Dorleac “25th Anniversary” Heeren Stutzen in 6.5×57 R
This incredibly gorgeous rifle was built by French gunmaker Dorleac & Dorleac who celebrate their 25th anniversary in September.
The rifle is Dorleac's Heeren Stutzen model. It uses the 19th century Nagel and Menz action that has been strengthened for modern cartridges. It is chambered in 6.5x57R, a cartridge that is comparable to the .260 Remington. The engraving and inlays by done by Michel Courant in an Art Deco style with gold in different colors. The wood is select English walnut.
The rifle will be sold in September.
[ Many thanks to Mehul for emailing me the information and photos. ]
Many more photos after the jump ...
I have one of these made by Nagel u. Menz in Baden-Baden, probably made between the wars. It’s 7 x 65R Brenneke. It’s fitted with 6X Zeiss scope in traditional claw mounts.
The lever to the rear of the trigger is a cocking leaver. The action can be “de-cocked” by holding that lever against the trigger and releasing it gently while holding the trigger back. You can also de-cock the rifle by closing the action with the trigger held back, and then cock the piece by pushing the rear lever forward.
Okay, I’ve done rambled all over the internet trying to unlock the _secrets_ of this gorgeous rifle’s trigger, but I’m out of steam, and hopefully someone else will see this and help me out.
Okay, I’m… reasonably certain that this Heeren has some kind of set trigger. Very similar arms I found from other manufacturers are said to have “french set triggers”, but now I have conflicting information: is a French set-trigger a double-set or single-set trigger?
If it’s the former, I guess the back lever could be presumed to be the set trigger, and the front one the “real” trigger. But if it’s the latter, then what does the “back” trigger do? Is it some kind of cocking lever, or a safety?
Somebody please help me out!
A couple more words. That is possibly the most elegant rifle it has ever been my privilege to cast my old eyes upon.
Who ever said that art and functionality do not mix was a fool.
Unconventional? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Utilitarian? No.
Who cares. Sometimes art and beauty are just enough.
One word: drool.
Michael Barncastle Sr,
The scope is a Swarovski 3-10×42 in Suhl mounts.
Pd
The action was heat treated to strengthen it to take the additional pressures of the 6.5×57 R round. This is routinely done in order to offer an extra margin of safety when using an older action to chamber a modern round. I’m having a sporter built on a DWM Mauser action (military) and this was a $ 200 “insurance” that my gunsmith suggested for it as well. If a new Heeren action with modern steels were built, it would not need this treatment. With an old action like this one, the heat treatment won’t hurt.
“It uses the 19th century Nagel and Menz action that has been strengthened for modern cartridges.”
What does strengthened mean here?? Wouldn’t the action be already strong??
Pd, the action was designed before smokeless powders and modern magnum ammunition.
Not that I would ever be able to afford it, but I am glad something so pretty exists. That it is a gun is double-plus good!
Does their rilfe come with the optic? And if so who is it made by and what are the particulars such as power, objective diameter, and so on.
I can see the front lever is the action latch. I’m still not clear on the function of those in the middle, other than one being a trigger and the other possibly a set trigger.
Very nice engraving, but in the style of art Nouveau not Deco.
Steve,
My pleasure as always! Not many people know about the tiny Dorleac firm though in connoisseur circles their masterpieces are immediately recognized and much sought after as well. For someone who wants a really high end rifle, they are a fantastic choice.
SpudGun,
Yes, the trigger action does act as a cocking / loading / ejection lever. The design is why the action is so extremely compact, leading to a very short and compact rifle even with long barrels.
Yeah, how the heck does it work? And is that a strange looking set trigger, or what?
KBCraig, I understand one lever is the trigger, the other open the action.
Which one of the little levers is the trigger?
That is the weirdest front scope ring I have ever seen. Beautiful gun though.
That is a very nice looking rifle. Am I correct in assuming that the hinged trigger guard acts as a lever action for cocking / loading / ejecting?