Remodelling a m98

[The Flint&Fly Guy]

Just recently purchased a Zastava brand m98 in 9.3mm
I think I’d like to remodel it to look more like a good old Rigby or other such classic.
Any ideas where to start?
Looking for tips on products, methods, techniques and research direction such as past threads
Also, just pictures and whatever for inspiration.
In return I’ll keep ya’ll posted on the progress and what I learn along the way!

 

[bearhunter]

Search the net for pics of what you'd like to build, then search the net again for the parts to do the job.

If you can't do it yourself, send it to Markin and Weber in Kelowna BC. It will be pricey but it will look exactly like the rifles in the pics you source.

 

[9.3mauser]

Assuming your rifle is like this one:

I would get rid of the hump on the comb. Shorten the grip, and fit a steel cap. I would fit the cap as close to the belly of the stock as possible to open up the grip a bit. The gripcap you choose will dictate the profile of the grip, but my impression is that the factory grip needs to be slimmed down a bit.

Rigby's had the swivel stud mounted to the barrel. That's an advanced gunsmith project, but if you decide to go for it, then the forend can be shortened, slimmed down and rounded.
You'll need a good cabinet maker's rasp, and a half-round Grobet vulcanite file from Brownell's is awfully handy, though expensive.

When it comes to drilling and cutting off pieces of wood, measure 6 times and cut once. It will take 3 times as long to fix a mistake as it will to not make it in the first place.



I'm nearing the finish of a similar project; I wish I'd taken some before pics, but it had a very Germanic, angular look to it. Forend tip was a 45° exotic wood affair, Weatherby-ish monte carlo, very square cheekpiece, just plug-ugly in other words.

I opted for an ebony forend tip, but most rigby's didn't have them. Grip cap is from Dressel's, the smallest I could get. I still need a new pad. I'm just starting to apply finish, then on to checkering for my last chance to screw it up.

 

[The Kurgan]

Looking great!! What are you going to finish it in? I had a similar stock project, which was "Anglicized" by Chris Griesbach. It's actually in the mail back to me.

My stock was reshaped (hogs back removed). LOP shortened from 14.75 to 14 inches. 24 LPI checkering. Ruger-style side panels. Steel grip cap and buttplate with widows peak, blued. Shortened forend. African blackwood tip with a subtle schnabel and a widows peak.

 

[9.3mauser]

I'm going to use tung oil... I'm too impatient for linseed oil.

You might recognize that 7x57 barrel, btw.

I made a few mistakes, but overall I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.


It's not exact, but the 202 on the top is the closest I can find for what my stock originally looked like.

 

[The Kurgan]

... and you can thank Dennis Sorenson for reprofiling the barrel, adding Brno sights and the barrel band. Ralf Martini rust blued it. The barrel started life on an unfired M1935 Brazilian Mauser.