Eagle Claw scope mounts

[northwestalaska]

Hi Guys:

I am new to this board and I am hoping that some one can help me out. My father had a 7x57 mauser built in Austria back in the 50’s while we were stationed there. Dad had a sweet scope on the rifle that has now got it self lost. It had Eagle Claw style mounts on it. The gun still has the removable base on it and I want to start hunting caribou with this sweet rifle but I need to find someone who can assist me in finding the claw portion along with the rings for this great gun.

Any assistance would be great!

Walt
Kotzebue Alaska
The home of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd 400,000 strong!
www.northwestalaska.com

[skeet]

Always nice to see a new face. Kotzebue. Spent a little time there myself..working and such. Long way from anywhere else.

If you are talking about the old German claw mount system...wow. First ya need to find out the size of the scope tube you are going to use... 1 inch 26 or 30 mm.. from that point unless you want to have some custom made..haunt the gun shops(when you can get to one..or check on line. I had a set I sold a couple of years ago on ebay..wow..they went high. Unfortunately the bases don't always match the claws on the rings you get. So you have to check when you find them. Many were custom made by the gunsmith who did the work...I know..doom and gloom but you might get lucky

[northwestalaska]

Thanks for the reply. Yes it is the old German type. This gun is all smith made and has lots of inlay along with a hair trigger system. Dad let me use it a few times when I was a kid and I feel privileged to own it.

Do you think it is worth the pain to try to find a claw ring system or to have it converted over? I have a sweet Ziess Conquest that I want to mount on it. The perfect caribou killer!

When were you in Kotz and what were you doing?

We are the home to WACH –the Western Arctic Caribou Herd at 400,000 strong as well as some of the best fishing in the country! I would love to share some pics. I have taken some very nice bulls over the years as well as some nice moose. The Pike (25 pounds and 40+ inches) Char in the 15 pound range and Sheefish over 50 pounds are common!

Thanks a bunch!

Walt

[skeet]

Golly we all have one..I would try to get the gun back to original condition. Try looking on line for a smith that will make you a new set of claw mounts. They still make 'em. There is a concern in Pa I think that still does some. Skinny might know. I had a nice Pre war Oberndorf mauser set up the way yours is with a nice Zeiss 4 power in claw monts. Mannlicher stocked. Worth way too much to take it hunting though and it was in a 8mm x 51 I think with the small 318 bore. Somebody needed it a lot more than I did. I worked in Alaska and elsewhere for the gummit many years ago. Didn't the WACH have quite a few more animals in it back a few years?? Or was it the Porcupine herd?? Too much info and too many years How are the numbers on the wolves? Are the gummit still shooting 'em?? Well they used to. don't know now. I traveled all over in Alaska doing my work but was pretty much based out of Fairbanks. I was even on an Aleutian island or two from time to time. We actually had a fellow(Inuit) from Kotzebue who worked for us for a while. He fell into the alcohol trap unfortunately. He was a funny guy but very serious. Have his name somewhere in my records. Fix that gun up and use it for the 'bou. Nice caliber.

[northwestalaska]

Skeet:

Thanks a bunch. Does any one out there have a gunsmith that they would recommend? I have been up here for a long stretch and don’t have a lot of contacts in the Gunsmithing area. I think that you are right about restoring it to original condition.

Caribou numbers:

WACH was as high as 500,000 back in 2003-2004 and has dropped off about 100,000 animals due to a tough winter and predators. The Porcupine, 40 mile. Mulchana and the Nelchina herds have all had serious crashes in the past 10 years. That is why most hunters who are serious about seeing lots of animals and lots of trophy bulls come up here. I operate a outfitting/trip planning business here in Kotzebue and do a lot of work with hunting and fishing groups. We have seen our numbers of hunters level off over the past 3 years which is good. I don’t like the idea of volume hunting but working with select groups setting up quality drop and float hunts as well as float fishing trips into the south side of the Brooks Range. It is much more enjoyable to work with smaller groups who are interested in a quality experience.

Thanks a bunch for the info and any one out there want ro pass on a nasme of a good smith I would appreciate it a bunch!

Walt
www.northwestalaska.com

[skeet]

Paul Jaeger in Pa. Don't remember the address but it was near Philadelphia.. Probably out of business now.. But someone could make a set of claw mounts for you.

As far as the caribou numbers they always seem to fluctuate a fairly large amount due to weather and predation..man and beast