One thing about doing this blog which I occasionally find amusing is the comments from the 'trolls', the disgruntled, mostly spiteful, gun critiques who hide behind alias email address's. Every comment on the site has to be approved and I appreciate all the ones we get. Todays post on the Mauser rifles generated a comment I found particularly amusing, it was from Baron Radu von Goldman and read "theres no rifle in history that can compare to mauser m98 there english thiefs like jeffrey rigby holland&holland purdey westley richard have all stolen german rifles and cartridges since early 1900, now you tell me whats english?" The answer by the way is everything except the action!
So in response, as I cannot respond (to the alias email) on the merits of the Mauser vs Lee Enfield I thought I would take a few pictures of Germany's most respected maker Hartmann & Weiss's products.
As always fabulous guns and rifles, built with pride in Germany on the Boss & Co. over and under system which was of course designed and perfected by the firm in England..
Now you tell me what's English, Baron Radu!
Hartmann & Weiss .375 Bolt Action Take Down, .375 Over Under Rifle and 20g Shotgun.
Hartmann & Weiss .375 Over and Under Rifle and a Boss & Co. .500 3" Over Under.
Hartmann & Weiss 20g Over and Under and a Boss & Co. 28g Over Under.
NB. If you click on an image it will enlarge in a new window.
Charles on July 27, 2023 at 5:32 pm
I have never been fortunate to own something like these examples, but I will say these are just about the most beautiful examples of craftsmanship I have ever seen, thank you for posting them.
Neill on March 10, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Interesting post Simon. The success of the Mauser 98 action is obvious in that it is still used by skilled gunmakers like yourself on dangerous game rifles, it has spawned many imitations and must be the leading action for hunting rifles. However, the Lee Enfield was never intended as a sporter, it was, first and foremost, an infantryman’s rifle.
I read somewhere that in WW1 the Germans had a hunters rifle, the Americans a target rifle, and the British a soldiers rifle. Even though the Boers used Mauser 98’s with considerable success they had them initially as hunting weapons.
Vance Daigle on March 10, 2016 at 2:48 pm
What great guns Sir, you have again gone into your legendary vault to shown us great builders of finest Guns….Many thanks!!!! I think that true followers can not thank you enough for the time and effort you give to this blog!!!!! As for the Baron and those like him, let me just say. Why must you see the splinter in an eye, and not see the branch in your own!!!!!!Good Day Simon,
Gratitude that isn’t expressed….Doesn’t exist!!!
In Christ
Vance,
Edward Cowell on March 15, 2016 at 4:12 pm
Well I am very sorry for you that your name has been abused in this way. Now that you have made things clear we can, as you suggest, ignore the troll.
Best wishes
Ned
Gregg on March 14, 2016 at 7:27 pm
Thank you.
Gregg