Santa Barbara action

21 December 2004, 18:52

z1r

Does this look like a Santa Barbara action to any of you all?

21 December 2004, 19:15

craigster

If it's a Santa Barbara action the serial # should start with the letter Z. SPAIN may be stamped on the side of the tang.

21 December 2004, 19:33

z1r

Kool,

This one's serial # is A8xx. Glad to hear it's not a Santa Barbara.

I felt like I wan't getting anywhere with the PH thread.

21 December 2004, 22:49

vapodog

I don't believe Santa Barbara actions had the thumb cut on the left side of the receiver.

22 December 2004, 00:03

Alchemist

It would seem to me like a refinished military action of some sort, with what appears to be a ground-off charger hump and a resurfaced and re-stamped left receiver wall. From the photos, the outside of the left wall appears flat and not curved as I would expect on a commercial FN action.

22 December 2004, 05:19

z1r

Quote:

a resurfaced and re-stamped left receiver wall. From the photos, the outside of the left wall appears flat and not curved as I would expect on a commercial FN action.

That's what I noticed. I've been told that the early Parker Hale rifles used milsurp actions. That would make sense because in addition to the flat receiver wall it has plugs in what were once obviously locking screw holes on the triggerguard.

22 December 2004, 07:35

HunterJim

Vapodog,

None of the Santa Barbara actions (or pictures of them) that I have seen have the thumb cut.

What I have read is the FN machinery was sold to Spain and to Zastava in Eastern Europe, so you get actions from those sources that mimic the FN(C-ring cut at left, no thumb slot, etc.).

jim

22 December 2004, 08:32

Rick R

FWIW my Santa Barbara action has a serial number starting with an "R". It's one of the rifles where CVA imported actions with 30-06 barrels and made up kits like the blackpowder rifle kits that were so popular 20 some years ago.

No thumb cut or provision for stripper clips. The bolt shroud is a commercial style with no safety.

It Rockwell'd OK, when I had Douglas rebarrel it to 9.3x62 last year.

22 December 2004, 09:20

South40

I believe Safari DeLuxe was a Parker Hale Model --S40

22 December 2004, 12:27

TBEAR99

Cool mine looks like yours also a safari de lux mine has what looks like a crown and then bnp under it the serial is c15xx it's chambered in 308 norma mag

22 December 2004, 15:39

dan belisle

It's an early post WW2 Parker Hale Safari Deluxe, they made them from surplus Mausers captured during the war. Every English maker of bolt guns did this at that time. - Dan

22 December 2004, 16:44

z1r

Thanks All. I came accross the Parker Hale at a local gun shop. It is in pretty good shape. I'm drawn to it even though it isn't really anything special. I'm torn between getting it and rebarreling to something on the order of a 9.3x62 or just letting it sit in the closet. I really have no need for another .30-06, four is enough. But I like it all the same. I hear they chambered these in .308 Norma too, that might be a good use of the original barrel.

I posted a question asking about Parker Hales but didn't feel as though I got a definitive answer. Most folks said PH used Santa Barbara actions. This didn't look like a Santa Barbara action to me. I think it may have to go home with me especially since the dealer said he'd take another $35 off the asking price.

I couldn't identify any markings on the action, none were visible but It did have a czech marking on the cocking piece. The bolt was obviously forged but was nicer than the Interarms Mark X bolt in the rifle sitting next to it.

What time frame would early post WW2 translate to by the way? I'd like some idea of when this was made or cobbled together.

Thanks!

23 December 2004, 06:25

dan belisle

45-52 I believe, I'll try and dig something else out of my data - Dan

23 December 2004, 07:03

griz

Is there a problem with the santabarbara actions?I just picked one up at a steal,are they not worth a a barrel job?

23 December 2004, 07:18

z1r

Thanks Dan. That may warrant keeping this one as is. I found an original sales brochure on-line yesterday. That would make a nice companion piece for the rifle.

As to Santa Barbara actions, it seems that there were some that were recalled due to improper heat treatment. It also seems that not all of the affected receivers were actually taken out of circulation. Since I don't posess the specifics of which actions were so afflicted I choose to avoid them all. These days, I'd rather rework a milsurp than mess with a commercial. I seem to recall that the affected receivers may have exhibited a purplish band in the front ring. Once the search function is working again take a look. There have been some postings on the subject. I won't tell you not to use your but might suggest having the receiver's hardness tested first.