!!

I agree with Ray's comments on the stutzen rifles, I have enjoyed owning five in diferent caliber's and certainly find them great to shoot "off hand", but as an alpine gun I find them just a bit heavy.Some I have used are Anshutz 22, Anshutz 222,Steyr 6.5x55, Mauser 6.5x57,Sako 308 and Sauer Mod90 308. Nice tools.

The Brno Model 22F is my all time favorite Manlicher type rifle and of course in 7x57...A beatifully made double square bridge light weight Mauser with a great finish and attention to detail that has an 06 length magazine and a likewise long throat..you can really make that puppy bark...ONly thing is they keep going up and I keep selling them at 2 or 3 times what I paid for them, now they are getting too high to buy, I hate being a gun whore, I will sell about any gun I have I fear....but thats part of the fun...