Unknown 308 bolt gun - Golden State Trailmaster?

BattleRifleG3 · 11-07-2007, 09:18 PM

I've never seen anything like this before. It's a 308 bolt action that has a Mauser type safety, an open rear bridge of the receiver, and a bolt handle forward of the rear bridge, like a Mosin.

Anyone know anything about this?

lefty o · 11-07-2007, 09:28 PM

has similarities to an 1891 mauser that has had the magazine butchered( and other things), but definately not a mauser. without more pictures i'd say it is definately a sporterized milsurp.

ArkansasHunter · 11-07-2007, 09:36 PM

Thats an interesting rifle for sure, I hope someone can tell us what it is.

BattleRifleG3 · 11-07-2007, 09:56 PM

Based on what I can see, it looks like it cocks on opening, like a 98 Mauser or most commercial bolt guns.

Mooseman684 · 11-08-2007, 12:40 AM

Golden State Arms was an Importer in Pasadena Calif. and they imported and subcontracted various firearms constructed by Japanese and European Manufacturers-acheiving private label status on some guns.
Most of them are not collectible, in many cases the shooting value will determine the price of a specimen.
In some models or configurations which are currently desireable, premiums may exist.
I have no pricing guide available for them at this time.
Rich

just_a_car · 11-08-2007, 12:45 AM

Looks a little like my grandfather's Husqvarna in .308Win.

Thing is, there was an obvious "Swedish" crown stamp with brandname and caliber on top of the receiver, but I heard that many of them were bought by third parties and renamed.

Edit: just took a look at some pictures online of some "Huskies" and they have the bolt behind the rear bridge of the receiver. Sorry for the mis-lead.

BattleRifleG3 · 11-08-2007, 04:29 PM

One thing I'm wondering is if the handle is part of a locking lug, and if so, if it has one, two, or no lugs in the front. The picture isn't super clear, but I can tell that it doesn't have a Mauser type claw extractor, and from the looks of it there's a lever claw right in the middle of the right lug.

rfc357 · 11-08-2007, 06:12 PM

Doesn't look like a Mauser. It looks like either a Model 88 Commision rifle (German, not a Mauser) or a very old Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Either way, the .308 cartridge generates much higher pressure than anything these rifles were meant to handle. I would not fire it unless it was checked out by a really good gunsmith, maybe not even then.

11-07-2007, 09:18 PM	#1
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401	Unknown 308 bolt gun - Golden State Trailmaster? I've never seen anything like this before. It's a 308 bolt action that has a Mauser type safety, an open rear bridge of the receiver, and a bolt handle forward of the rear bridge, like a Mosin. Anyone know anything about this? __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

11-07-2007, 09:28 PM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,546	has similarities to an 1891 mauser that has had the magazine butchered( and other things), but definately not a mauser. without more pictures i'd say it is definately a sporterized milsurp. Last edited by lefty o; 11-07-2007 at 09:30 PM.

11-07-2007, 09:56 PM	#4
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401	Based on what I can see, it looks like it cocks on opening, like a 98 Mauser or most commercial bolt guns. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

11-08-2007, 12:40 AM	#5
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 8,919	Golden State Arms was an Importer in Pasadena Calif. and they imported and subcontracted various firearms constructed by Japanese and European Manufacturers-acheiving private label status on some guns. Most of them are not collectible, in many cases the shooting value will determine the price of a specimen. In some models or configurations which are currently desireable, premiums may exist. I have no pricing guide available for them at this time. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

11-08-2007, 12:45 AM	#6
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,382	Looks a little like my grandfather's Husqvarna in .308Win. Thing is, there was an obvious "Swedish" crown stamp with brandname and caliber on top of the receiver, but I heard that many of them were bought by third parties and renamed. Edit: just took a look at some pictures online of some "Huskies" and they have the bolt behind the rear bridge of the receiver. Sorry for the mis-lead. __________________ Last edited by just_a_car; 11-08-2007 at 12:50 AM.

11-07-2007, 09:36 PM	#3
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,159	Thats an interesting rifle for sure, I hope someone can tell us what it is.

11-08-2007, 04:29 PM	#7
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401	One thing I'm wondering is if the handle is part of a locking lug, and if so, if it has one, two, or no lugs in the front. The picture isn't super clear, but I can tell that it doesn't have a Mauser type claw extractor, and from the looks of it there's a lever claw right in the middle of the right lug. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

11-08-2007, 06:12 PM	#8
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	Doesn't look like a Mauser. It looks like either a Model 88 Commision rifle (German, not a Mauser) or a very old Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Either way, the .308 cartridge generates much higher pressure than anything these rifles were meant to handle. I would not fire it unless it was checked out by a really good gunsmith, maybe not even then.

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