Trade Mark
Another alternative is our Rigby-style rifle. With this option we slenderize the stock in our usual manner but omit the Germanic receiver panels. The forearm receives the same faux ebony tip as our No.1 English Stalking Rifle. All in all the results are strikingly similar to the Rigby-Mauser pattern rifles of yesteryear, as seen below. Now you can enjoy the graceful styling, wonderful handling, and simple elegance of those early Rigby rifles at a cost far less than an original or building a custom rifle that looks the same.
OTHER RIFLES? Some have asked if we can slenderize other bolt action rifles. The answer is Yes, we can and have crafted our "Pre-War" configurations, both Rigby-style and Germanic on CZ 550s and 527s, BRNO, Mark X Mini Mausers, Winchester Model 70s, Parker Hale, Charles Daly, and other quality bolt action rifles. However, due to the massiveness of the CZ 550 stock, we must charge more for the service.
The CZ 550 Safari or American and it's cousin, the BRNO, is a fine rifle and one for which we receive many requests for our "Pre-War" treatment. However, as fine a rifle as it is, the stock is so oversized that it takes literally a few hours of extra work just to get it to workable dimensions. This is not work that we simply pop into a machine and it's done. Each CZ stock requires hand sculpting of the cheekpiece and grip in the Old World manner with mallet, gouges, and chisels to obtain the refined form that ultimately becomes one of our Trophy Rifles. It costs a bit more, but it's worth it.
Also available as an option is the Bavarian Cheek Piece, seen above in the final shaping phase. The Bavarian cheekpiece is usually found on very high-end rifles and requires considerably more work to execute it properly. We can expertly sculpt the Bavarian-style cheekpiece from the standard beavertail or Continental cheekpiece of the CZ, Interarms Mark X, Zastava, or other bolt action rifle with a heavy cheekpiece. And, YES, that is a left-handed stock and we do work on Left-Handed Rifles, too.
Why the .375 Renner Belted?
Through the years I’ve been asked by several customers if we could convert their standard length bolt action rifle with a magnum bolt face to accept the .375 H&H Magnum cartridge. Unfortunately, that is not an easy nor inexpensive conversion. I would then suggest using a shorter .375 cartridge instead, such as the .375 Taylor (.375/.338 WinMag) or the newer .375 Ruger. However, that entailed getting a custom chamber reamer and specialty reloading dies for the .375 Taylor, both of which are rather spendy. Then there was the waiting period for the reamer and dies which would delay the project considerably - up to a year in one case. I’m an old man and no longer like taking on those long-term projects. It’s akin to needlessly tempting the Fates.
One customer brought up a point that I hadn’t considered before, and that is that the .375 Ruger and the other wildcat .375s just don’t have the “look” of the .375 H&H. The justly famous and iconic .375 H&H does have a very distinctive profile that’s instantly recognizable by anyone even remotely interested in African rifles. That profile has almost become synonymous with "African Rifle" and adventurous big-game hunting.
But it’s more than just looks. That distinctive look is the result of an incredible design. That gentle shoulder angle and generous taper down to the belt assures that the cartridge will feed easily into the chamber and extract quick and easy, too. Those features created a cartridge which through the years has endured and resulted in that enviable reputation for power, accuracy, and reliability. It's why the cartridge has become a legend.
So, getting back to, Why the .375 Renner Belted?
One day it occurred to me that we don’t need to lengthen the rifle’s action or magazine box to enjoy the great features of the .375 H&H. How about shortening the existing cartridge? By doing so we retain all the best features of the original cartridge that made it legendary; the big .375 bullet, that gentle shoulder and generous taper for easing in and out of the chamber and the belt for positive headspacing at the rear of the cartridge. And it works through standard length bolt actions like Ruger M77s, Mauser Mark Xs, and Remington M700s, to name a few.
If the .375 Renner Belted is of interest to you, give me a call and we can discuss it.
We believe the Interarms Mark X Mauser is one of the finest of the post-war Mauser sporting rifles ever made. It was the genius and high expectations of Samuel Cummins, founder of Interarms, in dealing with Zastava (then of Yugoslavia), to reproduce the Mauser Model A to his high standards, that resulted in this world-class rifle known as the Mark X (Mark 10).
The Mark X combines all the best features of the commercial Mauser Model A along with some modifications to appeal to the shooters of the 1960s and decades to follow. It is the starting point for us to create a truly unique Mauser unlike any other.
Starting with your Mark X stock, we thin and lower the comb and sculpt an oval cheekpiece and receiver panels, round the grip cap, then finish with a Schnable forearm tip. The result is very similar to the distinctive Model B Mauser Sporting Rifle. This treatment provides an incredible slenderness to the rifle that makes it handle like a fine double shotgun. It must be handled to experience and appreciate what we've accomplished in re-creating this fine Mauser rifle.
Now you can enjoy the look and wonderful handling qualities of those early Model B Mauser sporting rifles without the high cost of an original Oberndorf.
Introducing our "Old African" Model 70 Medium Rifle
WE BEGIN WITH YOUR TIRED OUT MODEL 70...
The Model 70 Winchester represents the Mauser System refined to its ultimate form and is the basis for our Old African Medium Rifle. We begin with your Model 70 and slenderize the stock by reducing the forearm length, adding a genuine ebony tip and slenderizing it along with the buttstock. We install the sling swivel on the barrel and a matching swivel in the buttstock. Then we rebarrel to one of the medium-bore African cartridges such as the 9,3x62 Mauser or the.318 Westley Richards Nitro Express or other appropriate Medium Bore cartridges. We also add period-appropriate sights, either Rigby-style or Holland & Holland banded style, to complete that Pre-War English/African look.
In addition to the work mentioned above, we also install pillar bedding to the guard screws for a consistent bedding of the barrel and action into the stock. This allows the rifle to be disassembled for travel and reassembled with a return to zero. We also install blind crossbolts for reinforcement of the stock behind the recoil lug and ahead of the trigger and we then glass bed the recoil lug area. To strengthen the wrist we install a steel sleeve which passes completely through the wrist to support that vulnerable area of the stock. The idea is to create a stock that will survive international travel.
In addition to the to the very popular 9,3x62 Mauser we offer the .318 Westley Richards in our Model 70 Old African and other medium-bores such as the .338-06 and .35 Whelen with a 12-inch twist for stabilizing heavy bullets. So set up, the .35 Whelen is the twin to the 9,3 in performance.
Custom English Walnut is optionally available for the Model 70 Old African Medium Rifle. We can also straighten the bolt handle as found on early Mauser Sporting Rifles and case-color the receiver and jewel the bolt. Additionally we can install the famous McLaughlin Rigby bolt peep sight as an option. Call for specifics on optional features.
We also offer a "light" version of the Old African which features our slenderized action and stock. We can re-barrel it for a variety of cartridges including the .25-06, 6.5X55, 6,5X57 Mauser, .270 Winchester, .275 Rigby / 7X57 Mauser, .280 Remington, .30-06 Springfield, and 8X57 or...?
Or, we can simply slenderize your existing Model 70, keeping your original barrel and performing our slenderizing magic on the stock and refinishing with our all-weather Vintage Finish. The result is a refreshed rifle that handles like a fine shotgun and is sure to become a cherished hunting companion. The cost is only $1,395 - far less expensive than a complete custom build.
Call today and let's start designing your Old African Model 70.
We've always admired the pre-war (World War 1) styling of Mauser, Adolf, and Wundhammer rifles and here honor their work with our own interpretation in the form of our "Pre-War 77" and our Early Mauser Sporting Rifles. This is the same style that Col. Townsend Whelen considered to be the very best hunting rifle design.
The comb is lowered and receiver panels are formed, while the forearm is sculpted into a very pleasing Schnable tip of which there are options. Fine checkering completes the look and the all-weather Vintage Finish is applied. The cost for our basic stock service is $1,450.00.
Call today to discuss your Trophy Rifle!
Phone 775-453-9355
or email : rjrenner@protonmail.com
Renner Pre-War Ruger 77 and Early Mauser Sporting Rifles
Recently we completed this Remington 700 in a Germanic round-bottom, or, Prince of Wales grip and classic Schnable forearm variant of our "Pre-War" pattern. The improvement in its handling characteristics was simply stunning. We can also re-fashion the Remington stock with our popular Faux Rigby styling as well.
Post-64 Model 70s
Renner Rigby Mauser or M77
This view clearly shows the quality of form and checkering that can be expected in our Trophy Rifles.
Crafting Single-Shot and Mauser-Pattern Trophy Rifles
R.J.Renner
Recently a customer asked, almost apologetically, if I would consider working on a Post-64 Model 70, as if I would be insulted to work on his rifle because it wasn’t a Pre-64 rifle. I know that many custom rifle makers wouldn’t even consider starting with a Post-64, however, I would - and I do.
Just for the record, I really like many of the Post-64 Model 70s, especially the XTR models, because they finish into very beautiful Trophy Rifles with my treatment. As a matter of fact, I recently introduced a new cartridge designed specifically for the many Post-64 Model 70 magnums – those having a standard length action and a magnum bolt face. Rifles chambered for the 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, and the .338 Winchester Magnum being the most common.