Quick lesson on sniper/milsup collecting in regards to value/desirability and yes some individual collectors may have a different view points on desirability.
1. All matching un-issued rifle - eg. K98 bring back from the factory
2. All matching issued rifle - eg. K98 bring back form the field
3. All matching refurb rifle (with scope if a sniper) - eg. Korean rebuilt M1D sniper from the CMP
4. All matching forced matched rifle (with scope if a sniper) -eg. These 91/30 snipers
5. Sniper clone - Repro 91/30 snipers sold previously
The rifles we are talking about are #4 if advertised honestly.
Now it is possible for an individual to build a sniper from original parts. For example there are some original T* Enfield snipers that no longer have their scope/mount. But if someone finds the orignal parts, they can complete that sniper. It is still a sniper, just not an all matching sniper. The same parts make up the rifle, it is non-matching, but nevertheless it is still a sniper. CMP M1D snipers for example are government refurbed rifles, made with original parts in the sniper configuration. However the individual parts were also sold as surplus and these parts are often used to build M1D snipers. Yes these builds are still snipers, just not all matching snipers. This is why only CMP certified M1D's are considered 100% matching M1D snipers and command premium pricing as a result..
These rifles appear to be WWII produced sniper rifles that have been refurb'd and forced matched to original mounts/scopes. They are still snipers - but forced matched/refurb'd snipers. They are simply a variation of the original.
For example, Norwegian K98's and RC K98's. These rifles are no longer all matching original K98 rifles as issued by the Wehrmacht. However, they are collector variations in their own right, with their own unique history. These K98's discussed above were refurb'd and forced matched, but they are still K98's. These rifles still have collector value, but not as much as an all matching as issued rifle.
If you can find an all matching original 91/30 Sniper, buy it. If you only collect non-refurb'd/original as issued rifles don't buy these current 91/30 snipers. However, if you do want a refurb'd sniper which is forced matched and made with original WWII components, please order a rifle before these sell out. They will sell out! They will increase in value!
I remember purists hacking on RC K98's and in only four years they have increased in value between $100-200 and yes they are still not as valuable as an all matching as issued rifle.
Now there is the possibility that the scopes are fakes and the rifles are converted standard rifles -aka sniper clone. If this is the case, the forger has paid an extensive amount of detail to creating a forced matched/refurb'd sniper (including scope refurbishement markings) and I doubt that someone would go to that amount of trouble. If they were going to fake these rifles, why not fake them as 100% as issued snipers?
Worst case scenario is we are buying these rifles at the same price as 91/30 sniper clones. Yes, West rifle sells a sniper clone for only $599, so I guess I might be paying an extra $50 for those fake refurb markings???? I don't want to hack on West rifle as he sells a good product and has good service.
1. All matching un-issued rifle - eg. K98 bring back from the factory
2. All matching issued rifle - eg. K98 bring back form the field
3. All matching refurb rifle (with scope if a sniper) - eg. Korean rebuilt M1D sniper from the CMP
4. All matching forced matched rifle (with scope if a sniper) -eg. These 91/30 snipers
5. Sniper clone - Repro 91/30 snipers sold previously
The rifles we are talking about are #4 if advertised honestly.
Now it is possible for an individual to build a sniper from original parts. For example there are some original T* Enfield snipers that no longer have their scope/mount. But if someone finds the orignal parts, they can complete that sniper. It is still a sniper, just not an all matching sniper. The same parts make up the rifle, it is non-matching, but nevertheless it is still a sniper. CMP M1D snipers for example are government refurbed rifles, made with original parts in the sniper configuration. However the individual parts were also sold as surplus and these parts are often used to build M1D snipers. Yes these builds are still snipers, just not all matching snipers. This is why only CMP certified M1D's are considered 100% matching M1D snipers and command premium pricing as a result..
These rifles appear to be WWII produced sniper rifles that have been refurb'd and forced matched to original mounts/scopes. They are still snipers - but forced matched/refurb'd snipers. They are simply a variation of the original.
For example, Norwegian K98's and RC K98's. These rifles are no longer all matching original K98 rifles as issued by the Wehrmacht. However, they are collector variations in their own right, with their own unique history. These K98's discussed above were refurb'd and forced matched, but they are still K98's. These rifles still have collector value, but not as much as an all matching as issued rifle.
If you can find an all matching original 91/30 Sniper, buy it. If you only collect non-refurb'd/original as issued rifles don't buy these current 91/30 snipers. However, if you do want a refurb'd sniper which is forced matched and made with original WWII components, please order a rifle before these sell out. They will sell out! They will increase in value!
I remember purists hacking on RC K98's and in only four years they have increased in value between $100-200 and yes they are still not as valuable as an all matching as issued rifle.
Now there is the possibility that the scopes are fakes and the rifles are converted standard rifles -aka sniper clone. If this is the case, the forger has paid an extensive amount of detail to creating a forced matched/refurb'd sniper (including scope refurbishement markings) and I doubt that someone would go to that amount of trouble. If they were going to fake these rifles, why not fake them as 100% as issued snipers?
Worst case scenario is we are buying these rifles at the same price as 91/30 sniper clones. Yes, West rifle sells a sniper clone for only $599, so I guess I might be paying an extra $50 for those fake refurb markings???? I don't want to hack on West rifle as he sells a good product and has good service.
