Newbie Questions - Please Help

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Bochemann

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Hello fellows, I'm really new to firearms and have a few questions I'm hoping you guys can help me out with?

I'm curious about the differences between the following:

1. Stamped & machined trigger guard.
2. Flat & cupped buttplate.

Also are the following:

1. Machined & solid middle/front band.
2. Lock screws.

As you can see I'm a real noob :redface: Please help me if you can, thanks !
 
Judging by your questions, I'd say you're looking at a Kar 98k. Nice choice. I got my first rifle just yesterday in the mail. None other than a 98k. ;)

Anything that's stamped or machined is referring to the manufacturing process. Stamped parts are stamped with a press, and don't have as nice fit and finish as machined parts. You'd typically find machined parts on early makes of German weapons, and stamped parts on late war makes.

Flat buttplates are just that. A piece of metal this is quite flat. The cupped buttplates protrude from the butt of the rifle more. It's really easy to distinguish between the two. The cupped is bigger.

Those are the bands that hold the handgaurd, stock and barrel together at the front end of the rifle.

The locking screw is a little screw to the front of the trigger gaurd that you must turn to "unlock" the trigger gaurd. You have to do this to disassemble your rifle.

If you pick up a russian capture Kar 98k such as I did, you won't have a locking screw or a cleaning rod. Though I do miss the cleaning rod, I don't really see the need for a locking screw. Just typical german overengineering, in my opinion.
 
Thank you so much for the insight Potato :) Sorry and two more quick questions for a Russian capture 98k:

1. Does it mean I should buy an unlock screw when I have the chance, or is that unnecessary?

2. Can I still put a cleaning rod in place, or I cannot ?

Thanks so much, sorry for my noob questions :redface:

Oh and one more question, Which one do you think is better, cupped or flat buttplate? Which is valued more? Thanks !
 
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It's up to you. A russian capture isn't valued highly. There is a lot of them on the market, in comparison to the all matching german kar 98k. And if their are about the same, the demand for the german matching is certainly MUCH higher.

What I am trying to say is, cupped buttplates and flat buttplates have absolutely no impact on which is valued higher or not. What matters for resale value is the code on the reciever. I've got a 660 steyr, which is apparently slightly above average for resale. But it's a russian capture. So it'll barely affect it at all.

Don't bother buying the locking screw if you get a russian capture, unless you feel it's not complete without it. That's the kind of decision you can't make until you have it in your hands. Same to be said of the cleaning rod.

And yeah, you can fire a cleaning rod in there if you want. Just make sure its the right length. The 98k's made 1942 and after (I might be wrong on the year) are shorter in length than the previous years.

The russians took the cleaning rods and locking screws and melted them down for scrap metal, in case you were wondering why.
 
Thank you so much, really appreciate your help :) Potato, in terms of quality, is the Russian capture 98k's inferior compared to the all-matching German 98k's? Or are they of the same craftsmanship? And thanks for the tip on the locking screws and the cleaning rod, I'll see if I really need them after I purchase my first Mauser 98k :)
 
Hi Bochemann,

I cannot comment upon the quality (i.e. condition) of the Russian captures, though I expect to order one in the next couple of days.......

The main reason for the Russian captures costing less is because the Russians often switched around parts in the process of rebuilding these rifles (they sometimes electro-penciled or "forced matched" the serial numbers on the newly assembled carbines), which lowers their value from an originall, all matching mauser. Similarly, they refinished the rifles which will make them look newer but less collectable than a rifle in their original finish.

Quality-wise, these Russian captures should be a good buy. While the barrels of a rebuilt rifle could have some wear, I presume that the Russians would have scrapped the poorer barrels in the re-arsenalling process. Historically, it's kind of interesting to have a surplus rifle that you know served on the Eastern front, even if no longer in its original condition. They look like a reasonably safe, affordable rifle that should make a nice start to ones collection. The rifle should also hold its value, as it's been a long time since they've been available for $100!
 
OOps, I seem to have contradicted myself :redface:

I haven't seen any of the Russian captures personally, though I would hazard to guess that one's marked Very Good should be in decent, shootable shape....
 
I took pictures of my RC mauser, and my two russian pistols last night.
My site's down right now, so I don't have any hosting. I'll be posting them in the next couple of days.

On the average, the RC mausers will be of similar "build quality" for a shooting stand point. There won't be any differences mechanically, unless you plan on doing serious target practise.

You get what you pay for. You can hold out for the all matching Mauser, but get in line buddy. lol

I wanted one as well, but realized that I could be waiting for a year or two until the one of good enough quality comes by. So I bought a RC to hold me off.

A RC will certainly not be as good in cosmetic quality as an all matching, as it wasn't patched together by Boris and his ugly little brother. My RC has a bunch of marks in the stock, and some touching up of the finish can be clearly seen near the trigger. It's very obvious to see what is the original finish, and what was pasted on in Russia. I don't care though, because a russian capture with a bunch of dings in it such as mine is just more evidence that it went through hell over there. Like they say "if only it could talk."
 
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