This showed up online at an out-of-town estate sale several years ago. A good friend of mine lived nearby and I encouraged him to grab it. He looked at it on the first day of the sale, but held off buying until day two when everything was discounted 50%. I wouldn't have taken that chance, but he got lucky! 
I've been interested in buying or trading for it ever since. He finally put it out for sale last weekend at a local show and we struck a deal!
It's a Blaser Model SR850/88 "Exclusive" takedown repeater. According to the date code (KD), it was made in 1993. It only came with one barrel (.300 Win Mag), but included the case and a 30mm Zeiss 2.5-10x48 scope on a Blaser QD claw mount. To say I'm thrilled to own it is an understatement!
The action is quite unique. The top part of receiver that carries the bolt telescopes on rails to reduce the length of the action. The bolt has three lugs, so the throw is only about 30 degrees. Chambering a round from the magazine doesn't cock the striker. You need to push the closed bolt handle forward to do that. The toggle on the right side of the carrier locks the bolt closed and prevents the bolt handle from moving forward to cock the striker, which acts as the safety. It's quite a piece of German engineering!
Extra barrels, magazines and bolt faces were offered, but they're virtually impossible to find in the US today. Not many of these were produced (especially in high grades) and most were sold on the European market. There's room in the case for another barrel, so the hunt is on!
As an added bonus, Mrs. Chad approved and declared it a work of art!
I've been interested in buying or trading for it ever since. He finally put it out for sale last weekend at a local show and we struck a deal!
It's a Blaser Model SR850/88 "Exclusive" takedown repeater. According to the date code (KD), it was made in 1993. It only came with one barrel (.300 Win Mag), but included the case and a 30mm Zeiss 2.5-10x48 scope on a Blaser QD claw mount. To say I'm thrilled to own it is an understatement!
The action is quite unique. The top part of receiver that carries the bolt telescopes on rails to reduce the length of the action. The bolt has three lugs, so the throw is only about 30 degrees. Chambering a round from the magazine doesn't cock the striker. You need to push the closed bolt handle forward to do that. The toggle on the right side of the carrier locks the bolt closed and prevents the bolt handle from moving forward to cock the striker, which acts as the safety. It's quite a piece of German engineering!
Extra barrels, magazines and bolt faces were offered, but they're virtually impossible to find in the US today. Not many of these were produced (especially in high grades) and most were sold on the European market. There's room in the case for another barrel, so the hunt is on!
As an added bonus, Mrs. Chad approved and declared it a work of art!
