98/40 critique
It's been some time since any discussion on this thread, but it's no less relevant today.
I recently contemplated purchasing a 98/40 that had a renumbered bolt and rear stock band. The rifle looked good overall and had a nice appearance and feel.
The grinding and renumbering of the bolt body was obvious upon examination, but was not offensive. This was actually the first 98/40 I had seen in about 50 years of looking, so I thought long and hard about acquiring it.
Almost everything in my collection is flawed in some way, and I think most collectors who aren't prepared to pay the price for museum quality are living with that. In fact, the experience of the acquisition, as in von Steuben's case, is what it's all about anyway.
The point: these guns have been and will be enhanced. How do you feel about removing the mud dauber nests? How about scrubbing the bore so you can shoot it? Removing the rust from the buttplate? Cleaning the cosmoline out of the bolt so it doesn't kill you? Does shooting some post-war ammo through it compromise the value? If you didn't get it with a cleaning rod or sight hood, is it improper to add one?
It's really not about 100 years from now. Your collection is going on the block much sooner than that, even if you donate it to a museum. Will the new owner appreciate that the DNA of the WWII warrior is still on the trigger or that it's never seen any lube except Ballistol?
The technical discussion is valuable to us all, but I'd like to share the other guy's enjoyment rather than try to shoot him down. I wish the subject pictures were still here.
Sorry I missed this discussion in its time.
It's been some time since any discussion on this thread, but it's no less relevant today.
I recently contemplated purchasing a 98/40 that had a renumbered bolt and rear stock band. The rifle looked good overall and had a nice appearance and feel.
The grinding and renumbering of the bolt body was obvious upon examination, but was not offensive. This was actually the first 98/40 I had seen in about 50 years of looking, so I thought long and hard about acquiring it.
Almost everything in my collection is flawed in some way, and I think most collectors who aren't prepared to pay the price for museum quality are living with that. In fact, the experience of the acquisition, as in von Steuben's case, is what it's all about anyway.
The point: these guns have been and will be enhanced. How do you feel about removing the mud dauber nests? How about scrubbing the bore so you can shoot it? Removing the rust from the buttplate? Cleaning the cosmoline out of the bolt so it doesn't kill you? Does shooting some post-war ammo through it compromise the value? If you didn't get it with a cleaning rod or sight hood, is it improper to add one?
It's really not about 100 years from now. Your collection is going on the block much sooner than that, even if you donate it to a museum. Will the new owner appreciate that the DNA of the WWII warrior is still on the trigger or that it's never seen any lube except Ballistol?
The technical discussion is valuable to us all, but I'd like to share the other guy's enjoyment rather than try to shoot him down. I wish the subject pictures were still here.
Sorry I missed this discussion in its time.
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