Minty K98

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albertacowboy

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This is a quest for information from all of you Mauser lovers out there. Years ago I had a mint K98, which of course I had to sell in a fit of stupidity. Now, I'm starting the search for a replacement, to go with my Lee-Enfields and Garand. I want to find a nice early-WWII 8X57 K98, say of 1943 production or earlier, from one of the better German or Austrian factories. (My old one was a 1940 Steyr). The new candidate for purchase will have a good bore and finish, with milled furniture and Waffenamt stamps intact. A walnut stock would be great, but laminated is more likely. I know the search will be long and expensive, but I would appreciate opinions on cost and rarity fron you lads. I want a real German K98, not a Brno or Yugo example. In this case, the search will be a lot of fun.

Many thanks!
 
Hello albertacowboy ..... :)

Be careful ........ very careful........... ;)

This particular genre are so loaded with fakes and repros, you need a very sharp eye to ensure you aren't getting taken. I always run any purchase of a wartime or earlier k98k through a number of members on here, as well as send lots of pics and details off to a few recognized expert collectors in the U.S. If I'm buying post war rebuilds and captures, I don't bother as they've been altered anyway during the refurbish process.

Your looking for an early piece, so here's a link to one of my "righteous" K98k's that's perfect and all correct.

1939 147 JP Sauer K98k - 1939 JP SAUER und SOHN GEWEHRFABRIK, SUHL

(Click PIC to Enlarge)


1939 147 JP Sauer K98k (lots more more pics ... click here)

Notice the detailed match of the components and particularly the fonts used. This was an early 1939 rifle, so there was a lot of attention spent on details and parts marking. The later years, ie: byf 1944 were less marked, but there's a great Collector Grade Publications book, called "Backbone of the Wehrmacht (The German K98k Rifle, 1934 - 1945) by Richard D Law", which shows what should be marked and with what WaA numbers on all individual components for each manufacturer and by individual year.

It was interesting with this particular rifle, as I had another member here who had bought a 1939 147 JP Sauer K98k, but it was a post war East German rebuild. I gave him the link above to my all original 147 JP Sauer and he compared the markings. He found a lot of parts had been changed, substituted or buffed during the rebuild process.

If you find something you want to buy and if you provide pics, I'm sure a lot of folks here would be happy to help you out with feedback.

Hope this helps..... :)

Regards,
Badger
 
As for rarity, generally speaking I understand that pre 1939 models are some of the most difficult to find, as well as dual-coded rifles and certain other manufacturers. They are out there, but difficult today even to find straight legit bolt mismatches.
Here is my all matching dual code near mint bcd/ar 42 rifle. Good luck, keep up the search!
Joe
m98%20003.jpg

m98%20008.jpg
 
You mentioned that you are looking for a German K98. Are you looking for an original matching serial K98 or just a nice representative piece? The Yugo or East German refurbs are German made K98's and have all of the qualities you mentioned above but are more plentiful and cheaper than an original matching example.
Finding an original matching K98 nowdays is a lot harder. Most are in collections now I would think so it is a matter of right place at the right time.
 
Joe, That POS is not worthy of your collection. I think you should sell it to me8)

SW

joe n said:
As for rarity, generally speaking I understand that pre 1939 models are some of the most difficult to find, as well as dual-coded rifles and certain other manufacturers. They are out there, but difficult today even to find straight legit bolt mismatches.
Here is my all matching dual code near mint bcd/ar 42 rifle. Good luck, keep up the search!
Joe
m98%20003.jpg

m98%20008.jpg
Click to expand...
 
All original unmonkeyed with huh matching VG+ early war K98k? If the seller knows what he has, expect 3 zeros after the first price digit before you hit a period.
 
Claven2 said:
All original unmonkeyed with huh matching VG+ early war K98k? If the seller knows what he has, expect 3 zeros after the first price digit before you hit a period.
Click to expand...

+1 .......... :)

Right on.......

.......... and the unmonkeyed part means not even light wood sanding. The availability of all matching and all correct 1934-45 German manufactured collectible K98k's in Canada is virtually non-existent. They are still out there, but you have to be in the right place at the right time and be ready to count cash. I think you're generally wasting your time at gun shows looking for these classic pieces, as the dealers know what they have and already have a "call list" of premium collectors, who will take them before they get to the shows.

I was very lucky to find the 1939 JP Sauer shown in the links above. I had a friend who's almost 80 show up at our local range with that JP Sauer, which had been in his family for at least 40 years that he remembers. He thought it first showed up back in the late 50's or early 60's. His kids didn't want it, so he said he was going to take it to a gun show and sell it to a dealer. He asked me if I could give him some idea as to its value. I looked it up in my copy of "Backbone of the Wehrmacht (The German K98k Rifle, 1934 - 1945) by Richard D Law" and found it on page 144. I thoroughly checked all of the markings to see how they matched up against Law's research tables, then sent dozens of detailed pics off to several U.S. expert collectors I've come to know. They all hollered "righteous", so I said I'd buy it from him at a fair market price. Ironically, I had something he wanted as well, so he asked if I would trade, which I did.

More often, you need to scour U.S. auction sights and stay tuned into the U.S. K98k boards. You will come across pieces that are exactly what you're looking for, but be prepared to mortgage your first born to the tune of $1500+ U.S. for the rarer material.

Just my opinion, but from personal experience, I know that claven2 is right on when he talks about adding zeros. ;)

Regards,
Badger
 
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Claven2 said:
All original unmonkeyed with huh matching VG+ early war K98k? If the seller knows what he has, expect 3 zeros after the first price digit before you hit a period.
Click to expand...

+2!!!!!!

I agree with Claven2. It's really hard to find an original piece like that today without spending an arm and a leg.
There is nothing wrong with Yugo's and Czech's, though. Besides some German ones I have a Yugo myself and enjoy shooting it and it looks genuine except for the absence of some of the markings, too.
 
Thanks for all the replies, gents. Given my budget, I think that I'l have to settle for one of the Yugo refurbs, like the ones at P&S Militaria priced at $495 plus shipping. These look very good, except no Waffenamts, but they would be a nice example. What is P&S like to deal with, re an item in "VG" condition. Does this mean no rust, good bluing, or some of each? Would these rifles have been headspaced, and what are the ramifications of shipping from Eastern Canada to Alberta? I have only ever bought locally.

Danke schoen!
 
albertacowboy said:
Thanks for all the replies, gents. Given my budget, I think that I'l have to settle for one of the Yugo refurbs, like the ones at P&S Militaria priced at $495 plus shipping. These look very good, except no Waffenamts, but they would be a nice example. What is P&S like to deal with, re an item in "VG" condition. Does this mean no rust, good bluing, or some of each? Would these rifles have been headspaced, and what are the ramifications of shipping from Eastern Canada to Alberta? I have only ever bought locally.

Danke schoen!
Click to expand...

I've bought several guns from Jean, no problems and condition is as described. Take a look on his website for description of condition grading. Headspace would have been checked at the Yugo arsenal when they reebuilt these rifles, not something a dealer would do. Headspace isn't an issue with these rifles anyway.
Shipping shouldn't be anymore then $30-$35 from QC to AB.
 
albertacowboy said:
Thanks for all the replies, gents. Given my budget, I think that I'l have to settle for one of the Yugo refurbs, like the ones at P&S Militaria priced at $495 plus shipping. These look very good, except no Waffenamts, but they would be a nice example. What is P&S like to deal with, re an item in "VG" condition. Does this mean no rust, good bluing, or some of each? Would these rifles have been headspaced, and what are the ramifications of shipping from Eastern Canada to Alberta? I have only ever bought locally.

Danke schoen!
Click to expand...
Hey man, I wouldn't even say it as to "settle for one" of the refurbs...all my milsurps are mismatched/arsenal refinished/beat the hell up...
It's all about what is reasonable, not what's perfect.
I'm happy with what I've got cause I don't feel guilty about shooting them.
P&S is a great place to shop from my experience !!
 
Yugo refurbs are among the best K98's mass available right now IMO. Some have the waffens and some even have the manufacturer codes on the reciever (my Yugo refurbed Dot44 does).

If you want a shooter, they will be your best bet for an accurate rifle as the Yugo's replaced parts that were worn out (barrels). I love mine, very accurate rifle with a great bore.
 
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