Know of a great gunsmith for a custom Mauser rifle build?

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

I have an old 8mm Mauser that I have a 30-06 new barrel for and a semi inletted new stock.  I am looking for a competent gunsmith who can work their magic to turn this into a nice custom for me.  I've had it for years and finally needs to be done before there are no more old time gunsmiths around capable of doing this,  

 

Any ideas?

 

Rev

 

I may not reply for a couple days, I'm going in for some heart work tomorrow.  

[Blackwater 53393]

Talk to Forty Rod!!  He had one customized a few years ago!

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Contact David Fink @finksguns.com or (928) 756-8916.  He's THE gunsmith at GunSite Academy in Paulden, AZ and one of the best around.  He has a few great smiths working for him and a dozen or so who do contract work for him.

 

He specializes in combat and competition arms, but has done work for me on '66, '73, '94, and '95 Winchesters, a Model 8 Remington carbine, my Dad's old Stevens shotgun and about a doze handguns so far.   He also sent me to a lady engraver who was world-known (She passed a couple of years back.  RIP), a holster maker, and a lady who replaced a splinter in the forearm of a '94 (andI know where it was but I can't SEE where it was).  She also restocked a butt on Dad's shotgun.

 

My two "best" guns are a 1911 and a Government .380 Colt.  Both have total work-overs for function and appearance, added Novak sights and double diamond grips in matching walnut.  

 

Dave and his family have become friends.  MY only problem with his place is that he is so popular that it take a long time to get a job done....but it's worth the wait.

 

Tell him I said "Hi" and asked about his ladies.

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

Thanks for the quick response!  Forty I will be in contact with them soon as old sawbones gets done with me,  It sounds like they are who I need to do this project.  I actually have an old SxS that would be worth working on as well.  

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Happy to help.

 

Dave worked on a side-by-side 12 gauge SKB 200E that I had made at the factory when I was stationed at Iwakuni.  I had disconnected the ejectors to use it for SASS...and then never did.  I think that was the first job he did for me back when he was still working out of a shop in his back yard in Chino Valley.

 

I was working on word of mouth on a shotgun that was very special to me.  Nervous?  Oh hell yes, but he did a beautiful job, even "balancing" the trigger pulls and steaming out a dent on the butt...the ONLY mark on the gun. 

 

Right now he has a Beretta T-70 that is so stiff i couldn't pull the slide.  It's 99.5% gun that sat in a safe for many years and just froze ('tis too a real word) up "tighter than Dick's hat band", (a phrase I picked up from a friend from Gum Stump, Arkansas back in nineteen sixty and nine).

[Vail Vigilante]

Rev,

Do at least the stock work yourself.

Buy a cheap "practice" blank, watch some youtube vids, and give it a go.

When you have done some practice blanks, go after the good one. 

If you cant get to where you want on the practice blanks, you can hire a smith then, but I am willing to bet that you can do the job!

[Rip Snorter]

Maybe https://macongunstocks.com/store-inventory/ols/products/mauser-bolt-action-walnut-sporter-stock-all-types-models will work.

[Blackwater 53393]

Hope your medical treatment goes well!!

[Eyesa Horg]

🤞🙏 on the heart work Rev

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

16 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Hope your medical treatment goes well!!

 

Much appreciated.  My heart cath showed no blockages.  Now we move to replacing my pacemaker with a new improved model.   Had to rule out my plumber first.  Now I hand off to my electrician. 

 

Its been two years since my first pacemaker and hasn't been right but better than alternative,  I could have done stock work on rifle myself but have no energy now to attempt it,  I just want it done now.  There's no telling when I'll be able to attempt it myself.    I just want to get back to cowboy shooting soon, 

[Sedalia Dave]

On 9/2/2026 at 7:39 PM, Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027 said:

I have an old 8mm Mauser that I have a 30-06 new barrel for and a semi inletted new stock.  I am looking for a competent gunsmith who can work their magic to turn this into a nice custom for me.  I've had it for years and finally needs to be done before there are no more old time gunsmiths around capable of doing this,  

 

Any ideas?

 

Rev

 

I may not reply for a couple days, I'm going in for some heart work tomorrow.  

 

I've reached out to my Grandson ( Whaley Precision Rifles ) to see if he is interested. He currently builds custom rifles for long range backcountry hunting.

[Trailrider #896]

When I was in college, I bought a VZ-24 in 8mm Mauser. But, I wanted a backup to my Winchester M70 in .30-06. The gunsmith owner of the outdoor range I frequented, Said he would do it for a reasonable cost. But I wanted the bolt handle bent down. He didn't bend them, he cut the bolt handle off and re-welded it. He was an artist at welding! But, then I thought a nice stock would be good, and a Canjar trigger. Later, in the Air Force, a smith in Great Falls, converted the rifle to 6mm Remington, and still later, I had a two-position wing safety installed by an old-time smith in Denver. I still have the rifle, with a Weaver K-4 scope on it. Probably spent $600+ (1960=70 dollars), and haven't fired it in years! Probably couldn't get my money back. 

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

2 hours ago, Trailrider #896 said:

When I was in college, I bought a VZ-24 in 8mm Mauser. But, I wanted a backup to my Winchester M70 in .30-06. The gunsmith owner of the outdoor range I frequented, Said he would do it for a reasonable cost. But I wanted the bolt handle bent down. He didn't bend them, he cut the bolt handle off and re-welded it. He was an artist at welding! But, then I thought a nice stock would be good, and a Canjar trigger. Later, in the Air Force, a smith in Great Falls, converted the rifle to 6mm Remington, and still later, I had a two-position wing safety installed by an old-time smith in Denver. I still have the rifle, with a Weaver K-4 scope on it. Probably spent $600+ (1960=70 dollars), and haven't fired it in years! Probably couldn't get my money back. 

 

I probably remember that old time gunsmith in Denver!  Old guy, long beard, looked like he came out of the old mountains.  He really knew his stuff,  I was stationed at Lowry AFB at the time.  I thought of him first but its been 50 years.  

 

I was thinking of having the bolt handle turned down as well  but not sure of a cut and reweld.  I already have the scope, barrel and stock, just need someone with the skill level, 

[Trailrider #896]

1 hour ago, Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027 said:

 

I probably remember that old time gunsmith in Denver!  Old guy, long beard, looked like he came out of the old mountains.  He really knew his stuff,  I was stationed at Lowry AFB at the time.  I thought of him first but its been 50 years.  

 

I was thinking of having the bolt handle turned down as well  but not sure of a cut and reweld.  I already have the scope, barrel and stock, just need someone with the skill level, 

Can't remember his name either. He was just east of Colorado Blvd on Colfax. The smith that did the bolt job was in Deerfield, Illinois, and was a pure artist with IIRC a heliarc welder. Both of them have crossed the Divide long since.