Well, for starters, Paul Mauser was a genious. He equiped the Spaniards with his 7X57 that raised cain with the US Army in the Spanish American War. While at CGSC, I did a paper on the original Mauser and how Black Jack Pershing was so impressed with the rifle that it was he who prodded the Ordnance Corps into creating the '06. There have been more 8mm Mausers and variants made on the planet than any other rifle. The KEW, K98, Brno, ZCZ, Yugo, Swede, andFN were the old timers. Then along came the Sakos, Parker Hales, Zavodi's, MarkX's, Carl G's, Chinese, Gibbs, Midland, Wards, Western Auto, Ted Williamsand probably many others that are obscure and you get the picture.

I just love the darn things. They are easy to work on.....all gunsmith schools use them as their basic platform.....there are only 2 actions, a small ring and a large ring, so you can't get confused. The bolts are simple and functional. They were built to shoot a million rounds in the mud and they will.....I guess they are the battleship of rifles. The remarkable thing is how they have been copied. 130 years or so old and still going strong. Great Post, I wished I would have thought of it first. I would like to see more of the varients posted.....Regards, Rick.