My K98 - RC - Before and After Clean Up

K

knotking

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I have been itching for a K98 for some time now and finally took the plunge and got one a few months back.

When I first took a look at it, it kind of felt like a blind date gone bad and I felt like I had wasted my money. I paid just under $700, and although Im sure there are cheaper, I wanted to get one pretty bad. So, needlesstosay, I was a bit disappointed.

I had read and viewed videos online of guys cleaning them up and doing a pretty decent job at it. I decided to give it a try. I was worried I would hurt the historical significance because it was a RC but then I thought, what the heck, its already been shalacked to death as a RC, not much worse I could do to it. Once I finally got it taken apart, every number was different, on every part. Yay. Since I really would like to just have a K98 as a conversation piece and to take to the range occasionally, I wasn't too bothered.

Long story short - here are the results. Hope it meets the expectations as a fair attempt.

k98-28_zps0ec15ed9.jpg


k98-43_zps8f961e7b.jpg
 
I was a bit worried at the colouring. A lot of stocks seemed quite a bit brighter, almost yellow. I didn't want to work on it too much and remove many of the waffentamps which I was surprised were still there.
 
Thank you and much appreciated on the feedback.

I honestly haven't had a chance to take it for a run at the range. I got it from Island Outfitters here in Victoria BC. I know what some of the guys say, that they are a little pricey, but I'm pretty close to the area so it the economics of travel and hassle vs local. I've seen lots at various online sites in the US but not sure how or if the transfer is possible using that route.

I'm still on the hunt for a numbers matching K98 and I'm pretty sure Im willing to pay what it's worth. Hard part is finding one in Canada.

I will get a picture of the bore if I can figure out how to get a decent picture with the camera I have. I will work on that today. It seemed ok to me, no pitting.

I saw a stock for sale once and it seemed a lot lighter, maybe yellow was simplistic.

You be the judge, found a picture of it

88eaf73843ecf3ec6319d8b88878e4b3_zps7c52f3a4.jpg
 
Looks great. Doing anything to the bolt? The ones I've seen looked like they were painted black, and badly at that...
 
Nice rifle! Lots of history there. Just let your imagination run a bit, and go back to 1943/44 when the Russians were chasing the German Army out of the occupied territories. Ivan picks up a Mauser from a fallen soldier, or they capture a stash of replacement rifles in a bunker. Yours could very well be one of them.
 
It is true. I was worried about wrecking a historical piece Kjohn. The bolt and all the rest are black. I can't tell if that's the bluing but probably isn't the original bluing. The Russians electro penciled the bolt code 1115 on top of the bolt and safety as the barrel is that code. I was surprised the waffentamps were there. Once the shalack came off I was careful to avoid taking much off that area. Some other numbers came up on the rear stock so maybe the original. No numbers match any other part.

Antedote1985, yes. Love the colouring and that red glue sure works well.

It is neat to think, yes it's RC, but possible that many weapons got wrecked through battle or picked up out of the mud and cobbled together.

I tried to get a pic of the bore but couldn't get my camera to get a decent shot. I used a penlight and rechecked it. Looks good, no pitting. As soon as I get some rounds for it I'm going to stretch its legs a bit at the range.
 
Nice. I like to restore all my military surplus rifles. That is without removing any markings. Around here, people pucker up when they see a surplus that has been refinished. They want them exactly as they were delivered, less the cosmoline.
 
"Refinishing" can mean different things to different people. I don't "refinish" or "restore" any of my milsurp rifles. On the bottom end of the scale, I have seen some poor rifles that have had an ugly coat of spar varnish over top of liberal sidegrinder marks. :rolleyes: Turned a $300 milsurp into a $100 horror. I realize that if you own the rifle, you can do as you please with it. Don't need that lecture, thank you.

Can't make everybody happy, can we? A nicely done restoration on an otherwise scruffy milsurp is often a good thing. Over the years, I have stumbled on some rather rare birds, and could never forgive myself had I buggered them up. However, I will carry on minding my own business! :p
 
kjohn said:
"Refinishing" can mean different things to different people. I don't "refinish" or "restore" any of my milsurp rifles. On the bottom end of the scale, I have seen some poor rifles that have had an ugly coat of spar varnish over top of liberal sidegrinder marks. :rolleyes: Turned a $300 milsurp into a $100 horror. I realize that if you own the rifle, you can do as you please with it. Don't need that lecture, thank you.

Can't make everybody happy, can we? A nicely done restoration on an otherwise scruffy milsurp is often a good thing. Over the years, I have stumbled on some rather rare birds, and could never forgive myself had I buggered them up. However, I will carry on minding my own business! :p
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Like I said, I like to restore the finish but leave all markings. I will steam out major dents and the such. I clean up the metal, but usually do not reblue. Some people around here think a surplus needs to stay in the state it was bought, with the cosm pulled out, and that is it. I am not one of those.
 
Booger said:
Like I said, I like to restore the finish but leave all markings. I will steam out major dents and the such. I clean up the metal, but usually do not reblue. Some people around here think a surplus needs to stay in the state it was bought, with the cosm pulled out, and that is it. I am not one of those.
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lol Aye, good job on the RC restore.

You guys should see what i did to my 91/30.

I chopped the stock and handguard back, reshaped them to fit the original caps, cut the barrel back to 21" recrowned, JB weld bedded the stock/receiver, trigger job with a shim, file and clothespin spring and stripped and BLO'ed the stock.

Essentially turned it into a custom M38 for the 91/30 tag of $160 :D

She shoots like a demon though and I enjoy it way more the way it is :rockOn:

There's tastefull modifications of milsurps and then there are hack jobs in my opinion, yours is not a hack job Sir.
 
Travis Bickle said:
lol Aye, good job on the RC restore.

You guys should see what i did to my 91/30.

I chopped the stock and handguard back, reshaped them to fit the original caps, cut the barrel back to 21" recrowned, JB weld bedded the stock/receiver, trigger job with a shim, file and clothespin spring and stripped and BLO'ed the stock.

Essentially turned it into a custom M38 for the 91/30 tag of $160 :D

She shoots like a demon though and I enjoy it way more the way it is :rockOn:

There's tastefull modifications of milsurps and then there are hack jobs in my opinion, yours is not a hack job Sir.
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I sporterized a 91/30 a few years ago like that. It was a tack driver. Took lots of deer with it. Gave it to a kid, who had no hunting rifle, several years back. It is still taking deer.
 
Reducing the price of a RC by taking off that 'magic' varnish was something I wrestled with quite a bit before I went ahead. Believe me that was no easy choice.

A good rifle is there to use IMHO. I would prefer a numbers matching K98 for a collection but this is what I could find to start it off. I figured since it was already altered from its original manufacturers intent I wasn't going that much further.

For Booger and Travis: hats off sir. Gutsy to guys that modify their weapons. Takes skill and patience.

Something as beautiful as the K98 is meant to be enjoyed beyond its original purpose.

To each their own I suppose. I'm happy it turned out and respect the opinions stated here. Did I mention I would sell my first born for a numbers matching one?
:)
 
Coyote Ugly said:
It looks pretty-er but you devalue a RC K98 when the shellac gets stripped off. Live and learn.
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RC's have value? lol

Good job OP, I prefer the restored. IMO Ivan slapping a bunch of mixed parts together and dipping the rifle in shellac does not equal history.
 
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