What Would you pay for K98k.....

[DANGALENA]

....that is a 1944 dot, non-matching numbers, non-RC, no import marks, with a very decent laminated stock (no dings, dents) ? ? ?

Just curious because I'm going hunting at some up-and- coming gun shows in the area the next couple weeks.

The Russian Captures are okay I guess but, for what you get they're quite expensive.

Dan G
Erie, PA

[PaulR]

What is the bore like? Are the |German acceptance codes still there or were they removed?

Paul

[DANGALENA]

Oops.....forgot......the bore is excellent, and Waffenamts are present. Hell, it's a nice Mauser.

Dan G.

[PaulR]

With all being said, I would say about 250.00 give or take. K98s have been getting ridiculously more expensive the past few years.

DOT- a czek. manufactorer if I am not mistaken

Thanks
Paul

[Matt Weber]

I'm glad you brought this up. Lately I've been seeing some very ridiculous prices, and purchases on K98s!

As many of you probably know I just posted two K98s up for sale. One is all matching, non-import in about 85% condition. The other one has all matching metal parts, non-import, Kreigsmodell, with sporterized stock.

I priced these rifles very reasonably for what they are. However, I saw another guy list about 4 K98s the day after I listed mine.
One was a "ce41" with mismatched bolt. That one sold for a very high amount!
One was a "337/40" that was all matching, but had a sanded stock, and has been re-blued. That one sold for even higher price!
Third one was a "S/243/36" rifle, that was a totall mismatch! That one sold high as well
The last one was a "ce40" with Luftwaffe proof barrel. It has a MM(renumbered) bolt, damaged(repaired) stock. That one sold for a rediculous price.

Now, I don't seem to understand peoples' reasoning? Sure my one K98 that I listed is a bit more $, but it is all matching, original finish! None of these other ones are! The second K98 I listed has a MM stock, but everything else matches!, and it is priced much lower than these! (about $300 lower!), and is a much rarer, kreigsmodell K98!
Can someone explain this to me? Why would anyone spend that much on a mismatched k98? or even more, on a reblued, and sanded K98?
The rule of thumb that I have always used is, that a mismatched k98 is worth about half of what a matching one is. So, does that mean my matching k98 is worth even more? I would like to think so, but I'm afraid not!

Matt

PS- Dan, I may have a "dot44" that is non-import, but has a MM stock (rest is all matched!), with excellent bore for sale soon!

[Johnnie]

Just some personal thoughts here on ridiculous prices. I have been collecting military rifles for over 30 years, and I too am amazed at some of the ridiculous prices people will pay, not only for 98K's, but for any German wartime militaria in general. I think it is honestly a generation issue. What I mean, is that on boards like this, at weapons and collector shows, ect. I am finding a new generation of younger collectors who are enthusiastic, but who seem to feel that the Second World war era is on the same time line as the Crusades or something. They seem eager to get something because it might be their "last possible chance". This allows the unscruplous to way over value common items.
Granted, quality items do become more rare as they are found by serious collectors, but the reality is that there is litterally TONS of quality items available. You might have to take your time and search, but all the folks who "have to have it now" will pay ridiculous prices to "have it now".
A large amount for a common, even matching , excellent condition non-import 98K? Sorry, but in my humble opinion both the buyer and seller are smoking some quality stuff.
Just my humble opinion.
Happy collecting,
Johnnie

[dragon25]

If you think those prices are bad, you should check out www.brocksguns.com. I work there and I am shocked what we get for some guns. Not to long ago we had a Dutch collector buy a K43 for a ridiculous amount of money! I have seen him sell K98ks all matching non imports for a ton of cash as well. He sells the russian captures for a lot too.
Christian

[DANGALENA]

Well Matt....I may be interested. In fact, life will be easier once I get my C&R returned by the Feds. Just waiting for the bureaucrats to send it back approved.

Dan G.

[DANGALENA]

I've seen a couple of the Russian captures....IMHO they are pretty nasty with all the changes the Commies did to them. What really bothers me is that they are being sold in that price range. By the time you add in shipping and transfer fees (if you're non-C&R) you can easily tack on $50.00 to whatever price you pay for the weapon alone.

If you're re-enacting and need a K98 fast....an RC is fine I suppose. But, hey what about those f......ing prices ?

Dan G.

[Spanky]

The same discussion goes on all the time on the awards forums. Collectors can't understand the ever rising prices, especially if they already have a basement full of this stuff. So we write it off to a bunch of dumb newbie collectors paying too much. I think that is an overly simplistic viewpoint. The bottom line is that these are desirable collectables with a fairly large market of potential buyers, and like it or not the prices you see on auctionarms or at Brocks are a reflection of that market. As if that were not bad enough, the "internet" market drives the local markets too. I never see a common matching K.98 offered for less than that at the local gun shows, and if you question the price the seller will usually say "I think I could get more on the internet, so this is the price."

If a new collector can't afford a matching K.98 then the Russian and Yugo reworks look pretty good, and that drives the price on the reworks up too. I call that the "next best thing" effect.

I guess we should just be glad that our collections are worth more and we didn't spend that money on internet stocks in the 1990s'!

[Matt Weber]

Guys,

I just found another K98 that is even more ridiculously priced than the others that I mentioned above!

This guy has a 1938 "42" coded K98 for sale. It is "all matching", but the safety lever has an electropencilled serial number on it to match, and also it has a sight hood cover over the front sight! (not correct for a 1938 k98!)
His asking price, is ridiculously high! sorry I couldn't hold it in!
He put the rifle up for auction on gunbroker, Luckily nobody bid on it! (I wonder why? )

I'll be honest, it is a nice rifle, and looks to be in great shape, but it is still a mismatch! and the sight hood is not correct on this piece! (so obviously somebody messed with it!).

Another good story: Found a P38 for sale. It is an "AC45" a-block. The dealer states that the serial number on the barrel is one off of the frame and slide. He is asking an enourmous price for the gun! Now, I know what people are going to say. That late in the war there were some "factory mismatch" pistols that were sent out that way. I know this, and I believe it to be true. However, it is still a mismatched pistol! You can't change that! Weather it was done at the factory, or done just yesterday, it is still a mismatch. Weather its' one number off, or a totally different letter block, it is still a mismatch! Weather it has one part mismatched, or all the parts are mismatched, it is still a mismatch!
Why don't some people understand this?

Matt

[Johnnie]

"Why don't some people understand this?"
Once again, in my humble opinion, he is marketing it to someone who "has to have it now", who is probably a new collector who is honestly enthusiastic, but who is unable or unwilling to do the research necessary to understand what the honest value of it is. And no doubt, he will eventually sell it for that price. Occasionally the floor falls out on situations like this. I understand that there is a tremendous ammount of P-38,s, Lugers, and Mausers in the former Soviet Union just waiting for the Assault weapon ban to expire next year to be shipped. If that happens, and depending on their condition, what will that do to prices? ( but then again, people are paying premium for Russian 98K,s)
It reminds me of what dealers were charging for East German helmets prior to the wall comming down. After it did, I went to a HUGE flea market under the Brandenburg Gate, and watched former E.G. supply sergeants selling them new, unissued for $20.00. There was a LOT of waiiling and knashing of teeth!
Hopefully, boards like this help to educate the new collector.
Once again, just my humble opinion,
Johnnie

[R_Hessian]

Sight hood

Matt,
The German Heer ordered ( I would have to look up the date ) that cuts be made on all issue rifles which were made by the factory without front sight cover grooves on the front sight mount. I have books that describe this requirement.
I also have rifles that were never altered as per instruction by the Heer?
To have a 1938 k98 with a front sight cover is actually correct.
Robert

[Matt Weber]

Just found two more ridiculously priced K98s!

This same guys also has two P38 for sale that are also overpriced.

Matt

PS- Robert, You are correct, there were proceedures for adding the front sight hood to pre 1939 rifles, and this proceedure was well within the capabilities of most company lever field armoreres. However, there was never any orders authorizing this to be done! Pre-1939 rifles that were already in the field were only modified if they were sent to a base workshop for repairs. This can be proven by observing Pre-1939 rifles without the sight hood in period photos right up until the end of the war! Also, How many Pre-1939 rifles have you seen with the sight hood attached? (none for me!)
This rifle for sale does not appear to have had any repairs done to it! I suppose it is possible that it was done in the field, but as the Brits would say, "not bloody likely!"
Again, I would stay away from contraversial weapons such as this one. This guy who is selling it knows this, and is advertising the rifle as if it was a rare rifle since it has the sight hood. (this is why his price is so high). I would say that the sight hood detracts from it!

[PaulR]

I got my mismatch but not inport marked CYQ 44 2 years about for about 250.00 USD. HAve they all risen like this?

Thanks
Paul