K98 Mauser for Review

[Stephen Stout]

I wanted to hear everyone's opinion on this K98, it looks all matching with a sanded stock. What is a good purchase price for a 1938 K98 all matching with a sanded stock? Thanks for your help, I am looking for my first collector grade K98.

[tanker]

That sanded stock kills it as a collector grade. Ron

[Fritziii]

What a shame, I agree the sanded stock kills it.

Fritz

[Hadenuph]

A sanded stock does detract somewhat from the originality but the question is how badly was it sanded, are there any traces of the original WA stamps still present? Importantly the 'internal' serial number does match. It <U>IS</U> an early, matching number Mauser and desirable even with a sanded stock! Considering Russian Captures routinely sell for $350-$450, I would put a value of at least $700-$800 on it and perhaps more pending an up close inspection.

[me6_130]

Even if sanded, I wouldn't mind having that one, all matching.


Carles

[Ronnie Fry]

Even if sanded, I wouldn't mind having that one, all matching.


Carles

Mee Too!!

[pitfighter]

Lovely - the sanded stock would not affect it's desirability for my collection.

If anyone has a lead on something as nice as this for $700 - PM ME!!!! you know how, click on my icon see where it says private message and click on it - thank you.


Nice find.

Pit.

[Stephen Stout]

That sanded stock kills it as a collector grade. Ron

What a shame, I agree the sanded stock kills it.

Fritz

I took your advice and turned that one down. So I bought this one:

[phild]

I have seen them with much worse blue than this one (this one is out of the park in that respect) and with very worn stocks....worn stamps SELL for over 3 k in recent years for a pre-war matching like this one. I could see the sanding hurting the value maybe 20-25% from a non sanded one.....but non collector grade (whatever that means?) are you kidding?

IMO the first rifle posted was 3-4X the piece of the 2nd one posted. Back to the stock, this stock (early solid walnut) looks very close to color and condition when made except of course for the sanded stamps.

[tanker]

Try and sell a sanded stock to top grade collectors and you will see how much it detracts!

[Stephen Stout]

Try and sell a sanded stock to top grade collectors and you will see how much it detracts!

So in your opinion the 2nd one is a better investment?

[tanker]

I think any unaltered 98K is a better investment than one that is altered, i.e. sanded stock, replaced items or blue touch up.

To answer your question, yes. I say that as you are looking for collector grade and any altered piece is NOT collector grade.
It does appear that someone has remove the barreled action from the stock and wasn't too careful in replacing (edge nicks on wood channel).
I think the folks over on the 98K forum will also say unaltered pieces are better.

[Fritziii]

Try and sell a sanded stock to top grade collectors and you will see how much it detracts!

A top grade collector would not pay anywhere near what has been mentioned for this rifle with the sanded stock, yea its an early prewar piece but with a sanded stock kills it, don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful rifle but it would NEVER bring that much with a sanded stock. The second rifle is IMO a better investment, all matched and honest field use but not abused.

Fritz