I just came back from the SOS in Louisville.There were a number of bnz single S rune rifles for sale,even a bcd 4 with a single S rune on the receiver,which can not be correct.This leads me to suspect that someone has discovered a cheap way to increase the value of otherwise average imports.Every legitimate single S rune bnz I have seen that was a real SS rifle had no final acceptance stamp and no letter suffix after the serial number.I strongly believe that there is a scam going on with regard to these guns and urge you to exercise caution.
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David,
Unfortunately you are correct. There have been faked single rune K98s around for several years. In fact, I would say that this probably the most highly faked rifle out there,(besides snipers) and it's probably just going to get worse!
Supposidly these were re-worked in concentration camps under SS supervision.
Therefore, it is very difficult tell if the rifle was re-worked during the war, or post war! Also the only markings that distiguish this rifle is the "singel rune" on the reciever.
These rifles have been found with "bnz43" "bnz44" "byf43" and "bcd43". Also, nothing noted on these rifles (original examples), shows any signs of patterns? Some have just the single rune on the reciever, while other have it on the floor plate, and/or buttplate, and some even have it on the stock as well? Also you mentioned serial numbers. There is no pattern in serial numbers, since these were reworks.
It is a very difficult subject, and one that is full on controversy.
I personnally don't believe that anyone knows the exact truth about these "single rune" rifles, 100%. That just helps the fakers out here!
It is my opinion (and that's just my opinion, that's all!), that a single rune K98 is not worth any more than any other k98.
For some reason, people have associated these rifles as "SS" rifles, or something rare, and tried to increase the value of these. This also helps the fakers out as well. (increased demand!)
I wouldn't buy a single rune K98 right now, unless I knew exactly that it is 100% correct, and I wouldn't pay the prices that they are asking right now.
Matt
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Matt,what is unreal is that on an a table at the show set an all matching, non-import marked bcd 4 gun for less money than the Russian garbage being offered and it did not sell.Why anyone would take a reworked junker, with questionable markings, over a rifle like that I just do not understandComment
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I dont really know what to say. Although it sounds interesting.
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David,
MMMMM? That sounds interesting? I guess that I would have to see that to believe it. I'm not saying that you are mistaken, but that hard to believe that there would be an all matching non-import K98 that was cheaper than a Russian import (and possibly a fake as well!). Perhaps there was much more going on here than I though?! Did you get the dealers name? card? or anything? I'd really like to find out who this was, and what he really had! (Damn I knew I should have went to the Louisville show!moremad
Matt
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I've seen these Russian reworks with the S rune going for 700-800.00 dollars, way to much for mismatched rifle.
WarrenComment
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Matt,people are paying more for a maybe single S marked Russian import than for a correct ,matched,non-import ,thats a fact ,in all my years of collecting I've never seen anything to beat this.The sad thing is all you are buying is a receiver with a stamp on it ,nothing else on the totally mis-matched ,re-blued ,import marked weapon can justify a 2nd. look.Even with the S on the receiver the guns are at best $300.00 weapons,hardly suitable for consideration by a serious collector of German service rifles except as a filler until a good one pops up.The matched bcd 4 was available for $700.00 and the dealer would have taken $650.00 in a heartbeat.Comment
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David,
Yes that is sad to see. I can't see paying that for any mismatched rifle (except a sniper!).
So the dealer would have sold an all matching non-import "bcd4" K98 for $650!!!!!
I would have gotten that in a heartbeat!
Damn! I knew I should have gone to Louiville!moremad
MattComment
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You should have... I picked up a matching 43 DOT for 650.00 and a matching CE 43 for 175.00. Stock cut. Also buddy picked up a 41 AR for 600.00. There were deals there. BUT also a LOT of fakes. I walked by a table as a guy was showing a 98 to a possible buyer. It was a late war gun. The guy asked about the barrel bands. The dealer replied they were never numbered. The buyer replied you can see where it used to be numbered. The Dealer sputtered for a couple of seconds and muttered about used to be and took the gun back....
Buyer beware
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Tank,
The show was good as you point out and there were some good buys among the usual crap.I was just amazed at the guys ignoring good guns and shelling out cash on the imports.WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?Comment
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