98k sporter HELP

[Scooby]

Greetings to all,

My girlfriend and I were in a local pawn shop and I noticed a 98k that someone had sporterized. I told her it was a nice rifle at one time since it was nearly all matching, but the rear sight was gone. I put back on the rack and walked away. Guess what she got me for Christmas! Thanks sweety .

Now that I have it and have looked close it appears I have a problem. It is a bcd 43 all matching. Except, it is missing the complete rear sight. It has been fitted with a peep sight on the rear. And the safety is an elongated type. The safety has the word BUEHLER on it. I think it is a civilian add on. It only works up for safe and down for fire, not the 3 position type. I had originally thought it had been reblued, but I have had 2 "experts" look at it and one says yes the other no. It is in amazing shape if not. But why would someone spend so much on a great blueing job and then paint the front sight crudy orange, or leave the scared up capture screws behind the trigger guard and not replace them? The muzzle does show minimal wear. I tend to think it has not been reblued. There is also no smell to the rifle (some blueing processes leave a distinct oder). The stock is a FAJEN sporter one. The rifling is super great. I would say it was a hell of a deer rifle in its day. It still has the front sight hood, but it is un-marked.

I would like to trick it out and make it as honest as possible. However, this is my first 98k. I have 3 Lugers, a P-38, and a Walther PP. All my WWII long-guns are US. So I need help in just exactly I need. I have read here and researched other web-sights for help. I know I need a rear sight assembly. The stock should have the bolt take-down disk and cupped butt-plate??? What type of front band should it have??? And bayonet lug??? Anything else??? The rifle will never be sold as it was a gift to me. I just want a solid, honest looking shooter. BTW: she payed $200 for it and I feel it was worth every penny. Not what I would have bought, but she did good (it was the first firearm she ever bought). Sorry I have no pics yet. I have no digital camera. But I will try to post before and after restoration shots.

Thanks,
Christopher Helvey

[bodes]

Greetings to all,

My girlfriend and I were in a local pawn shop and I noticed a 98k that someone had sporterized. I told her it was a nice rifle at one time since it was nearly all matching, but the rear sight was gone. I put back on the rack and walked away. Guess what she got me for Christmas! Thanks sweety .

Now that I have it and have looked close it appears I have a problem. It is a bcd 43 all matching. Except, it is missing the complete rear sight. It has been fitted with a peep sight on the rear. And the safety is an elongated type. The safety has the word BUEHLER on it. I think it is a civilian add on. It only works up for safe and down for fire, not the 3 position type. I had originally thought it had been reblued, but I have had 2 "experts" look at it and one says yes the other no. It is in amazing shape if not. But why would someone spend so much on a great blueing job and then paint the front sight crudy orange, or leave the scared up capture screws behind the trigger guard and not replace them? The muzzle does show minimal wear. I tend to think it has not been reblued. There is also no smell to the rifle (some blueing processes leave a distinct oder). The stock is a FAJEN sporter one. The rifling is super great. I would say it was a hell of a deer rifle in its day. It still has the front sight hood, but it is un-marked.

I would like to trick it out and make it as honest as possible. However, this is my first 98k. I have 3 Lugers, a P-38, and a Walther PP. All my WWII long-guns are US. So I need help in just exactly I need. I have read here and researched other web-sights for help. I know I need a rear sight assembly. The stock should have the bolt take-down disk and cupped butt-plate??? What type of front band should it have??? And bayonet lug??? Anything else??? The rifle will never be sold as it was a gift to me. I just want a solid, honest looking shooter. BTW: she payed $200 for it and I feel it was worth every penny. Not what I would have bought, but she did good (it was the first firearm she ever bought). Sorry I have no pics yet. I have no digital camera. But I will try to post before and after restoration shots.

Thanks,
Christopher Helvey

Christopher, First of all...Welcome to the forum....Your Gustloff Werke(bcd) has been through the same fate as many others before....It was one of the reasons the 'ole GI's brought them back...Make nice little deer rifles outta 'em....My first question is how close to original do you wanna go?...Parts abound....You mentioned rear sight assembly....Did they grind down the ears on the military rear sight? I'm assuming so...If that's the case, you have a little job ahead of you...You'll have to find the complete sight assembly and take off the barrel and remove old sight assembly from the receiver.....Yes, your rifle stock will have the bolt takedown disk & cupped buttplate, bayonet lug, and more than likely the milled type front band without the early H-Band configuration...Hope this helps and Good Luck ...Bodes

[Scooby]

Danke Herr Bodes,


Thanks for the welcome. I appriciate your help. I would like the rifle to appear as natural as possible. There is no band from the sight. There is a small hole bored into the barrel where the sight should sit. I figure this is what the rear sight mounts to. The serial number matches everywhere. with an ee suffix. However, on the magazine floor plate it has the same four digit and a single d. The bolt release mechanism isn't marked or numbered except a very (what appears to be a) tiny eagle and an o or 0. I know that I could drop a lot of money into her trying to turn her into a silk purse. But she will be a shooter. And I would like her to be as true as possible. I have checked around and Gunparts seem to have most of what I would need. I have never bought a stock before seeing it so I wonder if anyone has delt with the purchase of their 98k "war" stocks? Is there any place out there to get the needed parts without the sticker shock!

Thanks,
Christopher

[JasonS]

I bought a vet bring back k98 that had the stock and rear sight messed with. I traded some ammo for a WWII era rear sight and bought the stock complete from Sarco in NJ. When I looked at the ad for them they only had the stock in seperate parts. I called and asked if they had a k98 expert there and was transfered to a guy who I asked if they had a complete, late war, cupped butt-plate, all the metal included stock for sale. He said that he did but they never advertised them. It was $115 with shipping and was just as he said it would be-good shape and totally complete with all the bands, disk, and goodies.

Had a gun smith put it together for $20 and it looks like it should.

So call around and ask if they have complete stock with all the metal. It is alot nicer than trying to "build" one from parts.

JasonS

[Matt Weber]

Christopher,

First off, where did you find such a nice girlfriend? My wife hates guns!
I even imagine recieving a collectors' firearm for a Christmas gift!
That would be like all my Christmas wishes coming true!

As for the gun, not too dificult here. I would like to see pics of this of course, but by going what you have said, it seems as though it is missing the following items:

-rear sight base
-rear sight leaf
-rear sight spring
-front barrel band
-rear barrel band
-bayonet lug
-cleaning rod
-stock
-buttplate
-hand guard
-sling
-band spring

I know this sounds like a lot of stuff, but really it's not too bad. The stock and buttplate you can probably get together. You will want to find a laminate stock for this one. Since the rifle will not match, it really doesn't matter what proof markings or serial numbers are on it, so just get any laminated stock and hand guard, and also a cupped buttplate.
Band springs are easy to find. Just about any gun show will have these. Barrel bands are too. You will probably want the milled types, front one should be "closed", without the "H" milled out.
The bayonet lug, you may be able to get with the stock as well.
Cleaning rod, you'll need a 10 inch cleaning rod, easy to find.
The rear sight assembly is probably the toughest part here. Not hard to find, but since I have no idea what kind of contraption you currently have installed on your rifle, it may be difficult to change it?

Hope this helps you out. Please post some pics, and we can give you more info on it.

Matt

[Scooby]

Thanks to all!
Herr Weber, my girlfriend had never fired a weapon before she met me 3 months ago. The first she shot was a Luger. She feel in love and proceeded to shoot everything German that dad and I have. The rifle was a great gift but I fear it will cost me a Luger for her somewhere down the line . But that's ok if she lets me shoot it!
Once again thank-you to all,
Christopher

[bodes]

[bought the stock complete from Sarco in NJ. When I looked at the ad for them they only had the stock in seperate parts. I called and asked if they had a k98 expert there and was transfered to a guy who I asked if they had a complete, late war, cupped butt-plate, all the metal included stock for sale. He said that he did but they never advertised them. It was $115 with shipping and was just as he said it would be-good shape and totally complete with all the bands, disk, and goodies.

Had a gun smith put it together for $20 and it looks like it should.

So call around and ask if they have complete stock with all the metal. It is alot nicer than trying to "build" one from parts.

JasonS[/QUOTE]


Chris, In reference to what Jason said....You might wanna hold off on a Sarco stock until you've checked eBay for a while....On eBay, you may pay a little more but at least you see the stock (pictured) before plopping down the $$$....I once bought a complete K98k stock with all the hardware from Sarco...It turned out to be a well worn stock packed in cosmoline....Wasn't a very nice looking stock...I even sent it back.....Bodes

[Scooby]

Thanks for all your imput. I really appriciate all the help. I hope to post pics as soon as I get a digital camera. I shot it Christmas Day! I was busting bowling pins at 100 yards like they were 5 gallon buckets at 25 yards! I can't wait to put it bags and see how groups. I swear it looks like it has been hardly fired. The rifling is very sweet. I can't wait to work up a load for it!

Thanks again,
Christopher

[phosphateb]

Christopher,

First off, where did you find such a nice girlfriend? My wife hates guns!

Matt please note it is a girlfriend...ALL WIVES HATE GUNS..nuff said.

[R_Hessian]

Hi,

I have stocks and all the parts except the rear sight that you need and I can give you a price for everthing that will not hurt you. Add up you cost via the venders and then get ahold of me and I will more than happy to save you some money.

Redards,
Robert

[R_Hessian]

Old Girl

Matt please note it is a girlfriend...ALL WIVES HATE GUNS..nuff said.

Hey,
I guess I lucked out, while my wife is always sticker shocked at what I buy she knows that all these items go up in value. She has fired a gun and while she is not into them she has no problem with me having them.

I'll have to post the NICE pistol she bought me for Christmas a few years ago...

I have some little kids running around here at about 90 miles an hour and she is just delighted at how they show respect and distance from anything Im looking at as they "Cruise" around the house... That happens when you teach kids to respect and and listian to adults.

I have always thought it strange how a "partner" can go around telling the other mate what they can and can't have. Just for giggles tell them you have decided to stop looking for guns and will start collecting toasters that you plan on putting all over the house .

Robert