375 H&H Please Help Identify this rifle

Stock looks like a Wby. Action (safety) looks like a Zastava M98 (same as used by Interarms/Whitworth, Daly, Rem 798, but for a bunch of others including earlier military use.) If the bbl is ok, I bet it's a shooter! Fajen also made stocks like that for the M98 (and many appeared as aftermarket mods on Zastava metal.)

M98 with B066 serial number on action










Based on your description, a Mauser M98 action with a B066 serial number (or prefix) typically indicates a specific manufacturer or import batch, often associated with post-WWII commercial models or specific European production runs.

Potential Identifications
  • Zastava / Interarms Mark X: Many commercial Mauser 98 actions manufactured by Zastava Arms (formerly in Yugoslavia) and imported by Interarms used letter prefixes for their serial numbers.
  • Santa Barbara Actions: Spanish-made Mauser actions, often referred to as "Santa Barbara" actions, frequently featured specific letter-prefix serial numbers (like "Z" or "B") stamped on the right side of the receiver ring.
  • Post-War Commercial Builds: Modern sporting rifles built on the M98 action, such as those from J.P. Sauer or custom European shops, sometimes used non-standard alphanumeric sequences to distinguish them from military surplus.
    Canadian Gun Nutz +2

How to Verify
To narrow down the exact origin, look for these additional markings:
  • Proof Marks: Check for small symbols like an eagle, a crown over letters (e.g., "U," "N," or "B"), or a shield. These reveal the country of origin (e.g., German, Belgian, or Spanish proofs).
  • Manufacturer Codes: Look for a three-letter code (like "bnz," "dot," or "byf") or a full company name on the top or side of the receiver.
  • Import Marks: Tiny laser-etched text (often on the barrel or under the receiver) will list the importer, which can help trace the serial sequence.
    Wikipedia +4
Are there any other stamps or logos on the top of the receiver ring or the side of the action?
The only other markings I have found are on the bolt handle. Everything else is zilch. I haven't tried removing the scope rail. The last rifle from this batch appeared that something like loctite was used on the scope mount and I wasn't inclined to damage anything
 
Show us a photo of the other side of the butt stock (not the smooth side/bolt side). The comb/cheek piece cut etc. can sometimes give away the mfr.
 
Show us a photo of the other side of the butt stock (not the smooth side/bolt side). The comb/cheek piece cut etc. can sometimes give away the mfr.
Getting other side photos now, with google images I am finding L61s in 375 H&H without the horizontal bolt.
 

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It very well could be a (Sako) L61 as here's a photo of one that Griffin & Howe sold...it even has the Zastava (Interarms) style safety, crossbolt and similar forearm...It IS a nice rifle! The Zastava style action (and very similar to Rem 798 of this photo) indicates that they may have contracted out some models.? Your checkering and other stock work (safety shadow line, etc.) appears much nicer!
 

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It very well could be a (Sako) L61 as here's a photo of one that sold...it even has the Zastava (Interarms) style safety, crossbolt and similar forearm...It IS a nice rifle!
This whole collection was amazing. I purchased 8 rifles and wow. These were not bought at Western Auto
 

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what is the one with the Schnabel forend?
 
Schnabel forend, that is my total mystery rifle. I have not started digging into it yet. Caliber is unknown, and strangely enough I bought it based on the stock and what I felt was European birth. Any ideas or help on that one would be appreciated. Mauser action if I recall. Buying by stock is how I ended up with an Arisaka that I would have probably otherwise passed on
 
Schnabel forend, that is my total mystery rifle. I have not started digging into it yet. Caliber is unknown, and strangely enough I bought it based on the stock and what I felt was European birth. Any ideas or help on that one would be appreciated. Mauser action if I recall. Buying by stock is how I ended up with an Arisaka that I would have probably otherwise passed on
Schnabel rifle: Photos
 

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Tomorrow morning I will pull out and start dissecting the Schnabel forend rifle. My European beauty and see what we can learn. Thank you all so much for your help and support. It is beyond appreciated
 
It very well could be a (Sako) L61 as here's a photo of one that Griffin & Howe sold...it even has the Zastava (Interarms) style safety, crossbolt and similar forearm...It IS a nice rifle! The Zastava style action (and very similar to Rem 798 of this photo) indicates that they may have contracted out some models.? Your checkering and other stock work (safety shadow line, etc.) appears much nicer!
Do you know how much that one sold for?
 
From Here on out I am referring to the Schnabel rifle as Mabel. I did surgery this morning and am still at a complete loss on manufacturer and caliber. I found it interesting that the mag follower was even polished. I did find maker marks on the receiver underneath the wood. I removed the scope but not the mounts but didn't see anything on top of the receiver. Definitely Mauser beyond that I just don't know Here are the pictures during exploratory surgery. Thank god for spell check
 

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From Here on out I am referring to the Schnabel rifle as Mabel. I did surgery this morning and am still at a complete loss on manufacturer and caliber. I found it interesting that the mag follower was even polished. I did find maker marks on the receiver underneath the wood. I removed the scope but not the mounts but didn't see anything on top of the receiver. Definitely Mauser beyond that I just don't know Here are the pictures during exploratory surgery. Thank god for spell check
Last of the pictures
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$1,400
 
"Those are Belgian proofs, commonly seen on FN-built rifles. The * over X means it was inspected by Alfred Regnier, an inspector active from 1937 to 1964. The Lion over "PV" is a pressure proof mark, made up of the Belgian Lion state symbol over the abbreviation for "Poudre Vive" (smokeless powder). The arrow shaped stamp is the Perron proof mark and indicates the final proof mark on a receiver. The Perron appeared on the bolt before WWII but was eliminated from the bolt after WWII, giving a general age of manufacture for the bolt. This info is summarized in Anthony Vanderlinden's FN Mauser Rifles"

The Schnabel forend stock looks very German. An immigrant named Flaig (originally from Bavaria) continued to make similar in the US.
 
"Those are Belgian proofs, commonly seen on FN-built rifles. The * over X means it was inspected by Alfred Regnier, an inspector active from 1937 to 1964. The Lion over "PV" is a pressure proof mark, made up of the Belgian Lion state symbol over the abbreviation for "Poudre Vive" (smokeless powder). The arrow shaped stamp is the Perron proof mark and indicates the final proof mark on a receiver. The Perron appeared on the bolt before WWII but was eliminated from the bolt after WWII, giving a general age of manufacture for the bolt. This info is summarized in Anthony Vanderlinden's FN Mauser Rifles"

The Schnabel forend stock looks very German. An immigrant named Flaig (originally from Bavaria) continued to make similar in the US.
Thank you very much I am somewhat familiar with Flaig's work from all of my google searches. I still need to do a chamber cast to figure out what caliber Mabel is. I was just shocked the barrel has no markings that I could find unless they are under the front scope mount. So does the $1400 refer to the Mabel the Schnabel rifle? Thank you John
 
for the Sako
 

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MooseHunter wrote on Wildwillalaska's profile.
Hello BJ,

Don here AKA Moose Hunter. I think you got me by mistake. I have seen that rifle listed but it is not my rifle No worries
idjeffp wrote on Fish2table's profile.
I will be looking for a set of these when my .505 is done... sadly not cashed up right now for these. :(
Need anything in trade?
Cheers,
Jeff P
 
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