This month there's a gun show coming up in my area and I'm planning on purchasing a K98k. I'm far from a firearms expert, though, so I'd love to hear any tips on what to look for/look out for before I go. I'll have around $700 to play with, so cost shouldn't be a concern. I'd like to get something that's never been refurbished or reissued. Unmodified, basically. Once I get one I'd also like to be able to fire it on occasion, though it wouldn't be used for hunting or anything like that.
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K98's
You need to be very carefull when purchasing a K98, all matching examples command top dollar, and there is a lot of fakery occuring. Numbers are ground down and then restamped, etc. to make the weapon all matching. It takes time and research to figure out what's what. The books on the K98 by Richard Law are a good starting point, but there are some errors in the books. There is also a website dedicated to the K98 and G/K43 rifles....
http://gk43forum.com/forum/index.php
On this forum you can find a gentleman that goes by the name "BobinOhio"...he has an extensive collection of German K98's and has taken literally hundreds of high resolution detailed photos of his rifles to show what "real" examples should look like, it's a great reference tool, his CD is 20$. Those are some suggestions for starters. You might want to get a Russian Capture K98 for your first K98, these are mismatched examples that were refurbed by the Russians after the war, it would be a great starter rifle to begin with before purchasing a more expensive rifle. Chris..... -
$700 for an all matching, non import K98 is wishful thinking in this day and age. Expect to spend $800 at the minimum. Last gun show I went to, they were selling for over $900. 12 years ago they were selling for $150! Wish I was old enough to buy em up back then.
For $700, go buy yourself a nice unpinged Russian capture for $250 and refinish the stock and metal, if need be. If you need help refinishing the stock, just PM me. I finished a RC K98 about 6 months ago that looks pretty darn good. May not be matching, but it's a looker and shoots just the same.Comment
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I agree with the estimates provided above. I would add that there are still some very nice condition and somtimes even early (pre-war) bolt only mis-matches to be had for 700 and less. You will get differing opinions on the "collector" status of a bolt mismatch but I'll let the fact that some bolt mismatch 98ks are now bringing $1000+ speak to their potential collector desireability.Originally posted by Horrido! View Post
I would take a nice original condition bolt mismatched any day over a re-blued matched 98k or one with a badly sanded stock even.Comment
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Tough to find matched and original wood for less than 1K. I agree a nice bolt mm rifle is a great place to start.
My CD is indeed available... here are some random examples of the quality... each pic below is from a diff rifle. About 1500 pics plus complete data sheets...
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Varg
Everyone has given good advice but dont rule out what they call blind luck. A few years ago I took a buddy of mine to a gun show with all the intentions of buying a russian capture for a couple hundred dollars because at that time I did not know anything about K98s. Well by the end of the show I had an all matching k98 for 500.00. Now keep in mind that was about three years ago and it sure wasnt as clean as the one in Bobs photos but it wasnt a piece of junk either. I see guys getting really good deals now and again but like everyone has stated its not the normal to get a all matching great shape k98 for less than a 1000.00. Good luck and take your time something will pop up.
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Yeah, research is paramount. I studied a little before I bought my first K98k and still got burned. I spent $500 or so on a $200-$300 gun. That experience really showed me how much I still had yet to learn. I'm a little bit wiser since that day, but I'll think long and hard before I decide to buy another one, unless it's from a source I know and trust. Someday, I'll hopefully work up the courage to buy a nice original, matching one for something resembling a decent price.Comment
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