Bargain hunter

Charles Smith-Jones looks at the merits of a second-hand Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter

- Charles Smith-Jones

Until the end of the last century, the name of Mannlicher was more often associated with expensive luxury rifles, while Steyr has a complex history of firearms manufacturing that can be traced back to around 200 years ago. The names were once linked, but since 2019 the company has been known simply as Steyr Arms.

The Pro Hunter was hailed as a major move away from the traditional Steyr Mannlicher market when it first appeared in the late 1990s. With a modern, robust, almost military design and high-density composite stock, it was a far cry from the conventionally styled hunting rifles more readily available at the time and it was an immediate success. Importantly, it was offered at a price that would appeal to the growing numbers of ‘everyman’ deerstalkers and was among the very first of the models from various manufacturers intended to tap into this newer market.

Distinctive twist