K98 What do you think?

[Tomt]

k98 cleaning kit

#18 and the last one--whew!!! Would like to know the easy way to post a string of photos without always having to "post reply". Thanks for looking. Tomt

[TheReichStuff]

condition

Firstly, mismatched is mismatched...thats the whole point. Just because the bolt is all matching to itself and the rest of the gun matches itself means nothing. The condition isn't there and regardless of the SOS having moronic prices fishing for suckers, this is still a shooter, will always remain a shooter and whoever owns it will have trouble selling it at any competitive price over a russian capture. This is why it is even up here now, 400? If it is questioned and argued over now it will be questioned and argued over in some years. SOS does not dictate realistic pricing, just how desperate someone might be in order to own a particular item.

[Tomt]

K98

Well, as the old saying goes "one man's trash, another man's treasure. It's all in the eye of the beholder. Appears that the SOS is not exactly your cup of tea. Tomt

[76white02]

Tomt, this is simply where the market is going. I am young, at 20 and just starting off, I am used to paying upwards of $1200 for a matching rifle, some of the veteran collectors would NEVER pay that simply because they have been around to see prices incredibly low. Some of these veteran collectors just simply refuse to beleive the market today but they can continue to do so because their safes are stocked with matching rifles they got for $75. These collectors also have many many connections and get excellent deals.

Come on, you paid $250 for a non-import mismatch bolt. What are russian captures selling for these days? anywhere between $200-350. What are RCs? COMPLETE mismatch, shellac, imported...You did well, regardless of what some believe.

I dont have problems with bolt mismatches considering there is photo evidence of a pile of rifles and a pile of bolts and guys just took one out of each and put them together, I guess i beleive it adds to the authenticity in a way.

I would've felt comfortable paying the price you paid for that rifle, sure its not a beauty queen, but isnt that the point? It has SURELY seen action. In my opinion I would rather have a battle worn rifle than a rifle taken from the racks at the factory.

just my .02.

[TheReichStuff]

k98

I am 22 and I still hold true to, "if you look hard enough" you can find it. K98s matching...that is all matching, not just everything except the bolt, can still be found. There is no need to get desperate for one that is not matched. I have found 2 G dates all matching and at under 1300 just by attending gun shows regularly and making contacts...it can be done. There is the list price, then the price something actually sells for. The only things that sell for list price are the 98%+ firearms. The market may be going up, but there is always a good deal to be had.

[phild]

I am 22 and I still hold true to, "if you look hard enough" you can find it. K98s matching...that is all matching, not just everything except the bolt, can still be found. There is no need to get desperate for one that is not matched. I have found 2 G dates all matching and at under 1300 just by attending gun shows regularly and making contacts...it can be done. There is the list price, then the price something actually sells for. The only things that sell for list price are the 98%+ firearms. The market may be going up, but there is always a good deal to be had.

There is no doubt plenty of all matching k98k's that still exist. I would dare say tens of thousands as there were over 13 million made!

My feeling is that any original finish military item from WWII or earlier has real collector merit and hence value. Any k98k can be a "shooter" I have fired dozens of all matched ones, it's no big deal. When I started collecting 40 years ago they were ALL junk in the eyes of the true collectors of the day...that is the vintage Colt, S&W and Kentucy Rifle collectors. I was actually often heckled and laughed at by that crowd when seen buying and carrying 98k's and such regardless of their codes, condition or matching state. 20th Century foreign military firearms were simply not collector material to serious collectors 40 years ago.

Times have changed and they are still changing. Matching numbers are only ONE of many criteria to evaluate an arm by. There are "tons" of Lugers that bring 2k to 3k with mis-matched mags. If mis-matched is mis-matched then one has to wonder why so many (read that as about all!) standard military Lugers trade at over 2k with mis-matched mags? That is a high priced shooter!

I see ALL manner of firearms (old Colts, Lemats and Kentucky rifles to name a few) that sell for many many thousands of dollars with non factory parts on them and it is stated as such right up front.

I own a good number of all matched German (and other nations) firearms as well as a number with a mis-matched/replaced part or two....some of the later are my favorites.

It is the height of arrogance for anyone to declare what is and what is not worthy as a collector item, more so when the item is in original condition excepting some period oringinal replacement parts. There are plenty of bolt mis-matched 98k rifles selling (not just asking price) for over $750 and this price will rise in my opinion. I can gaurentee anyone that simply having a mis-matched bolt (or any other part) does NOT make in item a base price "shooter".

[76white02]

I am 22 and I still hold true to, "if you look hard enough" you can find it. K98s matching...that is all matching, not just everything except the bolt, can still be found. There is no need to get desperate for one that is not matched. I have found 2 G dates all matching and at under 1300 just by attending gun shows regularly and making contacts...it can be done.

I don't know where you live, but I know where I am there are A LOT of veteran collectors that scoop up any deal to be had WAY before I'd get my dirty paws on it. Locally, there are guys that list in the phone book, in the news paper, at every coffee shop, antique store etc. that they pay top dollar for WWII items. Where do you think all the widows are going? Where do you think all the guys that pull that "worthless rifle" out of the attic go? Not to me, I can tell you that much. So while they are paying rediculous prices for these items because of their connections, I am left to pay going rate. I don't have a problem with it, the way I see it in another 40 years I will be laughing at the people paying $15,000 for a matching rifle, saying "boy in my day, I could get that for $1500!"