K98 & g29/40

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DiverDriver

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Hello, looking for your help getting some answers and feedback on my two K98 Mausers. Both rifles came from the same collection and have been 'Safe-Queens' for the last 25-30 years.


The first (Top) is a 1943 BYF all the waffen marks intact, all parts present and all matching except stock band. If anyone has a stock band on your RC that might have '46' on it... I would love to work something out! Solid walnut stock. The bore is VG+
1) What is the value of a rifle like this?
2) How much does the stock band affect the value?




The second is one for the Mauser-Guru's and a little more interesting... G29/40 (Radom/Steyr), 1940 all waffen marks, all parts and all matching (again) except for the stock band. Laminate stock and bore VG.
1) How rare are these rifles? What would this one be worth?
2) The bolt handle looks like it was ground and re-numbered, (if so) the font does look old and the stamping/machining was done awhile ago judging by the patina.
3) Would this rifle have been restocked, as I thought the laminates were used later in the war?... Possibly an arsenal repair along with the bolt renumber, by chance?
Please tell me ANY information on this rifle that you could share with me.





As requested: WAAAAY more pics!... '43 BYF first. Thanks for all the information!
















More of the 660 (G.29/40) I looked for any kind of marks on the stock but just couldn't find any, other than two faded (sanded) ones around the sling cut out.












 
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I can tell you that the G29/40 has been through a post war refurb with the bolt numbered like that. I can't remember who did the numbering like that though.

Both stocks look sanded possibly.

You need to post WAAAY more pics to get an accurate assessment of them. Close and clear pics of ALL the serial numbers, bolt cutout, sling cutouts, and other details.
 
Agreed. They have been sanded.

The 29/40 bolt is not german numbering .
I also forgot who did it. Romanian /Albanian?

The refurb value will be low. Maybe not RC price but not much high on my opinion.

The other *if actually matching but sanded? $1k maybe? Minus the band? What someone will pay I guess.

The 29/40 is rare but the condition hurts it huge. Laminates were used from about 37 on.
 
I think you're right. It was either Romania or Albania that numbered the bolts like that. I'm leaning towards Albanian. Something seems to ring a bell with that.

OP, post up some more pics. I'm curious to see exactly what you have.

They are both nice rifles even with the issues they have and still very collectible.
 
Just looking at the pics again and noticed the obvious. The byf 43 has a flat buttplate and e/H marked stock on it which is not correct for a byf 43. I'm pretty sure it's a MO stock but just off something earlier. Most likely a byf 41.
 
The G29/40 has the export stamp "GERMANY" on the barrel from the 1950's. (In the pic with the 660 1940 on the receiver).
 
gaff said:
the 29/40 is a German refurb for post war commercial sale . I think these were imported by Globe co. or International.
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So that style of bolt renumbering is post war German refurb? It would make sense since it has the "Germany" stamp on the barrel.

I've seen several K98k's renumbered like that but can't remember ever seeing any definite proof of who did it. I was thinking Albanian as I'm pretty sure I've seen a K98k advertised as an Albanian rework with that style of bolt numbering.
 
I don't think the Germans did the bolt renumbering like that, it may have been done by importer or whoever?? the bolt handles on the ones I have, with the Germany stamp. are not done that way ,but mine came from Globco in the 1960's. they may have done it differently on different batches or for other importers.
 
I don't know a lot about milsurps, so this may be a dumb question, but is there any chance they were disassembled and put back in the wrong stocks? Looks to me like the laminated stock belongs to the byf 43.
 
9.3mauser said:
I don't know a lot about milsurps, so this may be a dumb question, but is there any chance they were disassembled and put back in the wrong stocks? Looks to me like the laminated stock belongs to the byf 43.
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We would have to see pics of the serials and waffenamts on the stocks to determine exactly what they are off of. It might be hard though because they have both been sanded pretty heavily. I'm pretty certain the flat buttplate walnut stock is off a Mauser Oberndorf rifle though. Just not a 43 dated one. The letters in the sling cut out, bolt cut out style, and waffenamts appear MO.

Both rifles are obviously m/m or refurbs of some sort.
 
jbmauser said:
So that style of bolt renumbering is post war German refurb? It would make sense since it has the "Germany" stamp on the barrel.

I've seen several K98k's renumbered like that but can't remember ever seeing any definite proof of who did it. I was thinking Albanian as I'm pretty sure I've seen a K98k advertised as an Albanian rework with that style of bolt numbering.
Click to expand...

Seems strange that the style of renumbering would have been post-war Romanian or Albanian (Communist countries until early '90s), and then to have the rifle marked 'GERMANY' and put on the Capitalist market during the '50s or '60s at the hieght of the Cold War...?

I added more photos of this rifle trying to show any/all markings. There is one taken from the top of the action where you can see some faint marks at the base of the handle where it meets the bolt body. Is this where the original marks should have been?

Just want to say thanks to all of you for your help and knowledge!... And, Happy New Year! Cheers
 
That byf43 is totally wrong and re numbered. Bolt is bad, band, stock not correct and definitely sanded.

The 660 is ok looking except the bolt. And stock wouldn't be cupped butt.

Are there Any external marks on the stock on the 660??
.
 
CanadianAR said:
Agreed. They have been sanded.

The 29/40 bolt is not german numbering .
I also forgot who did it. Romanian /Albanian?

The refurb value will be low. Maybe not RC price but not much high on my opinion.

The other *if actually matching but sanded? $1k maybe? Minus the band? What someone will pay I guess.

The 29/40 is rare but the condition hurts it huge. Laminates were used from about 37 on.
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It's good to know that I didn't over pay for them (a bit more than an RC for each). But to think how an RC completely unmatched, shellacked and usually rough condition could command a price that almost matches a rifle that is not perfect but much closer to original, somewhat uncommon and better looking IMHO.

People tell me the RCs where priced so high because of their history (the 'X'), but essentially ALL K98's are 'captures' the only difference in pedigree being whether they where taken by the East or the West at the end of the war. Taken at the Front or after surrender... Who knows?
 
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Upper band looks renumbered on the G29/40 as well.

The byf 43, as CanadianAR pointed out, is pretty poorly humped. The bolt numbers (safety, bolt, cocking piece) are pretty poorly done as is the upper band. Lots of issues with this one.

As to the bolt numbering on the G29/40, it could have been done by the importer as gaff suggested. That's a possibility as well.
 
DiverDriver said:
Seems strange that the style of renumbering would have been post-war Romanian or Albanian (Communist countries until early '90s), and then to have the rifle marked 'GERMANY' and put on the Capitalist market during the '50s or '60s at the hieght of the Cold War...?
Click to expand...

The "GERMANY" is an export mark, so we know it left Germany and probably on it's way to North America. The VOPO (VOPO-East German Police, reworks/refurbs) K98's and VOPO G/K43's were also being sold in the 1950's and on as mail order purchases in the gun magazines.
 
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