Thread: Gunsmith in Christchurch_little Steyr work

Good day,

I am looking for some recommendations for a good gunsmith in and around Christchurch.

I have three little Steyr Zephyr rifles from the 50/60s with only 2 bolts. The plan is to make two good guns out of the 3. Unfortunately, the one in real good condition is the one without the bolt.

I am sure gunsmiths can do this type of job easily, but ideally looking for someone with original spares and pride themselves on their bluing results.

Originally Posted by Njappers

Good day,

I am looking for some recommendations for a good gunsmith in and around Christchurch.

I have three little Steyr Zephyr rifles from the 50/60s with only 2 bolts. The plan is to make two good guns out of the 3. Unfortunately, the one in real good condition is the one without the bolt.

I am sure gunsmiths can do this type of job easily, but ideally looking for someone with original spares and pride themselves on their bluing results.

Pretty sure the bolts are not serialized to the rifle, I dont see why the others wouldnt interchange. I will have a look later but 99% sure you should be able to just use another bolt. Spares are unlikely to be found I think, best to do as you are and have a donor rifle. Are they fully wooded, or the rarer standard model?

It pays to give careful consideration to the restoration of these sorts of rarer rifles where the collector value possibly exceeds the "shooter value" . If they get reblued/restored most collectors will heavily discount them (for all intents back to shooter value).

Originally Posted by Njappers

Attachment 269398

Nice one, its crazy that these are a lot rarer than the sought after carbines. They also put really nice rear sights on these compared to the budget ones they put on the full wood carbine. I wouldnt reblue mate. What value it has will be diluted. Out of interest, can you PM me the serial? Quite often rifles were imported into NZ in a bunch and its quite interesting to compare.
Just seen the photo of the bolts, I stand corrected, obvious difference there for sure. I will check mine.

Oops, posted the same image twice. The bolts looks to be slightly different, or they have been fiddled with. Both fit in all 3 but won't cycle properly in all. The one bolt on the left makes the guns have unsafe triggers, and then won't extract the case after one shot.
Good point on keeping unrestored condition, but if I can add an original front sight from one of the other rifles, would than not add value? My thinking is that I can then make one with no sights a shooter with a nice bluing.

Please don't "restore" these
There appears to be a reasonable amount of bluing on the last one
Sure there are repairs required

But they look like they just need a full deep clean and re oil of the stocks and it bit of touch up bluing

They are what they are and a few minor battle scars tell the story of a life well lived

Restore them and they will lose all that character

Serial number 980 and 1737 has the side lever mag release and 2446 has the bottom release with an 11mm dove tail. I appreciate you having a look.

Originally Posted by Njappers

Attachment 269401

Well note: Dont take advice from me lol, I just checked 4 and they are all different. Even a pair pretty close in number are different.

Originally Posted by Njappers

Serial number 980 and 1737 has the side lever mag release and 2446 has the bottom release with an 11mm dove tail. I appreciate you having a look.

I have 2460, standard rifle but it has extremely figured wood (unusual for the rifles) and looks like it hasnt fired a shot. The others are not close in number to any of mine. Thank you for sharing, there is not a lot of info about these. I have a pdf somewhere of a write up, if I find it I will send it to you.

@Njappers Try Marc Weiss in Christchurch 022 158 9152. He said he can help with your query. He's looked after my rifle needs and is great to deal with. Not affiliated just passing on deets.

Thanks all for the advice. I will keep them unrestored and just get them working properly. If you know of a spare bolt somewhere for the 3rd rifle, please let me know.

Nice

https://www.deltamike.co.nz/product/...threaded-22lr/

Originally Posted by Njappers

Thanks all for the advice. I will keep them unrestored and just get them working properly. If you know of a spare bolt somewhere for the 3rd rifle, please let me know.
Attachment 269402

very cool. There was three versions of those particular rear sights also. Thanks for posting.