I went to a local estate auction on Saturday and saw this rifle in a "junk/odds n'ends" pile(along with shotgun barrels, broken blackpowder rifles, etc.) on the last table of things to be auctioned. In the sale catalog it was merely described as "Lot# 198: Mauser, AS-IS, 88200". The few other milsurps there were nothing impressive but I felt a twinge of excitement when my eyes locked onto what appeared to be an honest, intact K98. My heart really started beating when I noticed the key safety and then the checkered buttplate and the drilled and tapped receiver. Better yet, it was matching. I kept telling myself not to get excited since the likelihood was this was a fake, something someone had thrown together. Still I felt good about it so I decided to take the plunge and give it a shot. It was one of the last things to be auctioned and the crowd had thinned considerably. Me and another guy were the only ones interested and I was lucky enough to prevail on my gamble. I paid less than $1k for it so I was happy. It also came with a muzzle cover and some sort of old web sling. I've contacted the auction house in search for the scope and mount. It's a long shot, but worth the effort I think...
As I said, all the numbers I can see are matching (ie: bolt, barrel, safety). It looks like it sat neglected in a closet for 60 years as the stock is very course and dry and the metal finish has some rust on it. Surprisingly, the bore is mint.
The sling appears to be an old piece of webbing but I have no idea if it's some sort of ersatz German sling or something a GI added. It is not nailed to the stock, nor does it have any markings. It is inserted into the sling slot in the stock and tied into a knot to keep it from slipping through. It looks like it has been on the rifle for a long time. I've heard the topic of German web slings is controversial so I'm not sure what to make of it.
To be sure, I have not done a thing to the rifle. The way it appears in the pics is the way I got it. I am hesitant to clean it, but if I do, it will be with careful consideration and with as much advice as I can get from the experts.
As I said, all the numbers I can see are matching (ie: bolt, barrel, safety). It looks like it sat neglected in a closet for 60 years as the stock is very course and dry and the metal finish has some rust on it. Surprisingly, the bore is mint.
The sling appears to be an old piece of webbing but I have no idea if it's some sort of ersatz German sling or something a GI added. It is not nailed to the stock, nor does it have any markings. It is inserted into the sling slot in the stock and tied into a knot to keep it from slipping through. It looks like it has been on the rifle for a long time. I've heard the topic of German web slings is controversial so I'm not sure what to make of it.
To be sure, I have not done a thing to the rifle. The way it appears in the pics is the way I got it. I am hesitant to clean it, but if I do, it will be with careful consideration and with as much advice as I can get from the experts.
Finding a mount will be tough, but as Steve said, they are out there. Just be prepaired to pay the price for one though!
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