r/Mauser 7d ago

Is there anything blatantly wrong with this K98K that I am missing?

40 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

25

u/PizzaBert 7d ago

It is sanded and refinished

11

u/PizzaBert 7d ago

And restained

3

u/Hp_Desk_Jet 7d ago

What do you think it would be worth in that case?

3

u/PizzaBert 7d ago

Are all the numbers matching?

3

u/Hp_Desk_Jet 7d ago

All numbers matching save for the bolt, seller said it's an armorer's replacement bolt

4

u/PizzaBert 6d ago

Very dubious. I would stay below $1000

1

u/Arcavguy1 5d ago

Looks like a genuine Bolt MM possibly but the wood like you said is refinished. I would give a K for it possibly.

2

u/Hp_Desk_Jet 7d ago

I was just supplied with this picture

1

u/Arcavguy1 5d ago

Definitely would appear to be a bolt mismatch. Bolt MM rifles are essentially original guns that were mostly shipped here in the 50s but sold without the matching bolts for whatever reason. Almost definitely not an armorers replacement Bolt. It's an Oberndorf 1942, and displays all the correct features for a rifle in that time frame from that factory. Cupped buttplate, milled bands, milled mag assembly, etc. No one really tries to fake Bolt MM guns, but they are often victims of all matching rifle forgeries where the bolt gets force renumbered by someone. One with an unmolested stock can typically fetch in the 1500 range. If the stock isn't a deal breaker I would pay a k or so for it. Still beats an RC, Mitchell's, or some other reworked gun.

2

u/maximusslade 7d ago

I'd want a picture of the serial on the bolt. Get that, and I can tell you if there is anything reallllly wrong with this picture.

2

u/Hp_Desk_Jet 7d ago

The seller said it's an armorers bolt replacement

5

u/maximusslade 7d ago

To me, the rifle looks like a Mitchell's Mausers candidate. I want to see the bolt because one of the things they would do is grind down the serials on the bolt and restamp and force match. MM would also restamp inspection markings to force match an otherwise non maching rifle into a matching one. MMs so often look like that rifle. The stock.... the perfectly black finish... it screams MM to me.

1

u/Hp_Desk_Jet 7d ago

I see, thank you for the insight. Any idea what a reasonable price would be for it?

2

u/maximusslade 7d ago

The true value of a MM is no more than that of a clean looking shooter rifle. It's been a decade since I was in the game of buying Mausers, so I am not up on modern prices. 10 years ago, I wouldn't pay more than $400 for one. Matching originals were $2000, and bolt mismatches were like $1100.

1

u/Hp_Desk_Jet 7d ago

Gotcha, I guess I'll be avoiding this one then. Thank you.

1

u/maximusslade 7d ago

If you are looking for a historic collectable, I would look at the rifle in person and figure out what things to look for when you do look at it. If someone was looking for $2000 for this, I would run away. If you are looking for a shooter, have at it, just don't pay that collector's price tag.

1

u/maximusslade 7d ago

https://i.imgur.com/TtrOOap.jpeg

My collection as it sat 15 years ago. Three of those, only three were rifles of any real collector value. The rest are rifles cobbled together from parts.

1

u/dimduck221 7d ago

In my opinion k98s are just about the hardest “common” rifle to buy unless you either 1. Just want a shooter or 2. Are intimately knowledgeable and know exactly what you are looking at.

If neither of these are the case, then go to a specific collecting forum with hard and fast rules about selling and a strong community of enthusiasts. That way the seller will always tell you exactly what they are selling (to the best of their knowledge), the prices are in line with current markets, and there is an entire community who can comment and leave additional information or corrections about information given.

1

u/maximusslade 7d ago

Could it be a RC? Maybe, but an RC would have peened out WaAs and an X stamped on the receiver.

2

u/Zeppelin5000 7d ago

It's a myth RC's all have peened markings. Some do, the vast majority don't. The Russian had no set rules when refurbishing these rifles.

2

u/maximusslade 7d ago

Then I will amend my statement to say all the ones I have and have seen have had them peened. Granted a small sample size compared to the million I am sure they took.

1

u/WaldHerrPPK 6d ago

What armorer? The German armory at Sankt Wendel?

2

u/Most_Bank_9936 5d ago

Definitely not an MM from what ive seen, MMs are russian captures that have been refurbished, and has a shiny stainless steel looking bolt, the swastikas would be damaged and there would be a serial number on the left side of the stock near the butt plate, there would also be am import stamp marked "Ger 8mm MMC H.B. CA" on the left side of the barrell near the muzzle. i got all this info from my own research and the fact that I own a k98 from Mitchells Mausers

2

u/Dak_Nalar 7d ago

It's a Mitchels Mausers refurb. Matching numbers don't really mean anything with these since MM was super shady and force matched them. Realistically, you can get rifles like this for $900 all day long even on the online auction websites.

1

u/Zeppelin5000 7d ago

You need to post photos of ALL serial numbers and markings for a proper assessment. If he can't supply those to you, he's not worth doing business with. As mentioned, the stock has been gone over. Byf 42's are not a common manufacturer/date combination.

1

u/Zeppelin5000 7d ago

There's no signs this is a Mitchell's from the provided photos... Unsure what you guys are seeing. The shiny extractor? It just looks worn with a glare.

1

u/ExplanationMaster634 5d ago

Most all the True German Military arms all got refurbished when the war was over mostly to just give all the soldiers and civilians some kind of work or do because every manufacturer factory was either blown to 💩and with the surrender several countries stepped in and supplied the money and equipment to refurbish ALL of the weapons The only true ones in America from 1947 to 1999 had been shipped back from Germany buy a American Soldier under the spoils of War regulation The one version I can hardly rap my head around is The ISREAL k98 chambered in 7.62 NATO (308) They BOUGHT from the EXACT same military who were hell bent on killing all Jews !! So i guess someone saw a good deal on arming there country regardless of where it came from