Best Mauser Kar98K

UCSPanther

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I have been interested in getting a mauser Kar89k, and I would like to know what is the best model to get, and how much I should expect to pay for one.

Thanks.
 
I waited around for what I wanted and it took 2 years to find. It is an all origional byf 44 98k mauser that isn't a RC, import stamped but a vet bring back in vg or better shape and everything matches. The bands and buttplate are not serial numbered but everything else is. The bore is pristine, the blueing is faded and the sling is origional that I believe came with the rifle. The value of this type is anywhere from $650 to $800 from what I'm told. Now there are others around for more and less depending on what you want to spend. Cheers
 
I am thinking of buying a RC K98K as a shooter but also want the rifle to at least have the parts for it (not necessarily matching) that were made for its' year of manufacture as well as manufacturer. Round butt plate vs cupped butt plate etc. P&S militaria has a bunch for sale for $375 before shipping and taxes.
A private sale would be better but I've no idea what to look for to determine if it is correct for its' year and factory. A good bore would be a must for me though.
 
Teapot said:
I am thinking of buying a RC K98K as a shooter but also want the rifle to at least have the parts for it (not necessarily matching) that were made for its' year of manufacture as well as manufacturer. Round butt plate vs cupped butt plate etc. P&S militaria has a bunch for sale for $375 before shipping and taxes.
A private sale would be better but I've no idea what to look for to determine if it is correct for its' year and factory. A good bore would be a must for me though.
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Agreed. I'll probably try to get a russian capture, both because they look like they were well cared for, the inexpensive cost, and the markings don't really matter (Hell, a rifle that served with the Germans, and then was captured by the Soviets has some history behind it already).
 
The RC k98s are beautiful representatives of history, and I believe quite collectable and affordable. Enjoy!
 
K98

I have a Russian refurb and it's as close to original as I will probably find around here. I checked everything against the Collector Grade book on Mausers and it's a good example of a bnz 4 rifle except for a few things.

The best war time Mauser is the Portuguese 1941 but you would have to give up your first born to get one.
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LocknLoad said:
I waited around for what I wanted and it took 2 years to find. It is an all origional byf 44 98k mauser that isn't a RC, import stamped but a vet bring back in vg or better shape and everything matches. The bands and buttplate are not serial numbered but everything else is. The bore is pristine, the blueing is faded and the sling is origional that I believe came with the rifle. The value of this type is anywhere from $650 to $800 from what I'm told. Now there are others around for more and less depending on what you want to spend. Cheers
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Sounds like a very nice rifle, but I'd rate the value at more like $1000-$2000 especially if it really is all matching an original, AND with an original sling.
I'd jump on every $800 correct and original K98k in that condition.
 
UCSPanther said:
Agreed. I'll probably try to get a russian capture, both because they look like they were well cared for, the inexpensive cost, and the markings don't really matter (Hell, a rifle that served with the Germans, and then was captured by the Soviets has some history behind it already).
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Just make sure you know what a Russian capture really is....

www.milsurps.com said:
3. CAUTION: How do I tell if I have a rebuilt RC (Russian Capture) and not an original unaltered K98k?

Russian Capture K98k's all share similar traits. The are all WW2 era German Karabiners (though some are former Gew98's the Nazis had converted to K98k spec - rare though!). Most have matching receiver and barrel.

When the Russians came into these guns they stockpiled them and promptly began doing other more important things like rebuilding their cities, etc. Many RC rifles sat for month or even years exposed to the elements. By the late 1940's, many of these rifles were in an advanced state of deterioration, while some remained like new.

In true Russian style, a colossal public make-work project was undertaken. The ENTIRE inventory of German small arms then in Russian possession (roughly half the total wartime output of Nazi Germany's arms production) was ordered to undergo refurbishment and as many useable arms as possible to be made ready. Why? Russia was paranoid. The Cold War was freezing over and Russia feared invasion from the West. Also, it was a cheap source of arms they could export to allies in North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, and every other wanna-be commi armpit of the world without depleting their "front line" weapons stockpiles.

The Russians took all their K98k's, and totally disassembled them except for the barrel. Bores were inspected and those found to be acceptable (ie, some pitting OK - so long as it's still safely shootable, much like with their refurbed Mosins) were set aside. Those that were deemed too far gone were recycled into steel for tractor parts or Order of Lennin medals, or whatever.

The small parts were all hot-dip reblued. Rusty parts were wire brushed or sandblasted first. These were placed indiscriminately in bins. The stocks were also inspected for serviceability. Those deemed acceptable were retained, those unacceptable were burned.

When the rifles were re-assembled no effort was made to match parts. A new (used) bolt was assembled and fitted to the receiver and the whole affair was assembled into a rifle from the binned parts. When done, most parts were electropencilled with the rifle's serial number and a flat was sanded on the left side of the wood stock (think big belt sander and half-drunk worker). The rifle's serial number was stamped there running parallel to the rifle's bore line. (Yugos are stamped perpendicular, for comparison)

Once complete, the whole rifle was generally painted in cheap shellac as a preservative agent - these are often not cosmolened for some reason - crated up and sent to war reserve, especially in the frontier states like Ukraine (which stored them in underground "nuclear proof" depleted salt mines). Today, cash strapped former Soviet states are all too happy to sell these to us.

It's difficult to say what percentage of captured arms survived the rebuild programs, but I'd imagine maybe half (or less) would be a good guess. Many of these arms sat out in the open for LONG periods of time before being rebuilt, so attrition due to the elements was probably a factor.

It's also wrong to assume that RC's are, in fact, "captures". At any given moment, less than 2 million Nazi troops would have served on the Russian front. Not all would have had K98K's. Over 14 Million K98k's were built and most experts agree that somewhere around 7 million likely ended up in Russian hands after the war. Throughout the whole war, it's doubtful a full 7 million K98k's traveled to east Prussia and beyond.

When Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies, the Whermacht assembled at depots all over Europe and turned in their arms. Additionally, government arms stockpiles and factories were captured and divied up by the victorious armies. At hostilities cessation, every Mauser weapon in the future East Germany (and all points east) would have become what we think of as an "RC K98k". Public ownership of guns in the USSR was banned as well. So whether a rifle was taken from a dead private in 1944 Minsk or if the NKVD knocked on a door in Berlin in 1947 and confiscated the arm from a retired volkspolitzei prison guard, it still ended up in the stocks of RC mausers. In fact, it's safe to say the MAJORITY of such guns are likely NOT battlefield captures. ...... (Feedback by "Claven2")
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That being said, you can buy an RC for under $400 and with a few more dollars spent on a purdy stock set, you can have something that'll still make your friends drool for quite a bit less than an original... if you never plan to resell, or you just like to go out and throw a couple hundred rounds downrange on a weekend, an RC is probably the way to go...

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ANother good thing about picking up a relatively inexpensive RC, is that you might have a chance at finding a rare coded receiver, something that would draw quite a premium if it were a collectors condition original rifle...

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Does anyone know how much an original German K98 Mauser goes for? I bought one a few years back which is a 1944 DOU, with a great bore (very shiny, lots of rifling), no capture marks, the swastikas are still in place, the numbers are matching except for the stock (and stock parts). Blueing is very good, probably 95%. I bought it expecting it was a vet bring back, but it is import marked (I think) as it says "Germany" on the barrel.

Sorry for hijacking the thread.. I realize my question is very similar to LockNLoad.
 
Mauser K98 With Purlpe Extractor

Nice Mauser Skippy. I have looked at a few Mausers over the years and have noticed the extractors and the bolt release on the left side are purple. I was told these are post war refurbs. Anyone have any information on this?
 
The "purpleness" usually is as a result of different heat tempering, and then reblue. Different parts had different tempers, ie. the extractors and bolts. When reblued, with the remaining parts at 'whatever' temperature, they turned that plum colour, while the other main parts stayed at the new blue/black.
 
Thanks for the compliments boys, she shoots better than I do that's for sure.

albayo said:
Nice Mauser Skippy. I have looked at a few Mausers over the years and have noticed the extractors and the bolt release on the left side are purple. I was told these are post war refurbs. Anyone have any information on this?
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Not all plummed parts refurbs, some original German parts were also discoloured as such, especially the claw extractor...
 
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