I found this drawing in one of my notebooks at work today. It is the dimensions I have always used when welding on a new bolt handle on a mauser bolt. I did not make the drawing and don't know who originally did it. It was given to me by a gunsmithing instructor at Trinidad when I was there in the late 80s. I have always thought that it was a good reference to have and thought I would share it.

Steve

Thanks for taking the time to scan and post the drawing. That is by far the most detailed drawing that I have seen on bolt handle geometry.

I will be saving it(in multiple locations...) for future reference.

I would be interested to hear what other gunbuilders say about how the dimensions compare to what they do on their bolt-handles.

Thanks, Steve

Do you know what the optimum degree of angle from the vertical centerline the bolt handle is supposed to be?

Roger

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
Thanks for taking the time to scan and post the drawing. That is by far the most detailed drawing that I have seen on bolt handle geometry.

I will be saving it(in multiple locations...) for future reference.

I would be interested to hear what other gunbuilders say about how the dimensions compare to what they do on their bolt-handles.

Dimensions change dependent upon what the customer wants. There are some constants though that are closely adhered to especially if low scope clearance is required.

The caliber of the rifle may also have a bearing on the bolt angle. My GS discussed this with me on a couple of builds. The 404 was first and he said that the stock dimension would be taken into consideration because the less the bolt was notched into the stock the stronger the stock would be through that side of the mag well so the bolt angle would need to be more to keep the bolt knob in the best position for fast grasping but not too far out as to be visually wrong. The 7x57 on the other hand could be set with less angle because the stock was to be slimmer and strength through this part of the stock wasn't such a big consideration on the smaller cartridge.

Von Gruff.

Thank you, SDH.

Here is one I did a long time ago and a photo of the Mauser quite a few years later.

May the rifle will show this time.

quote:

Thanks, Steve

Do you know what the optimum degree of angle from the vertical centerline the bolt handle is supposed to be?

Roger

Roger, I don't know if there is an optimum for this. There are to many variables as others have said. The size of the stock and the scope you are trying to clear are two. Optimum would be the angle that lets the handle clear the scope and sticks out from the stock far enough to easily get ahold of it.
Steve