Gewehr 98 condition question

[jorgen]

Saw a Gewehr 98 in a local gun shop, asking price is $500. Spandau, 1918, newer model sight, metal and bore look very good, metal and wood looks like it wasn't issued or used in the field. No "patina". Does not appear to have been sanded as markings are present, not sanded out. Stock is "yellow", not dark walnut, does not look like it was finished. Doesn't look like it was re blued either, looks original. Bore is very good. Rifle is not matching, most different numbers including bolt parts. Cocking handle is stamped same as receiver, but in very small numbers, not typical 98 stamping, does not look like someone was trying to pass off as original. Underside of handle still has Imperial Eagle. No evidence of corrosion on bolt, or any other metal part. Owner does not know history of rifle. Any ideas of the history on this one? Is the $500 reasonable? thanks for any info or thoughts. jorgen

[Loewe]

Welcome to the forum.

Regarding the rifle, if the rifle has no matching parts, except possibly a re-numbered bolt, I would say it is very overpriced. If on the other hand, the stock turns out to match, and the bolt is an authentic depot renumber, then it possibly could be FULL retail. Generally interwar builds, and most 1918 dated Spandau's are interwar builds (not rifles assembled during the war), that are not matching-original rifles take a huge hit compared to their Imperial cousins.

While interwar builds and reworks are far scarcer in original-matching condition than almost all Kar98k, and most Imperial era Gew.98's, they just do not have the demand that those rifle variations have. Further, because most rifles that stayed in German hands 1919-1933 were reworked, some quite extensively, they take a hit for that too. The depot builds, from leftover receivers, also take a hit due to their less than factory state.

If the rifle has a cleaned, mismatched stock, I would advise against buying it for more than $300, and that is probably high unless the sum of the parts can contribute to the value. Rifles with mismatched parts are generally worth the sum of the parts that make up the rifle. Rifles (parts) that have been refinished are worth nothing outside of shooter value.