I want to up grade my Zastava mauser to a model 70 style safety. Is there any difference between the Dakota or Gentry. I put one on a surplus action a (98) number of years ago but can't remember the brand. Just remember it needed fitting.

They both work the same and are fitted the same way, needing a notch milled into the bolt rear face so the safety lock can engage. And the usual safety arm to cocking piece fitting.

If it is a speedloc it gets more complicated

The Gentry, at least a few years ago, was very hit and miss on the thread timing and could be quite challenging to time correctly to work. The Dakota, while more expensive at the time, took less work, as did the Recknagel sold by NECG. I have all three, and see no real difference in operation between the three. I like the shape of the Recknagel the best.

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Originally posted by ssdave:
The Gentry, at least a few years ago, was very hit and miss on the thread timing and could be quite challenging to time correctly to work. The Dakota, while more expensive at the time, took less work, as did the Recknagel sold by NECG. I have all three, and see no real difference in operation between the three. I like the shape of the Recknagel the best.

Agree with the Recknagel

I usually recommend the Ed Lapour unit, it is quite on par with the Recknagel and lots cheaper. I will not use the Dakota or Gentry for the above stated reason. The geometry of the lever does make the fitting more "sensitive".

If you don't care about the middle position on the three way, try one of my two position ones, $135 shipped

That's right; I have a Dakota in here now for fitting and they are very sensitive to fit; seems that the cam does not pull the cocking piece back very far at all.

FWIW, comments from an amateur hobbiest from a sample size of one each:

Chapman 2 position - Bought assembled on shroud. Easy enough to bevel cocking piece, works fine, looks good.

Wisner 2 position - Bought the kit and installed it myself. Same as above, functions and looks fine.

These two are very similar and take some machining of the shroud. At the time I didn't have a mill, but managed very acceptable results using an "alternate method" that I would be happy to share if you are interested... If I had to pick again between these to I would go with the Wisner because if I recall the pivot screw was a bit beefier, and the slotted screw head is on the underside, allowing the top side to be dressed flush with the shroud with no slot showing for a slightly cleaner appearance. (although with the scope on you hardly see it.)

I have not heard that Jim Kobe also makes them, and would be interested to know more.

Ed Lapour 3 position - A fine quality unit that I would go with again. Ed fit it to my bolt, but I still need to complete the installation so I can't really speak to the rest of the process, or to function, but I have no reason to doubt that as long as I don't screw up it will be fine.

Dakota 3 position - Decent enough for me. Threads were very tight and had to lap to fit the shroud to the bolt, but it made for a good fit when I did. Other wise the install was straight forward, bevel the cocking piece and notch the back of the bolt. I snuck up on the bevel by hand with a protractor and stones, and don't seem to have any problem with it camming the cocking piece back enough. Function is fine, although overall it just doesn't seem as precise as the Lapour. Finish wasn't as good either, although with a light polish and rust blue it nicely matches the rest of the rifle. By biggest complaint is minor; the traction grooves in the lever are crude. They are very shallow, and not even parallel. By comparison all of the others mentioned above have nice and neat, perfectly parallel, deeper V shaped grooves. Mainly aesthetic I guess, but I expect better...

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I have not heard that Jim Kobe also makes them, and would be interested to know more.

I do install the LaPour's. I do the mod to the two position but only use the Wisner's; the geometry on the levers is so much more improved than the Chap[man's