Gew98, What to do?

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WereWeasel

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Albert County, N.B
As of late I've been given an Amberg 1917 Gew98 and I've been wondering what to do with it. It stayed in a basement for 15-20 years, it shows minor surface rust but bluing still present and the bore is pretty dirty. It didn't #### but a youtube video and 20mins of tinkering has it now at #### and click.

My first thought was "sweet custom platform" but then when I pulled the stock off and started to look it over I realised everything matched... If it could fit the last 2 digits on the part it got stamped. Now research on here and google has brought me to this:

The Good:
Has "rollercoaster" rear sight
Everything It has matches
Has all screws including those wee locking ones

The Bad:
Rust
Missing at least 3 parts of the stock
I have no experience with milsurps

The Ugly:
The stock... it definitely went through the war

The Questions:
What would deface the rifle as far as a restore?
What did it look like when issued and where can one source parts? Like the missing stocks pieces (ebay was of little help)
Is it actually worth it or would it be just another $500 refurb when its all said and done?
 
Marstar has Gew98 stock last time I checked. You can replace the one you have or repair it with pieces of the new one.

As for the rust - hopefully nothing a little 0000 steel wool cant handle.
 
It's worth a lot more as-is or restored than modded - either fix it carefully or sell to a refurbisher who can do a nice job restoring it - sounds like the metal's all there which is 90% of the battle with old milsurps.

If you really want a custom gun sell that one and buy an action you like - you'll make money that way rather than losing it.
 
Pics would help with some more detailed advice, in terms of how bad the rust is and how to treat it, how to source the wood that is missing or repair it.
 
We need pics to do an accurate assessment but from what you are describing, I would not chop it up for a custom project. It would kill a historical piece and degrade it's value significantly. The stock might be repairable using a donor stock by someone good with wood and that is as far as I would go with "restoring" it. Any rebluing, polishing, etc will only hurt the value. Matching Gew98's aren't worth huge money but they are pretty hard to find and usually get a decent amount when sold.
 
Pics at some point will be available, I just need to take some and read the tutorial... As far as my poor choice in words "custom platform" at initial inspection I assumed the gun might be a write off; my thought process was any Mauser action is a good action to build on and its free.

I am looking for some for some direction to point me towards a finished product, does anyone have a photo or parts list of a 1917 Mauser so I know what's missing? I'm fairly confident it was a four piece stock; I have two: main butt stock and a piece directly in front of the rear sight, no bands (I assume that's how it's held in place). Bayonet lug?
I can steelwool the steel to remove the rust, but can I buy one of those CT RC K98 (or any 98 rifle/stock) for donor stock parts? If so that will be the one I build a stock and fit a barrel for.

I really would prefer to revive her but as I said more so I don't want to deface it refinishing and bluing are out of the question from what you guys are telling me, which is more than fine with me the donor parts can be stained to match.
 
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pic's would be nice the rust can be taken care of with some 0000 steel wool and as for the stock id get the missing bits and restore this gun leave its battle scars though you want to make a custom hunting rifle there's plenty of sporting masuer actions around
 
It will not be matching restored, as barrel bands on Gew 98 IIRC are numbered as well. However it's better to restore it and have mismatched rather than bubba it further.
 
Interested to see pics of this rifle. Matching restored or not, DO NOT do anything but try to return to original configuration or it will be nearly worthless in comparison. Better off to sell and buy something else if you need it to fulfill a different need.
 
Please don't use steel wool on the metal. There is potential there to remove any remaining finish or make it look over cleaned. Bronze wool or brass wool is the way to go. A penny or part of a brass shell casing can be used to gently scrape of some of the thicker rust if needed. Less is usually more when cleaning a historical firearm like this. Rust is rust but if aggressively cleaned the end result can be devaluing it further.
 
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