Info request for Schmidt & Habermann Model 21 8x57J

[LaRenegade]

Have a short/lightweight Schmidt & Habermann Model 21 8x57J that I know little about. Supposedly from prior info this is a rarity in U.S and Germany. Does anyone have info about or have rifles by Schmidt & Habermann that can share information. Beautiful little rifle without scope.
Anyone?

Thanks
LaRenegade

[Axel E]

Well, maybe I know a thing or two about the Schmidt & Habermann Mod. 21. In summer 2009 I wrote an atricle on these, published in Der Waffenschmied Nr. 40, available from the GGCA bookstore:
http://www.germanguns.com/der-waffenschmied.html
Just a few days ago the editor of the German guns magazine VISIER asked me to do it again as an expanded and revised German version for his publicaton.
These rifles are rare everywhere as they were made for a short time only. I still own one in 6.5x54 K Mauser.

The M21 is a short action like the Mauser K. It was originally offered for short cartridges only, 6.5 x54K, 8x51K Mauser and the proprietary S&H 7x54 (obsolete by 1933). Schmidt & Habermann, trademark ESHA, advertized it after the Versailles treaty as " unsuitable for any military cartridge like 7x57 and 8x57". Later, in the 1930s, Richard Mahrholdt, Peterlongo Innsbruck, offered them as "Mahrholdt'S Savage Stutzen" in 5.6x52R aka .22 HP and 250-3000. So 8x57I is highly unlikely, unless rechambered due to ammo availability. I once had another M21, converted and reproofed from 7x54 to 7x57 in the 1960s. The receiver and magazine were opened up to the front, just as it is often seen on standard length 98 actions opened up to take the .375 H&H Magnum:

As I had no need for another 7x57 I kept the Zeiss Zielvier scope and gave the rifle to the Suhl Museum. They did not have an example of these rare rifles.

[mike ford]

LaRenegade,
These are very interesting rifles, you are lucky to have found it. Are you sure it is chambered for 8x57J, and not for the 8x51 with an I(orJ) diameter barrel, as mentioned by Axel? The 8x51 is a neat cartridge, which except for bullet diameter is reminiscent of the 308 Win. If it has not been rechambered, I advise against it, there are many 8x57Js but few 8x51s . Photos would be helpful.
Mike

[Axel E]

LaRenegade, you once asked about the ESHA Mod.21 before. Then it was an 8x51?
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/sho...tz-Help-please