Just got word that Martin Hagn has passed away. He definitely built a fine single shot!

Sorry to hear that. I worked on a projet with him back in the 90's. He seemed a good sort and a great gunmaker.

Just heard the sad news...If there's ever a "Gunmakers Hall of Fame" it should be named after Martin.

Mostly noted for his brilliant single shot, he was nontheless a master with about anything that burned power

Martin built me a .500 Nitro Express falling block rifle a few years ago. The build took about 2 1/2 years to complete, and easily exceeded my expectations when it finally arrived. During the course of the build, Martin and I had many conversations. I never had the occasion to meet Martin personally, but I can say that my dealings with him were enjoyable and enlightening. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Martin. Chip Bateman.

Martin was my good friend for decades. I marveled at his ingenuity and can say without equivocation that the Hagn single shot action is the finest, most practical an highest quality actions ever made. I built my finest hunting rifles on Martin's actions, either made by him or Ralf Martini.
~REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND~

As used by by Hartman and Weiss, Hamburg, several London makers as well as American gunmakers I have never heard of a single problem or failure.

Martin And SDH at my workbench about 2002(?)

I wrote this about Martin, I believe about 2002...
Martin Hagn (pronounced hah gen) invented, and developed this single shot falling block action. He was born in Germany and grew up around all manner of guns. At the ripe age of 14 he enrolled at the school of gunmaking in Ferlach, Austria. Martin will turn 60 in 2003 giving him 46 years of professional involvement in the trade.
In 1962 after completing the Ferlach training, he moved to New York City for employment with the long established firm of Griffin & Howe as a stockmaker. It was while working at G&H that Martin found a special appreciation for American custom rifle design and was also exposed to a large variety of the finest English guns and rifles. Each had a tremendous influence on his Germanic background.
After working for several years in a three different shops from New York to Alaska, Martin returned to Germany to continued in the trade. In 1969 he earned the German status of Master Gunmaker. In 1970 he opened up his own shop, working in his hometown of Kochel-am-See with his Father and an apprentice.
The concept of creating his own single shot rifle came about on an Alaskan hunting trip in 1973. He was accompanied by a gunsmithing school chum by the name of Gerhard Hartmann, founder, with Otto Weiss, of the respected firm of Hartmann & Weiss, Hamburg. Hartmann was shooting his company’s version of the Heeren single shot rifle, an older design that a few different German and English gunmakers had used. Hagn told Hartmann, “I will make a better one.”
Back in Germany in his workshop, Hagn spent two months designing an building the MHK-1 action (MHK stands for Martin Hagn, Kochel). He says, with his German affect, “It was a pleasing looking action but technically, very sad. It merely showed my inexperience with designing.” He immediately started on an improved version and, “Luckily, plain luckily, I had a good idea for the inside mechanism. A set up very different from any other rifle.”
This version became the MHK-2, or second model and Hagn built and sold 21 on this type. He has been shooting one of these ever since and has shot all his game with the rifle. (When I talked with Ralf Martini this morning (10-15-02) he informed me that Martin had just returned from mountain goat hunting, successfully taking a nine inch Billy with this same .300 Weatherby Mag. Through the years Martin has taken elk, caribou, stone sheep, black and grizzly bear with this rifle. Needless to say, he knows of its performance in the field.)
The MHK-3 soon followed and although he wasn’t completely satisfied it was years before he came up with further improvements. The MHK-4 was upgraded with more positive ignition and a simple extractor that would be convenient for building a takes down model.
During this refinement period both Hagn and Hartmann & Weiss built actions and rifles on this design. The left side of the breech block of the rifle I wrote about in 2001 carries Hartmann & Weiss markings.
Hagn developed a proven ejector system as and option and made a few minor improvements on this current design, the MHK-4, as shown here. The last step was developing a set trigger mechanism, which he has accomplished and is an option. Somewhere near 100 actions of the various models were produced in Germany.
Longing for wild country to hunt and escaping restrictive gun laws in Germany, Martin Hagn moved to Cranbrook, B.C. Canada in 1985. He set up shop building rifles and actions and has been there ever since.
Small Hagn action in 6.5x55 Stocked and finished by SDH, the finest hunting rifle I ever built.

I had recently spoken with Amanda (Ralf's ex-wife) and she told me that Martin was doing poorly. I was on my way out of town and mentioned I would have to visit him when I got back. I will not get the chance. He was a very gifted gunmaker and freely shared his knowledge with me; showing me things I wouldn't be able to duplicate anyway.
My condolences to his friends. Regards, Bill.

I got to know Martin and his wife and daughter a bit through the ACGG shows when they were in Reno. His daughter and mine are the same age and would entertain each other at the show. As others have said, Martin was always open, friendly, and giving. He will be missed, and I hope someone continues to make and offer his actions to the trade as a tribute to his genius.

More about Martin Hagn...
https://forums.accuratereloadi...1019521/m/8841055672