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It looks like it will clean up very nicely. But “clean” does not mean you should use steel wool, sandpaper, or a wire brush. There are lots of posts here from experts describing what to do with rifles in this condition. You should read through those before you do anything other than what...

A consequence of the top-dollar, retail-plus buyers of the really good stuff is that some of the owners and sellers of the not-so-good stuff price their stuff at the high-end, thinking somebody will pay it, or that their stuff is actually worth that much. A lot of people seem to value their...

Things like this could not be good for the future of the hobby. How can teenagers and young men get interested in collecting such expensive things? when I was younger, WWI and II rifles and bayonets were cheap enough for kids to buy and use, so I bought them. I did not buy expensive stuff...

I have contacted several family members of vets in an attempt to track-down information. The times I have done it were usually before or shortly following my obtaining the item. It was easiest getting the information from the family when I was the purchaser from the family. However I did make...

I have heard or read that capture papers may add 10% to the value. In the past, I recall older collectors thinking little to no value was added. Younger collectors seem to value documentation and proof of history more than older guys. So...I would say the guns with papers will increase in...

I would agree on the price being too high...but I can't keep from thinking that, in the not-too-distant future, $1500 is going to seem like $150 today. In other words, inflation may become a real problem. So, find another, better one, fast!

My first matching rifle was a 1938 s/27 I bought in the late 1980's for $350--a top-dollar price for the time, I thought. I still have it.

I believe there are some old basics truths that apply to all businesses, that everyone has heard of, such as: the customer is always right; there are costs in doing business; a happy customer is the best advertisement; etc. As far as "restocking fees" I would say this: My wife buys a lot of...

Lets avoid any "guns are not a good investment" talk. I need to keep my conscience clear when I tell my wife how wise my gun purchases are!

The problem as I see it (thinking back on my own experiences in the 1980's) is that new, younger collectors will be discouraged from entering the hobby for multiple reasons: 1) A collector K98k is too expensive; 2) There is too high of a risk for fakery–or other issues effecting the value; 3)...

Thank you all for the information and assessments. It looks like I have a reproduction scope with an authentic/original mount with questionable numbers. I really appreciate the help. Jack

Thanks, Bigdibbs88 for helping with the photos. Thanks also, Sport, for the comments. It does seem like it would be hard to zero. If I ever got it on a rifle, I would need a lesson on using it.

I recently acquired a zf-41 scope that looks authentic to me. I am not educated on them, so I may be mistaken about it. I would welcome any comments about the scope. Also, I have some questions: Is it worth it to hold onto it until I find a rifle for it, making a put-together mismatched...

In my opinion, trying to buy something from a good friend can be difficult. Two things concern me: 1) The owner may have some information about the value that is wrong--like he saw online that his thing is worth "X" amount of dollars that is an amount 2 or three time the actual value, or 2)...

This type of buying makes me think: 1) Must be something I don't know (how special/rare/nice the thing is?); 2) "More money than sense"...but how does someone attain wealth and retain it, with this kind of thinking? Maybe they did not earn the money (inheritance, lottery, lawsuit recovery...

Last summer I sold a Garand to a nice man in another state and shipped it to his FFL. In early September I messaged the buyer to see if he got the rifle and to make sure he was happy with it. He said it was waiting for him at the FFL and that he had been too busy to get it. In late December...

This is just my opinion and thoughts (and may only apply to me): When I was a teenager buying old military guns, I could not resist taking them apart and shooting them. Also, I didn't want to say, "I don't know how these guns shoot because I never shot this one or one like it." I wanted to...

All I can add to the answer would be to say that, as far as safety is concerned, I understand that the quality of all K98k's, even up to the end of the war was good. I am not aware of any years or makers to be wary of due to poor quality steel or heat treatment, such as the low-numbered 1903...

I agree with what has been said. As long as money can be made, faking has been happening. As I recall, I have read that even in 1945 there were fakes coming out of Germany--the demand was high among the occupation troops for souvenirs--so some of the German makers kept making stuff--like...

I have repaired a couple of them, for practical reasons. One was a bolt MM shooter, and the thing would come apart as it was shot. The other was a very nice matching one, but the pieces would not stay together and could easily come apart. If your rifle is not a shooter (collector only), and...