This was at its time, an elitist rifle and cartridge company. I don’t think there’s a 1% chance Weatherby would sell just its actions. They don’t see the Mark V as a collection of general purpose parts.
The receiver is forged and machined, flat bottomed, chrome-moly, setting out to be the strongest action made, and to me it’s reminiscent of naval artillery breech designs, with many, small area threads or lugs protecting capitol ships the country deemed it cannot afford to replace. Those cannons spared no expense and adhered, seemingly, to the idea that only short, not long, protrusions are strong for their surface area, (steel positioned externally to the source of a bend isn’t adding strength.)
As with the cartridge shape, size and the deluxe stock, the 9 lug action and huge, fluted bolt basically dared an imitator to come find out for himself just how hard and expensive this rifle would be to equal or better, at its price.
Even though it’s perfect for your wildcat, I don’t think Weatherby, given a choice, would want their actions attached to anything originating from another source, viewing it as a dilution.
Chuck Hawks said:
Weatherby Mark V Deluxe
Mark V Deluxe. Illustration courtesy of Weatherby, Inc.
Roy Weatherby introduced the Mark V in 1959 as "The World's Strongest Bolt Action." It is stronger than any other sporting rifle with which I am familiar and certainly much stronger than the Mannlicher-Schoenauer. The Mark V action has proven capable of withstanding pressures up to 200,000 CUP, far beyond the melting point of the brass case it contains.
The Deluxe was the original version of the Mark V and it remains the "quintessential Weatherby." Mark V deluxe rifles are supplied with AA grade walnut stocks, high luster blued metal finish and a rose wood forend tip and grip cap set off by Maplewood line spacers. There is a trademark white diamond inlay in the pistol grip cap and a durable high gloss finish shows off the wood to maximum advantage. It is a very fancy looking rifle.
The Weatherby Mark V action is a front locking, cock on opening, turn bolt repeater. It has been described as a "modified Mauser 98" type, but it is really a unique action. Instead of using two large front locking lugs that require a 90 degree bolt rotation to unlock, the Mark V uses nine smaller locking lugs arranged in three rows and spaced for a 54-degree bolt rotation. This makes it easier for the bolt handle to clear low mounted scopes and speeds cycling.
To eliminate the play and potential for binding characteristic of Mauser 98 type actions when the bolt is fully withdrawn, the Weatherby's machined, one-piece bolt body (including the bolt handle) is round and nearly the same diameter as the hole through the receiver rings in which it slides. The bolt head is rebated (smaller in diameter than the bolt body) with short locking lugs of body diameter. The bolt is fluted and there is a machined steel shroud at the rear of the bolt to prevent escaping gases from exiting the rear of the bolt into the shooter's face in the event of a blown case. In addition, there are three gas escape vents in the side of the bolt body.
The Mark V is a push feed action. The extractor is a substantial, flush-fitting claw at the front of the bolt and the ejector is of the plunger variety in the bolt face. Whenever it is expedient, you can easily load a cartridge directly into the chamber without running it through the magazine.
The bolt handle is smooth with a round knob and protrudes far enough from the side of the rifle to allow rapid operation. When locked closed, the bolt knob is positioned directly over the trigger. Because of the smoothness of its full diameter bolt, short 54-degree rotation and perfectly positioned bolt knob, the Weatherby Mark V is the fastest bolt action I have ever used for repeat shots.
The forged and machined chrome-moly receiver has a flat bottom and incorporates a large, integral recoil lug. The whole action is built for strength; the bolt and receiver weigh 35.9 ounces. The recessed bolt head, barrel and front receiver ring surround a chambered cartridge's head and constitute the famous "Three Rings of Steel."
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