I am stumped. My firearms library is really not bad as far as bolt guns go; no help from Google; no help on AR Search feature.

My question is this. Back in the 60's, the late P.O. Ackley contracted with a Japanese company for the maunfacture of Mauser 98 actions, to be marketed under his name. After about 150 were made, the company went tits up. I have read about the above in a number of places - in cluding Frank DeHaas' book - but can find out nothing else.

I have never seen one of the actions, or even a photo of one.

Has anyone here actually seen such? What happened to them? Do they ever change hands?

Inquiring minds want to know. Me, too.

Thanks.

I've seen a left handed PO Ackley Mauser 98.

What James said. AFAIK they were all left-handed.
Regards, Joe

I know of two LH PO Ackley M98 clones. I own one, built by Harry McGowan in NOV 67 as a target rifle in 308, and one in Arkansas (fellow AR member) and I think his is in 35 Whelen IIRC.

Art Zeglin of Z-Hat is writing a book on PO Ackley and he asked me if I could send photos, so as soon as my photographer can arrange a session, that will be done. Art plans on finishing his book by December 2010.

From DeHaas book and other sources, about 150 of these actions were made/imported and about 50 were LH versions....

Harry McGowan was gracious to discuss this rifle of mine back in 2008 when I acquired it, he said it was a great action to work with and mine is probably barrelled with an Ackley or Douglas barrel given the invoice date on the underside of the barrel (hence the 11/67 build date).

It shoots very nicely and the only work I have done to it was to re-bed it; after 40 year the acraglas turned rubbery, it now is steel-bedded with Devcon Plastic Steel. I have shot it in NRA MR prone at 600 yds. It does very well even with the rather archaic Lyman 48 sights.... It is the only one on like it on the range, which is neat....

VR

I have one in storage that belonged to my dad. Lefty 270 [ugh] but original. Next time in the area I will get it and take pictures. It shot good according to my pop.
Aloha, Mark

quote:

Originally posted by mauser93;

I have never seen one of the actions, or even a photo of one.

scroll down to page 347...
nothing extraordinary, basically an FN LR [c-ring] made in Japan.


http://books.google.com.au/boo...#v=onepage&q&f=false

My late brother in law had one in -06. I believe his son has it now.

thanks to all. Interesting.

Trax, from what I've learned about this arcane subject, I do not think that you oversimplify.

Is Art Zeglin related to Fred of zhat?

I handled a LH Ackley during late 60s....I think in Laramie, WY....gorgeous rifle made by a gunsmith who (I think) was named Anderson.

Thanks again to all of you.

As an aside, I wonder if the Ackley name contributes appreciably to collector value...presuming that these things have collector value to begin with.

Mike Bellm, the mostly single shot oriented guy, he "apprenticed" with Ackley, more or less, and spent a lot of time working with him and has PO's rifling machines to this day. If I was going to ask anybody about things who's still alive, he might be your man to pester, but he's pretty busy. Last I talked to him, he was in Grants Pass, OR.

Lester Brooks, often here on the gunsmith forums, he might have an idea or too, too. He knows quite a bit about that sort of thing at times, and if he doesn't, he'll say so as well.

Opinions may vary, but I bet Mike Bellm probably knows a considerable bit about them actions and tinkered on a few when he was working with PO. I ain't calling him and waking him up to ask, but I have a good hunch :-)

Mike Bellm has a very nice web site, an does wonders on TC Encores!

http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/

He still talks PO Ackley and does things Ackley's way.

Easy to get a hold of, from his site.

I believe Craig Boddington recently had a .264 built on one.

Here's a P. O. Ackley Left Handed Rifle in 7X57 for sale from Cabela's Reno on Guns International.

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100720871

I have one, a RH version, 6.5x06 which I purchased directly from Ackley. It was barreled and chambered by him and is unfired. I will try and answer any questions you have.

The one at Cabela's Reno is a Paul Jaeger. Jaeger used Mauser actions for most of their rifles.

Old post I know but , I have a RH Ackley. It is about 10 percent larger . Bolts don't interchange . Receiver OD is the same or close enough that stocks fit . Mine is in 300 Ackley magnum , 1.25 U tapered barrel . Stock is older style maple and walnut laminate . Identical to the ones pictured in DeHaas book . It has or had a Canjar set trigger in it .
I bought it on the firing line at the orig Williamsport 1000 .
Gary

Several years (15) ago I saw one in a used gun rack. I don't know in what country it was made. On one of my trips to CP Donnelly's shop I mentioned it to him. CP was a student of PO, was good friends with him right up to PO's passing, and he purchased his barrelmaking equipment from PO. CP was familiar with rifles that PO had made but said what I had seen was one of the one's that "PO had sold his name for" and had nothing to do with them. So they weren't actual PO Ackley rifles and that CP was of the opinion that there was nothing special about them, other than having PO's name on it.

The only thing dif is the size of the bolt . At least on my magnum . I know there is a 17 cal , either Javelina or remington, it was a exact duplicate to mine .