I just boght this rifle reasonably. It appears to be a c-ring FN but the bolt handle is different than the HVA FN that I just completed. The handle has a "scope clearance flat" ground in a la Ruger and a larger dia ball. The shroud is in the white with a Buehler 2 pos though I suspect this may not be original. The ser#'s on bolt and action match. The action has "Magnum" stamped on the left side of the ring. Finally, the bottom metal is an alloy box with a hinged floorplate (not real nicely done) with an in the bow release. Stock is a rollover Montestrosity, in terrible shape, that I suspect isn't original euither. The metal is great.

Does anyone have any info on these rifles? I am particularly interested in dates of manufacture, barrel manufacturer and rifling method, info on the bottom metal, original shroud/safety,and overall value.

I plan to restock this with a lightweight synth. for a hard use rifle.

Thanks, as always, for the help.

Don't know, but it sounds more like a
Parker Hale than an FN?

Your Herters Mauser would have been their J9 action. It was a Mauser action made in Yugoslavia.

All description sounds original Herters, with the exception of the bolt shroud and safety. In original guise it would have had a streamlined shroud and a right side sliding safety.

As far as the stock, Herters produced those in the style of the era. Both the "Custom Supreme Grade" and the "Presentation Super Deluxe Grade" had monte carlo rollover combs.......the PSDG had a 45 degree tip and "lightening spacers".....the CSG had no tip. The CSG had minimal checkering, the PSDG a bit more.

I'm currently looking through my 1971 Herters catalog. It will please you to know you have a "custom curved bolt handle" specifically designed for fastest possible bolt handle operation.

As memory serves, you have a good servicable action that compares favorably with any of the Mark X actions. I wouldn't be much surprised if Zastava made the Herters actions also.....although I don't know that for a fact.

GV

Herter's....tomorrow's products today!

Pull the action out of the stock and see if it says Spain on the side of the tang. Sounds like a santa barbara. That bolt knob and alloy bottom and the roll over stock sound familiar.

Does the serial start with a X ?

That sure sounds like my Herters kit gun. It's a Santa Barbera mauser. It has the Ruger style bolt handle with the scope clearance flat in the white. Slide safety. Damn good shooter in 308 Winnie. It's been a keeper for about 18 yrs now.

quote:

Originally posted by GSP7:
Pull the action out of the stock and see if it says Spain on the side of the tang. Sounds like a santa barbara. That bolt knob and alloy bottom and the roll over stock sound familiar.

Does the serial start with a X ?

My thoughts exactly...the C-ring is one tip off, as is the description of the alloy bottom metal.

Thanks guys--I've been in the woods for a couple days and just got back to the post. It's apparently a Santa Barbara--has "Spain" stamped on the underside of the tang and has a c-ring. However, siomeone may have retrofitted a M98 shroud and Buehler safety as the shroud is not blued but the stock (with a Herters recoli pad) has not relief cut for a side safety (?). Also confusing is that it is equipped with a standard 2-stage military trigger not the adjustable single-stage that Olson's book says that they came with. Who knows--it will be a good project gun--hope the present barrel shoots....

I have a rifle like that , Santa barbara action, etc. Looks like a rifle sold by parker hale but mine says Sears heritage on the barrel. Never did find out who made it for Sears to sell.

I have a Texas santa barbra and it shoots sub inch for 5 at 100 yds. It's a 7 remmag..Be careful of the trigger, I tried a bold made for the model & it did not work.. my gunsmith had 3 trash santa barbra triggers in his scrap box & made 1 good 1 out of the various parts.

The trigger in mine has the side safety but its different than any shown in the dehass book.

The trigger case is like some kinda pot metal stuff, its has adj screws, its kinda big and is held in place by screws going through the bottom of the reciever.

The measurement from the trigger pivot pin to the sear face seems the same as on my other 98's and it seems as if a Bold/Timney should work but I havn't removed one from my other rifles yet to try it. FWIW here's a pic of the action/trigger, like I said, it seems to me to be very similar to the early comercial FN design.


I am leaning toward doing a Bold with side safety as have a spare "FN" style shroud (without safety cuts) and havn't yet invested in the tooling to do 2 pos safeties yet. Tom--does this look similat to your setup? Why didn't yours work with a Bold?

GSP--My serial begins with a "Y" and is an "XK3" model, would this explain the differences? In looking through the archives it seems like most Santa Barbaras came with an enclosed, integral safety, trigger. Is it possible this is a "Centurian" (also made in Spain) or did Bubba add a military trigger along with a military shroud/safety?


Thanks again for the help.

Snowcat, The serial start with X I asked earlyer was not correct . Z is what my serial starts with and thats what it says in the DeHass book too on the santa barbaras

In the Dehas book it has a Herters XK3 model and the J9 model. It shows a military style trigger like yours.

Its says the herters are made in Germany or Yugoslavia. Centurion marked spain.


Did you say yours is marked spain?

the top of the trigger was too long & wide to fit into the reciever slot.Boyds has the santa barbra triggers in their catalog & they gave credit when i returned mine.

GSP-
Yes, mine is marked "Spain" on the underside of the tang but the serial number is "Y09XX".

I need to get DeHass's book, sounds great. Does it say that Herters used Centurians? Are they c-rings?

Tom--Thanks, I'll mic the sear slot.

Some of the imfo in the Dehass book could be argued, ay least with some of the M30 m720 remington stuff.

I'll have to read up again and verify, But It has Imfo On:

Miscellaneous commercial mausers
1.Centurion
2. Santa Barbara
3. Herter's XK3, J9
4.Ackley
5. Brevex Magnum

Centurions , are stamped spain. Serial # preceded by a letter. alloy bottom mmetal, military like trigger. Centurions had a military shroud/sleeve.

Santa barbara. stamped spain. serial start with Z. alloy bottom metal or steel bottom . side safety timney like trigger.

Herters: Marked made in Germany or Yugolavia. some had the usual m98 bolt stop, some a flush mount 5 piece bolt stop/reliese. Steel bottom metal hinged floor plate. Sigle stage military type trigger. FN style bolt handle .
No mention of any stamped spain. just germany or Yugo.

The book imfo might not be complete or accurate though.

Yours sounds like a Centurion .Yes it has a C ring. Any other markings? barrel marked pasadena arms corp inc.? Magazine wall marked centurion golden state arms corp pasadena.?

Centurion and Santa barbera Bolt knob should have a flat shape for scope clearance and different shape than a FN.

Hearters bolt knob is kike a fn or JC higgins fn.

Any more pictures of your parts? Or imfo on markings , barrel, stock design?

The rifle I have is a Santa Barbara action , it was Made for sears Im guessing distributed by parker hale and marked differnent on the barrel.

Here is what a herters looks like

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41378349

Wow look at this Centurion with a enfield action. Ive never heard of this. I wonder what the story on this is?http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41512237