Frankonia Mauser 8x68s

[Aaron N]

Gentleman,

I’m looking at a Frankonia Mauser in 8x68s, and as usual, opinions here are held in high regard. It comes with EAW pivot mounts, which is a very nice bonus, considering the asking price. The fore-end is odd, and I can’t find any pictures to compare with it.

what do you guys think of this rifle, is there anything I should be concerned with?

 

[Frederik]

I don't know the Frakonia gun maker but seems like you have a working man's rifle in a great calibre.
Giving it a straight wooden stock with a red recoil pad and sudenly it will look like an english gun.

 

[PerH]

Just get it and load some Swift or Accubon zippers for it. The black Pachmayr pad looks ok for it.

 

[PerH]

The frontstock looks like it was modified or built like it to fit front grip of the user, the Eaw mount is a good one,just check all with the mount is tight .

 

[Aaron N]

I don't know the Frakonia gun maker but seems like you have a working man's rifle in a great calibre.
Giving it a straight wooden stock with a red recoil pad and sudenly it will look like an english gun.

It does seem like a good working rifle, at a good price. The mounts are over half the cost of the rifle

 

[Red Leg]

Frankonia Jagd is rather like a high end Cabelas (far higher end now that they belong to Bass Pro - but I digress). Frankonia carries an enormous array of fine firearms. Over the years they also carried a group of utilitarian ones on which they would put their name (rather like Charles Daly in this country). Many of them were built in the Czech Republic (by BRNO) others came from the former Yugoslavia. They were intended as well made utilitarian guns.

This one is an interesting blend of styles. The forend is actually a traditional German style that would have been found on many of the pre WWI and II sporting rifles. The slightly curved hogback butt stock however is very much a post war preference. For instance the typical pre-war Mauser Model B would have the same drop at heel but would do it with a straight comb. My guess is that the Barreled action was imported by Frankonia in the seventies or early eighties and then stocked by them in Germany. Proof marks would likely tell you for certain.

You will have to learn to shoot with a bit more erect head position when you add a scope. We Americans love to crunch down a stock, but you can learn to shoot the lower heel and higher cheek (actually jaw) position very easily on such a rifle. I have a number earlier era continental rifles and use them regularly along with very modern ones.

And yes, assuming everything is in order, it should be a superb acquisition.

 

[Aaron N]

Frankonia Jagd is rather like a high end Cabelas (far higher end now that they belong to Bass Pro - but I digress). Frankonia carries an enormous array of fine firearms. Over the years they also carried a group of utilitarian ones on which they would put their name (rather like Charles Daly in this country). Many of them were built in the Czech Republic (by BRNO) others came from the former Yugoslavia. They were intended as well made utilitarian guns.

This one is an interesting blend of styles. The forend is actually a traditional German style that would have been found on many of the pre WWI and II sporting rifles. The slightly curved hogback butt stock however is very much a post war preference. For instance the typical pre-war Mauser Model B would have the same drop at heel but would do it with a straight comb. My guess is that the Barreled action was imported by Frankonia in the seventies or early eighties and then stocked by them in Germany. Proof marks would likely tell you for certain.

You will have to learn to shoot with a bit more erect head position when you add a scope. We Americans love to crunch down a stock, but you can learn to shoot the lower heel and higher cheek (actually jaw) position very easily on such a rifle. I have a number earlier era continental rifles and use them regularly along with very modern ones.

And yes, assuming everything is in order, it should be a superb acquisition.

Thank you for the info, I was hoping this would catch you eye! I know you're a fan of EAW mounts, and the seller thinks they are 1". Is it possible to her 30mm rings and use the existing bases to expand the options for optics?

 

[Red Leg]

Yes. But you need to find a competent gunsmith to do the work.

 

[Aaron N]

Yes. But you need to find a competent gunsmith to do the work.

So its not a matter of putting new rings on the original bases, and calling it good? Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Red Leg]

So its not a matter of putting new rings on the original bases, and calling it good? Thanks for the heads up!

Yes, but the rings may need a bit of fitting to insure they mate perfectly.

 

[Aaron N]

Yes, but the rings may need a bit of fitting to insure they mate perfectly.

I appreciate the info

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Very nice rifle.

 

[sestoppelman]

I once had and wish I still had, a Waffen Frankonia rifle in 7x64, a classic Mauser in every way and stamped BEAC for the British East Africa Corp. It was a twin to one used by Finn Aagaard.
It was also stamped under the barrel by Franz Sodia, well known gun maker.
Only thing I dont like about that rifle is the bolt handle, just a personal thing. Other than that I wouldnt pass it up depending the price.

 

[Aaron N]

Well I bought it! Now to wait for the package to come in the mail. For $1000cad, I don’t think much can go wrong

 

[xausa]

Actually the stock on that rifle reminds me a good deal of my (much altered) BRNO 21H, so it wouldn't surprise me if the entire rifle wasn't made in CZ. My rifle originally had the same kind of butter knife bolt handle.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

looks great
great price
take it

 

[Aaron N]

Well I received the rifle, and had a chance to look it over. I must say it is nice and light in my hands, and my eyes line up easily with the rings with my jaw on the stock.

A few things I’ve noticed
-Blueing looks like new
-The stock seems to have been refinished, there are small runs in whatever Poly-like product they used
-The bottoms metal loos breaks new as well, and I would say it aluminum, and the follower looks to be brass.
-Barrel is marked “Favorit Compact” and also “stlf3”, which google says is a Voere marking. Is this a Voere rifle, or did they sell the barrelled action to Frankonia?
-The EAW mount screws look like someone tightened them in with a rock, and there is some kind of paste between the mount and the action, as well as within the ring screws.
-The price taken out of the forend throws me for a loop!

All in all, I like how the rifle seems to handle, and it shoulders with ease. I have a Z3 3-9x36 on the way, which should pair nicely!

Please let me know what you guys think, or any additional thoughts you have!