Anyone into claw mounts?

Such a "cool" adaptation when they made scopes with the rail - allows the scope to be moved fore and aft on the claws. Previous versions I have seen had claw rings soldered directly to scope body, so once eye relief was established, that was it, until next guy needed 1/4" forward or backward and an "old-school" gun smith to do that!

Many today would "shudder" at idea of one base on receiver and one base on barrel, but there it is!! Needs the walnut and leather "travelling case" for rifle and scope to complete the outfit!
 
Yes nice option.
I have a fixed 7x Wetzlar(Hensoldt, I presume) scope, pictured above, with almost exactly the same claws but no rifle with the same system.
Then I come across this rifle complete with a Carl Zeiss Diavari 1.5-6x.
Just have to file down the front claw's backside on the 7x Wetzlar to fit properly into the base.
No maker's markings on the action, just the Ulm mark. It's in 7x57.
 
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Such a "cool" adaptation when they made scopes with the rail - allows the scope to be moved fore and aft on the claws. Previous versions I have seen had claw rings soldered directly to scope body, so once eye relief was established, that was it, until next guy needed 1/4" forward or backward and an "old-school" gun smith to do that!

Many today would "shudder" at idea of one base on receiver and one base on barrel, but there it is!! Needs the walnut and leather "travelling case" for rifle and scope to complete the outfit!

they re still making scope with rail.
 
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Nice Steyr!
Finished filing the rear face of the Wetzlar front claw. I can now use either scope on the same rifle.

My two scopes also have the screw holes on the rails so the claws do not slide around. Luckily the spacing between the two sets of claws is close enough to use on the rifle.

 
I have several rifles with claw mounts, and like them a lot. A Krieghoff Trumpf Dural Drilling, A Merkel BBF( O/U combo) , A Heym BBF, and a Steyr-Mannicher Model NO carbine. I'd like to find a skilled gunsmith who can work on the claw mount on my Mannlicher, ( the mount is the same as the one pictured, Geologists) I'd like to replace the scope on it but retain the mount. But there are few gunsmiths who understand claw mounts in Canada and it seems that there are none in Saskatchewan.
 
Back in 68/69 at Uptown Sporting Goods in Calgary we installed quite a few sets of claw mounts... but that market kind of dried up... it was a labour intensive job and the design really limited the scope choices.
 
There are a few talented old school gunsmiths still scattered across the country who can do this work. As mentioned, it is very labour intensive ( spelled EXPENSIVE) and very few in this country are willing to dig deep enough. One who's work I know and trust is Ralf Martini.
 
I have several rifles with claw mounts, and like them a lot. A Krieghoff Trumpf Dural Drilling, A Merkel BBF( O/U combo) , A Heym BBF, and a Steyr-Mannicher Model NO carbine. I'd like to find a skilled gunsmith who can work on the claw mount on my Mannlicher, ( the mount is the same as the one pictured, Geologists) I'd like to replace the scope on it but retain the mount. But there are few gunsmiths who understand claw mounts in Canada and it seems that there are none in Saskatchewan.

Would love to see some pics. New thread, hint, hint, hint?
 
Re Frankonia it has the same look and Ulm/Anschutz proofs as my .375 H&H. Same kind of deal, two scopes. On the second scope I need to fit up the bases.
 
I've purchased quite a lot of stuff from New England Custom Gun. The problem for me is not the cost of purchasing the expensive parts for claw mounts, the problem is finding a skilled gunsmith who actually knows how to fit and install them properly. It is extremely fussy hand work. Ralf Martini was one Canadian smith who could do it, but he does not choose to do that any more so that he can devote his time to building his custom bespoke rifles to order.
 
BRNO small ring Mauser 98. Caliber 8x57S
Barrel Length: 20.5" to front of bolt. Double set triggers.
Hensoldt-Wetzlar (Zeiss) 6x scope in see-through claw mounts.
German No. 1 reticle. Leather scope case.
Dated 1951 on barrel and receiver.
Matching serial numbers on barrel, bolt and stock (in barrel channel).
Czechoslovakian and German (Ulm) proofmarks.
Right side of barrel ahead of rear sight marked in English "Made in Czechoslovakia".
Receiver and barrel stamped "Geco" (German retailer Gustav Genschow & Co.)
Stock stamped WB (inspector) in a cartouche on bottom of stock behind the pistol grip.
Tally marked stock (silver inlays of Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Red Deer, and Fox...w/silver pins)
Weight approx. 6.5 lb. w/o scope.

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