A look at 10 drool-worthy custom and engraved guns from Gun Digest 2014.
Dubber–Bolliger
This unusual project is the result of a collaborative effort between two masters of their crafts, John Bolliger’s Mountain Riflery and Master Engraver Mike Dubber. Bolliger started with a MAS 45 French training rifle, still new and in Cosmoline. Apparently, these rifles were manufactured from 1945 to 1947 at the French MAS factory, using liberated Germany equipment from the Mauser plant. A few of these rifles were imported into the U.S., in the 1980s, of which this was apparently one. At any rate, the magnificent rifle in the photos started as one of these military-style training rifles, and one made in France, no less! Talk about lipstick on a pig! I would need a full-blown feature-length article to even begin describing the alterations done for this project. Since we don’t have that luxury, it suffices to say that extensive modifications have been made and leave it at that. It can be accurately stated that about everything you seen in the photos is custom made. Mike Dubber did his usual masterful job of adorning the rifle with his wonderful engraving. “Superb” is the first word that comes to mind. Peter Wermer built the lovely oak and leather trunk case. Photos by Eric Gordon
This photo gallery is an excerpt from the new Gun Digest 2014 annual book.
There is nothing even remotely PIGish about the MAS45!!! It is an elegant, accurate, very well made .22 training rifle. It may well have been made in France, but it was made on Mauser tooling. They are even more remarkable having been designed during the War. Reconsider your prejudice – you are very wrong with this one.