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Requesting expert advice on this DOU44 - lots of good pics!

Ross_badger

Member
Requesting expert advice on this DOU44 - lots of pics!

Hello - I am new to this forum, but I have already read through lots of posts and helpful comments. I was hoping that I could get some of your expert advice and comments on this DOU44 Kar98. The seller had said that this was a vet take home and not a Mitchell's Mauser, but I am curious about the polished bolt. It does seem to have matching numbers for the gun and bolt (with the exception of the front band). Any comments would be appreciated.
 

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More Pics

More pics of the DOU44
 

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Not an expert by any means but It definitely looks like it’s been buffed and reblued. If the bolt is in the white (looks like it) it is not correct.
 
They built them on RC’s and did a completely different treatment, this definitely isn’t, it’s just completely refinished and has an internally broken stock by the look of the cross lug.
 
They built them on RC’s and did a completely different treatment, this definitely isn’t, it’s just completely refinished and has an internally broken stock by the look of the cross lug.

Good to know, thanks. Any thoughts on the serial numbers on the barrel and bolt? Concerns about them being faked?

Also, was it common for vet take homes to be refinished like this, with the bluing stripped off the bolt?
 
..The seller had said that this was a vet take home and not a Mitchell's Mauser

Of course he did. And while he's not lying it might as well be for all intents. Others have chimed in with a lot of what's wrong with it but I'd ask what your objective is with this particular piece? The honest answer is it's no longer an even representative piece let alone having any collector value. I guess it comes down to what you want out of this and what his price is? For me it's a hard pass.

Additional comment is both bands are most certianly not original. Should be stamped and serial'd. Lower band is milled and with wrong number. If duffle cut most likely lost long ago as that was not an uncommon thing.
 
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Gun and bolt serial numbers.....real or fake?

I'm very curious about the matching bolt and gun numbers. Any and all help with opinions on if they are real or faked would be requested. I know that the bolt had been polished, but could it have been an original matching blued set, but then someone buffed it down to the white? The action is quite nice and crisp.....
 

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Here's the thing you have to ask yourself when a lot of problems have already been stated about this rifle why even try to pursue it any further. The bolt is not correct it's been buffed and it's in the white, the crossbolt in the stock is broken something that's going to need to be addressed, and both barrels bands are wrong. When a rifle has this much wrong with it I don't even pursue it any further there's no point it's not even worth it. Even if they were asking like $300 for it why even put that money in this rifle at all? Put $300 towards an even better rifle that's more original.
 
Here's the thing you have to ask yourself when a lot of problems have already been stated about this rifle why even try to pursue it any further. The bolt is not correct it's been buffed and it's in the white, the crossbolt in the stock is broken something that's going to need to be addressed, and both barrels bands are wrong. When a rifle has this much wrong with it I don't even pursue it any further there's no point it's not even worth it. Even if they were asking like $300 for it why even put that money in this rifle at all? Put $300 towards an even better rifle that's more original.

Thanks for the reply. I totally understand all that you and others have said, and that is why I am here.....to learn. Sorry to seem dense, but I'm new to this and want to learn from you and the folks on this forum.

My question is specifically about opinions about real or faked numbers, that is all. If this is not to correct forum, could someone please point me to one where I could find that answer? Thanks!
 
..very curious about the matching bolt and gun numbers. Any and all help with opinions on if they are real or faked would be requested

Not sure why you're so insistent but I'll entertain this. Yes IMHO the bolt numbers are all real. The bottom metal is spot on for type, maker and numbering. However as Jordan pointed out I'd be more concerned with the furniture. I highlighted the areas so you can evaluate them for yourself. In the photos the areas with red should be as original a fairly crisp machined edge. They are all significantly worn down with some blowouts as well. And the yellow is the damage from the setback. The lug is considerably driven back and a crack has developed behind the tang. They tried to fill it with some yellow stuff (glue?) so someone was aware of the problem. Looks like it's had a hard life and some really rough treatment along the way. Caveat emptor.

stock badness.jpgstock badness 2.jpgstock badness 3.jpg
 
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..why I am here.....to learn. Sorry to seem dense, but I'm new to this and want to learn from you and the folks on this forum.

Got it. Many (most) of us came that way too. And many of us got burned, some worse than others. The frustration comes when people seek (and get) good opinions and then do the opposite.

..specifically about opinions about real or faked numbers, that is all. If this is not to correct forum

Totally the correct forum. There's a bit of reluctance sometimes to give too specific of information regarding faking, fonts and markings as it's perceived it may actually be helping fakers get their garbage more correct next time. In your case it's fine. I'll add there's a t block rifle very close to yours in the reference and a few fonts are shared. You can see them for yourself and these are difficult to replicate with modern die sets.
 
Thanks for the reply. I totally understand all that you and others have said, and that is why I am here.....to learn. Sorry to seem dense, but I'm new to this and want to learn from you and the folks on this forum.

My question is specifically about opinions about real or faked numbers, that is all. If this is not to correct forum, could someone please point me to one where I could find that answer? Thanks!

Don't think your dense everyone has to start learning at some point. Your lucky you posted before buying... some don't. Collecting these rifles is getting harder with all the fakes out there. For example that large eagle on the backside bolt stem is as fake as can be. They make these stamps in Poland and sell them on eBay. If they buy one then you can bet they have more.

If you want to get a shooter while you learn more a RC would be a more honest rifle at least you know what your getting.
 
Serial numbers are all original, as is the firing proof on the bolt. Many people mistakenly believe 98k’s were supposed to have in the white bolts, partly because of Mitchell’s Mauser and partly because WW1 rifles did. It’s old people doing stupid shite, period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks again for all the opinions! That it's exactly what I was looking for. I hate to say it, but I did buy it for a shooter and display / handling model. Most likely I'll need to put another stock on it before I do anything else.
 
..I hate to say it, but I did buy it

And there you go! :facepalm: Seriously though hopefully you got it for a good price.

..a shooter and display / handling model. Most likely I'll need to put another stock on it before I do anything else.

If that's the plan you can certainly fix this one. I mean it's damaged already right? There's a post on here somewhere about fixing lug setback with shims. Epoxy will help and be below the woodline. You could even bed it if you wanted and it wouldn't be noticeable. That crack can be cleaned and re-glued more properly. Well repaired it won't blow apart in your hands.
 

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