Sporterized byf 41 K98k - what to do

[stickhunter]

Hey all,

A while back I picked up a sporterized byf 41 K98k. I wouldn't normally be interested, but the person was local to me and I figured it would make a decent range/hunting rifle. Now that I've had it for a while, I've given it a good look over and noticed that, aside from a few missing parts, it appears to be all-matching. I began looking at what would be required to desporterize it, and I've got this list of parts to source:

- replacement non-laminated stock with inlet for cup buttplate
- cleaning rod
- bayonet lug
- front and rear barrel bands w/ spring
- 2x action screw lock screws
- front sight hood

What I'd end up with is a desporterized full-wood K98k, but aside from a couple of rifles, I'm not a milsurp collector these days, so it wouldn't really fit into my collection, and I'd likely end up moving it along for something else. Since I'm no longer a collector, it comes down to an economics question for me... is it worth the effort/expense to desporterize a K98k, or do you end up with a rifle that is just (or less than!) a sum of its parts?

I also have a philosophical question regarding desporterizing. I'm not interested in passing off a desporterized rifle as original, and to that end, I picked up an (incorrect) laminated stock set as I figured that would be a good tell to anyone, but I've been hesitating with the idea of moving the matching numbers buttplate onto the new stock --- there's something about that that is causing me pause for thought as it might be misleading. What are your thoughts?

If desporterizing is the avenue I take, are there any particular gotchas/little details that I should take into account when finding the missing parts or would I be good to with any generic K98k hardware?

Any input is welcome... and because we all like pictures, I've taken a bunch that I've put in this gallery: https://imgur.com/a/UUPKK9M

... and here are a couple for ease of viewing... I'd suggest the gallery if you want to zoom in on detail...

 

[R005t3r]

In your position, I would have the stock properly repaired by a stock builder or talented woodworker. As you are not trying to fool anyone.

The appropriate, date correct hardware is a must in my opinion. I would be happy to go into my books and provide you with that information.

 

[stickhunter]

In your position, I would have the stock properly repaired by a stock builder or talented woodworker. As you are not trying to fool anyone.

The appropriate, date correct hardware is a must in my opinion. I would be happy to go into my books and provide you with that information.

Thanks R005t3r! So you're suggesting splicing on a new fore-end to the existing stock, similar to this technique?

I would like to do that myself, but I wouldn't have the time in any foreseeable future. That's the conundrum I'm in... while I enjoy historical firearms and the concept of restoration, I'm not enamoured enough with collecting K98s to want to do it as a labour of love (and ignore costs). I'd imagine paying someone to do the work correctly would not be a recoverable expense on resale, or are you thinking it would be?

Thank you for the offer to look up the correct parts --- I admit to knowing very little about K98s, so that help would be very useful if I go ahead with getting this rifle back into its original configuration.

 

[Quiet]

I think for most buyers, a complete K98 in military configuration with a few mismatched parts will bring you a better return than a cut-down sporter, which would likely just be bought by someone else trying to de-sporterize and flip anyways.
Is there a serial number inside the barrel channel of the original stock or replacement one you got? Is there a number on the side of the replacement stock? As long as you don't deface the markings of the original or replacement parts, you aren't faking anything and most people who know a bit about the subject will see that certain parts are replacements.

K98's not only have serial numbers on virtually every part, but also Waa inspection numbers which can be looked up from various online sources where certain inspectors were known to be working at certain facilities within a given year or serial number range. Finding original K98 parts is getting more difficult by the year and most went through post-war rebuild anyways. If this isn't your rabbit hole, and you are not planning on spending the rest of your life scouring for sale adds and gun shows, waiting for the exact correct part to appear, I think its more in your interest to put it in a functional complete stock & hardware kit for sale. Offer the original cut-down stock if the buyer wants it.

 

[JasonGTA]

In your position, I would have the stock properly repaired by a stock builder or talented woodworker. As you are not trying to fool anyone.

The appropriate, date correct hardware is a must in my opinion. I would be happy to go into my books and provide you with that information.

I was thinking the same thing, have the forend remade to keep most of the stock original. Could even do a repair like a duffle cut stock

 

[stickhunter]

Is there a serial number inside the barrel channel of the original stock or replacement one you got? Is there a number on the side of the replacement stock? As long as you don't deface the markings of the original or replacement parts, you aren't faking anything and most people who know a bit about the subject will see that certain parts are replacements.

Yes, there's a matching serial number in the barrel channel of the original stock:

I was thinking the same thing, have the forend remade to keep most of the stock original. Could even do a repair like a duffle cut stock

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more the idea of swapping out the stock feels like a step backward in that it removes another matching (albeit altered) piece. I suspect that were I to swap in a non-matching full-wood stock, there'd be a good chance the original stock would eventually get separated/lost either by me or the next owner.

I would like to have the time and/or money get the stock repaired, but I never purchased this rifle with that intent, and so that's why I'm uncertain what would be the best thing to do.

 

[Potashminer]

stickhunter - there are a couple like that here - if it is any consolation, the "damage" was done when someone else, whenever, took a saw and file to it - was not you. But then you bought it. So what to do? Is some here that I have simply fired and used as received. Is some that I have dreams "one day" to develop the skills, etc. to make passable repairs. And still others have been turned (or will be) into "Franken-guns" - like FN 30-06 into a Brazil 1908 long stock; a Husqvarna sporter action received a NOS m94 barrel and is being fitted into a reproduction m94 stock, with all the unique stock hardware and the 1914 bayonet fixture, etc - I doubt that I will ever be able to find or afford a "real" one. I pretty much do not care what it will be "worth" to someone else - there will be someone who knows not much who will pay "big bucks" for a Mauser that never actually existed, previously - just got to find that one person, if you are concerned about what it will sell for. In mean time, it is yours - make yourself satisfied with it.

 

[gaff]

the time and effort to repair that stock if you have the tools and skill is bearly viable. ordering a replacement stock from one of the reputable suppliers is the way to go.
with the right stock and bands the value would double or triple.

 

[XRCD011]

Rise to the challenge, develop the skills to make repairs on it and save all the original DNA that one can for that rifle while undoing bubbas handiwork at "making it better" back in time.