K98 - What to look for?

G

GrizzlyLar

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello all,

I'm quite fussy about my milsurp rifles but no nothing about the K98. Can someone educate me on what to look for to get a nice specimen? I would consider myself a collector that likes to shoot so I am concerned about the authenticity of a rifle and want everything to be just right or original. My Lee Enfield is unissued and mint with all matching numbers but I know nothing about the K98's.
 
There are two main groups of Mausers - original imports and recent Russian Capture (RC) imports. The former arrived decades ago when the major (and minor) powers replaced their bolt actions with semi-autos. Big importers took container loads of rifles into their warehouses, sorted and sold to whoever. Those days are gone. Many of those guns were cut down into hunting rifles or have disappeared into collections. Some dealers still have very old stock from very out of the way countries. The glory days of Mauser collecting are long passed.

The second batch of Mausers are still circulating are Ukrainian exported WW2 rifles captured and stored by the Russians. These guns are all mismatched and have little collectors' interest. But, prices are still bearable for the experience of owning a wartime rifle.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
There are two main groups of Mausers - original imports and recent Russian Capture (RC) imports. The former arrived decades ago when the major (and minor) powers replaced their bolt actions with semi-autos. Big importers took container loads of rifles into their warehouses, sorted and sold to whoever. Those days are gone. Many of those guns were cut down into hunting rifles or have disappeared into collections. Some dealers still have very old stock from very out of the way countries. The glory days of Mauser collecting are long passed.

The second batch of Mausers are still circulating are Ukrainian exported WW2 rifles captured and stored by the Russians. These guns are all mismatched and have little collectors' interest. But, prices are still bearable for the experience of owning a wartime rifle.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. So I guess the majority of Mauser's being sold are Russian captures and the originals are rare as hens teeth. So the Yougoslav, Israeli etc. etc. are all captures and likely to be mismatching. Are some countries captures considered better than others?

What about stamps? Dot? BYF? What would an original be stamped with compared to a captured rifle? I've looked on the website on a dealer in the UK and he has this listed, doesn't mention it's a captured rifle:

http://www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/Firerms For Sale/militaryt.htm

http://www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/Firerms For Sale/militaryh.htm

and also:

http://www.cwclassicarms.co.uk/product/k98-marked-dot-1944
 
Last edited:
Captured rifles usually have the Waffenampts peened out by the Russians, mostly, or whoever captured them. Those Waffenampts were the German proof markings verifying that the rifle was accepted and in good working order ready to be issued. Captured German rifles were taken and usually reworked. Some could have been complete, but most were disassembled cleaned and then re assembled with whatever useable parts were available. So a RC, Russian captured rifle usually , but not always, have some mismatched parts. Most should be shootable but may not have any or little collector value. The ones in the UK site seem to be complete and in original state as the photos seem to show. I have a Russian capture BYF42 and I know it is mismatched but still looks very good. Originals are hard to come by and you'll pay a good $ for one if you can find one. Good luck.
 
It depends on what your looking for. A all matching original condition K98k is in the 2k+ area, with some being faked due to value. A mismatched one is usually more towards the 600-800 mark.

It also depends on what you are seeking to collect. If you were collecting Isreali K98ks then that is part of there history. If you were collecting Yugoslavian Mausers the M98s they sell are part of their history. For the Yugoslavian ones (not M48s or M24s), were originally German K98ks, which have had the markings scrubbed and Yugoslavian ones placed on it. These rifles were used by many countries, and ended up all over the place after the war, which is also why a original matching one is so hard to find.
 
The ex Yugo rifles are Mauser family rifles, the difference is the receiver length is not the same as the Mauser 98. Beware.

The ex Israeli rifles are true Mausers. When Israel needed rifles, they bought surplus guns where ever they could. As they moved out of front line service and ammo supply changed, these perfectly good rifles were rebarreled to 7.62x51. These are desireable guns because of our ammo supply issues. There are other converted Mausers from Spain and Chile. Equally desireable. The Spanish FR7 and 8 have much better sights than anything ever issued by Mauserwerk.
 
Last edited:
Something else to consider. There is a thick book by Ball on Mausers. It will illustrate the variety of versions so you can get a sense of what you like, and what to look for when choosing.

Personally, I like turned down bolt handles, 7.62x51 conversions, K98 length, stocks with gripping grooves and a pistol grip swell. After that, roll the dice and see what comes up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom