I.D this action... Siamese 98?

[JohnC]

What is it and what's is it worth?







My dad gave me this thing and I think he called it a Siamese 98.

I'm not sure if I want to try and build something with it or just get rid of it. I'm not really in to these old rifles, but if I could make it shoot sub-moa, I might give it a try. Lol

Fwiw...

He has built 2 rifles off this action I believe. One has a heavy barrel in 30-06 and the other has a HUGE heavy target barrel chambered in 45-70 Govt. Both have long Unertl scopes on them that have an external spring.

I'll have to get pictures of them if I can talk him in to pulling them out. :up:


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Edited October 26, 2015 by JohnC

[Garufa]

It's a Siamese Mauser action alright.

[JohnC]

It's a Siamese Mauser action alright.

So got any info on these?

Not really sure what to do with it.

I know this one (mainly the stock) is ugly. :lol:

The other two built rifles that he has are mint.

[Jimbo100]

Here's a link to some information which looks pertinent.

 

http://www.forgottenweapons.com/type-45-siamese-mauser/

[JohnC]

Yup! That's it. :up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHfjol3Ar9U

[JohnC]

Hmm, seen in the comments, they're good for building 7.62x54r conversions....

That's appealing to me. Cheap rusky steel cased ammo should make a fun plinker! :)

[Caster]

Some of the classiest rifles ever built were on a Siamese action. They will hold just like a '98 will and chamber a 45-70 very well. It will take your 45-70 into "Ruger only" loads with ease. A 45-70 in a Siamese action will get just inside the threshold of a .458 win mag.

[JohnC]

Some of the classiest rifles ever built were on a Siamese action. They will hold just like a '98 will and chamber a 45-70 very well. It will take your 45-70 into "Ruger only" loads with ease. A 45-70 in a Siamese action will get just inside the threshold of a .458 win mag.

Would it then be a waste to build this in to a 7.62x54 Russian? I'd like to have a good bolt action plinker that shoot cheaper ammo like that.

Is there a specific thread for this receiver I need to look for when ordering a barrel?

[Garufa]

Unless you really want to take on a project of that magnitude it would be cheaper just to buy a Mosin.  Are you a gunsmith or do you have all the tools to mount and headspace a barrel?

[JohnC]

Unless you really want to take on a project of that magnitude it would be cheaper just to buy a Mosin.  Are you a gunsmith or do you have all the tools to mount and headspace a barrel?

No, don't have any gunsmith tools, but I am willing to buy them to do it myself if it isn't terribly expensive. :up:

Then again, looking at the bolt, if that needed any work, I'd probably pass that on to a gunsmith.

What would they typically charge to do something like a 7.62x54r conversion?

[Garufa]

Although bolt-actions are incredibly simple they require far more skill than slapping together an AR.  First you'll need to find a barrel that fits with the correct threading.  I don't know anything about buying Mauser action barrels but am pretty sure a barrel in that caliber will most likely be a custom job......more than the cost of an entire Mosin rifle.

 

The barrel on bolt-actions such as this are screwed in and held on with nothing more than good old-fashioned tension.  There aren't any screws, pins, gas tube or anything else to hold it in place.  It has to be screwed down tight!  You'll need some kind of barrel or receiver wrench to do it right....then there's the headspacing.  That will require not only gauges but a lathe to tune the barrel face if needed to adjust it correctly.

 

Not saying it's not doable,  just thinking it will be really expensive.

[Garufa]

Just did a quick bit of Googling and it looks like E.R. Shaw still does .45-70 conversions or at least knows how to do it.  Maybe they could advise on 7.62x54r.

[JohnC]

Just sent them a message to see what it would cost to do a 7.62x54r. :up:

If it's too much, I guess I'll just sale the action because I'm not really in to the 45-70 Govt.

[JohnC]

Here goes one other Siamese 98 my Dad has. So I was wrong, the huge target barrel 45-70 is built on a Enfield I think he said it was.














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Edited October 30, 2015 by JohnC

[JohnC]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited October 30, 2015 by JohnC

[JohnC]

Bonus.... Lol












Flash gave those last a green look, not sure why though...


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Edited October 30, 2015 by JohnC

[Garufa]

Those are some really nice looking rifles.  That .45-70 is built on a US M1917 action....also known as the Enfield P-14.  The original parkerization on 03-A3's do have a slight green tint about them.

[JohnC]

What's funny is my perseption. It's been so long since I seen that heavy barrel 45-70, that I thought it had an even larger barrel diameter wise and that it was heavier. I really think the last time I seen it, I was a kid. Lol

[Garufa]

I don't know a thing about vintage scopes but those old Unertl's might be worth a small fortune (scope-wise).

[JohnC]

I don't know a thing about vintage scopes but those old Unertl's might be worth a small fortune (scope-wise).

I wondered about the value of them. I might try to Google up some stuff on these. He'd had more, but our house got broken in to when I was a kid and they stole some rifles and pistols. Some of the stuff that got stolen was inherited from his father. I was too young to even recall what they were or what they looked like, but he was telling me about it when i snapped these pictures. :(

Just a little info, but if I recall correctly, an Ace Hardware store down in Donelson, TN, might be where he got some of the Gun Smithing on those 45-70's done. I recall a guy named Henery Craten, if I spelled the name correctly. Edited October 30, 2015 by JohnC

[Sunfish]

 Harry Crighton built a lot of rifles.  My hunting buddy used to live next door to him. He has been gone a long time

[JohnC]

Harry Crighton built a lot of rifles.  My hunting buddy used to live next door to him. He has been gone a long time

So wow, I even spelled his name wrong. lol

Far as I know, my Dad said he had a bunch of those Siamese 98 actions for sale back when he was at Ace Hardware. He said Crighton built those 45-70's for him I believe. I know for sure the Siamese 98 was. I think the heavy barrel one, too, though.

I used to go to that Ace Hardware with my Dad as a kid all the time. I got my Ruger 10/22 from that store for passing to the 5th grade. It has a walnut folding stock, heat shields, flash hider, all done up and looked cool (hey, I was a kid). I still have it, but my Dad got bored one day and took the stock off and put a heavy target barrel on it. He lost the heat shield that went over the barrel on the receiver side, too. :(

[JohnC]

This is what's left of my childhood rifle. Lol






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[Dolomite_supafly]

That under folder stock is worth a lot.

Edited October 30, 2015 by Dolomite_supafly

[JohnC]

That under folder stock is worth a lot.

How much do they go for these days?