Custom Interarms Mark X

[petey]

Need help pricing a custom firearm. I know there's tons of these out there, and prices range anywhere between 300 to 2K.

This particular gun looks to be a high grade wood Fagen stock, raised cheek piece, silver initialed diamond in the butt of the grip, custom checkered. Interarms Mark X action with a heavy barreled Douglas chambered in a 308 Norma. Timney trigger, glass bed, Leupold bases, Burris rings. I'm told only 19 Rounds thru the barrel, but who's to know...really. Two boxes of loaded rounds, 19 cases and 1 unspent in the third box, plus dies.

Buddy acquired it from someone who had his (the buddy's) dad build it for him years ago. I'm apt to believe the low usage. I told him he'd be silly not to get if for the price the guy was asking. He has no need for it, so he's willing to part with it for a tad over what he paid for it. I have pics, and it looks clean, but based off of this info what can you tell me for a price? Skeet....I'm sure you have 20 of these so what's a good deal for the lot?

Would love to hear your thoughts. I know what it would cost me today to build it, but what about a used one in excellent condition and great wood?

[jplonghunter]

Caliber will have effect on value. Not very popular in today's market. Also,great wood is
subjective value. Would help to see pics.

[petey]

Pictures aren't the greatest. I haven't alluded to the price yet, just interested if I'm about to make a fair deal or an outstanding deal.

[Jack]

On something like that, the quality of the workmanship is going to be a huge factor.
From your description, a lot of work was done. Done by professional grade craftsman? Or done by a basement amateur?
Only a detailed, in person inspection can determine that.

[petey]

Never met the gunsmith personally, as he passed away a couple yrs ago. He was my buddy's father and it was his livelyhood so assuming he was better than your average basement gunsmith. I should be able to inspect it tomorrow. Granted the 308 Norma magnum isn't a popular round today but that 30-338 wildcat was the round of its day before the 300 win mag ever came to be. I don't have all the details, but I'm assuming this gun was probably built by in the 70's and as you can see pert near new.

Based off all this just would like to hear people's thoughts on a price range. Believe me, i'd be hard pressed to purchase a Mark x action for what I'm looking at getting it for. Like I said, I know what it would cost me to build it today...but would I? The answer is no...does that mean I'll let it go? Well I don't own a Mark x action anything, and I know Douglas barrels are awesome. Was never a big mauser action kind of guy, but like the safety on this style vs a Mark V. Not sure if it was reworked or not, so I'll be able to tell how sloppy or tight the action is. Bottom line, I suppose a great deal is in the eyes of the buyer....but let's hear what you would pay. You know what I know and have seen what I've seen so far. So without any more info..what's your low and high range?

[skeet]

Petey that action is an earlier Mark X as evidenced by the addy on the receiver..It should also have Manchester England after the Interarms. I used to go over to Interarms in Va to buy a few things. They even sold machine guns etc. Got some parts there for my Swedish K. I would place the date at the late 60s..maybe early 70's The 300 Win mag was out then but many people thought the 308 Norma was the cat's meow..especially in Pa and New York. Some considered 'em power line rifles I think they called 'em. You DO know about the long range shooters. But ammo was much easier to get then. Also from the shape of the stock it was probably influenced by the Weatherby craze. Weatherby ammo was costing twice as much as Norma..Norma only slightly higher than 300 Win. The wood work looks nice. Big minus is the engraved plate in the grip. Smaller minus is the caliber. I saw a Mark X at the last show in Bozeman Montana but in 7x61 Sharp & Hart..big minus there too. Stock wasn't quite as wild but the price on it was 900 bucks. It also had a Douglas bbl. Douglas was very popular in the 60's cause they were good and cheaper than most others. There were a LOT of custom bbl makers then. If I remember right ol PO Ackley used a lot of Douglas blanks. By the way. Lookin at the close up of the wood the guy did know how to fill and sand the wood. CocoBolo tip and grip cap? To be honest the stock style is a bit of a minus on it(for the average buyer) but if it fits and the price is right. Buy it. Because of the caliber I wouldn't pay more than 700 or so. But I would buy it for re-sale and I try to make a profit of at least 25-30 percent. The Mark X was really just a nicely finished Zastava Mauser action. For me the skip line checkering is a bit of a minus but many people like it. How many lines to the inch?? and is the checkering broken out in any places? hard wood and soft you know. Ammo is worth 70 bucks..Dies are no longer standard run but pretty easily found. I sold a set 2 weeks ago at the show in Worland. Oh Heck..buy it!

[skeeter@ccia.com]

That is a very nice looking outfit. The stock looks exactly like the one a gunsmith built in 06 a bunch of years ago I now own. Heavy douglas barrel too. Mine came with redfield 6x scope that has been changed to variable one. Nice outfit you have there. In my book, anything is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

[Jack]

The stock would make me think it was built in the 60's or 70's. Whether you find that attractive or not is a factor in what to pay. Assuming you plan to keep the rifle.
Interarms Mauser actions, or any Mauser 98 action, are not 'tight'. Mausers were built to work, rain or shine, mud or snow- and they do. You may find the action feels sloppier than you are used to, Petey, but that is designed in, not a defect.
That safety looks like an Interarms factory safety, but, it could be a Timney.

[petey]

Jeweled action and yes Timney trigger..will get some better pics as she's now sitting at home. Ran a quick rag and she appears to be a 9 or 9.5 twist so should take some big bullets well. How well she shoots will determine if I keep it or not. Too hard to pass on quite frankly. It cleans up nice!

[Rapier]

I am with Skeet on this one. I would like to be in it as low as I could. Then on my table it would sport a $1,095 price tag and a argue down to $850 -$900 bottom line. The 308 Norma is really a fine round in the, "if you can see it you can shoot it," realm. The negative is probably going to be the heavy barrel. People today like light rifles to carry all day. Speaking of which, I see it sports QD sling swivel studs also. I would save a group, scan it and put it on the butt with the price held on by a rubber band.

I have a custom 350 Rem Mag in a Mark X right now that I am asking $1050 for, and it is a .5 inch gun. Tag says Custom Commercial Mauser on it, by the way, which is what it is with 28 rounds fired. But the Mark X is not a fast mover, odd in that there is nothing wrong with it, just people remember them selling for cheap but do not remember the pre 64 Win-70 actions being cheap at one time also.
Ed

[petey]

lol, you boy's jaw would drop if you heard what I ended up paying for it! No doubt I came into a heck of a deal...heck 25-30% markup. I could go over 100% and still be in under your "low" end. Not much of a hunting gun, but will be a heck of a 1000 yard steal target gun, or a groundhog gun. My bathroom scale tells me it'll be in the 12# gun class. Probably get to work up some loads and see how she shoots here in the next couple days. Original first loaded brass has some 180 gr (what appear to be) Seirra's after pulling bullets. Who knows, could come out on top either way..keeping or selling that is.

[Rapier]

Lol, it never hurts my feelings to hear a shooter got a good deal on a new iron. Well, let me take that back, if it is a gun I have been looking for for years and it is a show partner, right behind my back, right next to me, and he holds me up, then I might be a bit peeved, but peeing in his scotch bottle settles that hash.
Ed

[petey]

I'll have to post some pictures of it now. I restocked it and it will be shooting it's first 1000 yard match tomorrow. I got it shooting 230 gr Berger Hybrids, pretty much a one hole gun. Last couple groups have been in the .1 and low .2" range. I can't believe I'm getting 2700 fps out of those. Chose to keep if for now, so we'll see how tomorrow fairs. Just got done loading up 100 rounds. I have a straight 17x scope on it so hopefully that won't be my downfall. It shoots just about every bullet well, but it took me 60 rounds to figure out how to get those Bergers to shoot. .743 BC! They should take the wind quite well

[Adam Helmer]

Petey,

Nice looking rifle. I was going to say it needed a trip to the range to see how it groups before an offer was made. I built several Mark X rifles; my favorite is a .264 WM. I would bid in the $500-$850 range.

Are you still working in Tioga County PA?

Adam

[petey]

Adam

I still find my way up there every month or so. I have 3 foreman I hired for that area, so I don't have to make as many trips or stay as long. Mostly meetings or checking in on my guys more than actual work out there any more!