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Depot/field repaired rifle value?

fireman

Senior Member
How do you guys value a depot/field repaired rifles? I realize some of that will be subjective based on what a guy likes but I wanted to get some varied input.

The rifle in question is a 40-42 code rifle. Stock is reclaimed/renumbered. X'ed old serial # and renumbered to the action. It has a combination of armors and scrubbed/renumbered parts. Bruce K. has seen it and believes it to be legit.

EDIT>there is NO depot stamp on this. Most likely a field rework.

Thanks.

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I tend to value matching and original depot repairs higher then factory matching rifles. They are just more interesting, I may be the odd man out with this opinion though.
 
Any depot rebuild I typically see goes for 1.5-2x the price of an equivalent condition/rarity all matching rifle.
 
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I tend to value matching and original depot repairs higher then factory matching rifles. They are just more interesting,

Any depot rebuild I typically see goes for 1.5-2x the price of an equivalent condition/rarity all matching rifle.
Perhaps, though yrs ago value was considered less (perhaps 0.75X).

Over time, collectors begin to view textbook examples as rather "ho-hum". Conversely, legit depot repaired rifles are just so interesting and pretty unique, fewer are known, and they are combat rifles that often are a puzzle to unravel.

FYI, here's my Posen that is one of my favs => 1940 Depot
 
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For the record, this one is more of a field level rebuild. There is NO depot stamp on it.
In that case probably as much or less than a matching rifle. With the amount of armorers parts that have changed hands alone here on the forum, in additional to posted restored rifles that were missing a safety or a bolt or a band or two for example, Id say most unmarked rebuilt guns were done by knowledgeable collectors at this point.
 
Legit depot marked examples seem to be at least equal to the basic matching dou44 value, with code rarity/interest and level of repair increasing the value. To me, clearly original but unattributed reworks take a small hit, again cool factor comes in to value. When you see non typical renumbering (field level?) it takes more value away imo, but its subjective. If you collect reworks you like to have a group of examples from all type so you can learn and get a feel for what original work looks like.
 
Legit depot marked examples seem to be at least equal to the basic matching dou44 value, with code rarity/interest and level of repair increasing the value. To me, clearly original but unattributed reworks take a small hit, again cool factor comes in to value. When you see non typical renumbering (field level?) it takes more value away imo, but its subjective. If you collect reworks you like to have a group of examples from all type so you can learn and get a feel for what original work looks like.
Which is why reworks like this are for the most advanced/knowledgeable collectors, and a dangerous game to play. The line between good fakes and unattributed depot rebuilds is razor thin in many places vs. say actual depot marked guns that have trends to follow. Sometimes it comes down to gut feeling and anecdotal experience and nothing else it seems
 
Perhaps, though yrs ago value was considered less (perhaps 0.75X).

Over time, collectors begin to view textbook examples as rather "ho-hum". Conversely, legit depot repaired rifles are just so interesting and pretty unique, fewer are known, and they are combat rifles that often are a puzzle to unravel.

FYI, here's my Posen that is one of my favs => 1940 Depot
That's a awesome example especially being a BLM 1940 example! That would be a two birds with one stone hit for me, wait, no, three birds with one stone actually. A BLM 1940 dated rifle, a depot rework and not being a depot build which makes it even more unique than just a depot build rifle. I need to find a Konigsberg build rifle. Cause I have two inventory/rework rifles from them.
 
How about field repairs? I’ve got a 1943 ce with a replaced stock, armorer’s spare marked WaA 359 with a 359 marked spare safety. Hand guard matches, all else matches. Nothing official to base the assumption on that it was field repaired aside from the parts themselves and the matched finish to the original wood

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How about field repairs? I’ve got a 1943 ce with a replaced stock, armorer’s spare marked WaA 359 with a 359 marked spare safety. Hand guard matches, all else matches. Nothing official to base the assumption on that it was field repaired aside from the parts themselves and the matched finish to the original wood

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That's a awesome example! Depot builds and reworks/repairs are awesome. Being a 1943 dated CE 43 is really unique. Somewhat reminds me of the BCD 4 in GB I seen last year that had a renumbered trigger guard from another rifle. The old numbers on the trigger guard had been X out in a sorta square shape.
 
It’s funny but I was able to buy more than a few original reworks off of Gunbonker when they’d get brought up on other sites as humpjobs and ridiculed. I was collecting them when they weren’t popular. It’s a special interest of mine. Back 10 years ago there were maybe 5 advanced collectors with an interest in these who knew what was what.

One could base a collection just upon these, from depot (e.g., Su, Kru, Psn, Mz, Mg, etc.), to district (e.g., XX, XXI, etc.), to field level (dangerous area), to LZA to SS. Once you get a feel for them you can spot legit from humpjobs. Sadly, the fake inspection dies for the reworks are done and the humpers and high priced gun carnies (we know who they are) will get into the act as the value increases. That’s one reason you don’t see extensive discussions on authentication. The sh1tbags use our reference and info too.
 
It’s funny but I was able to buy more than a few original reworks off of Gunbonker when they’d get brought up on other sites as humpjobs and ridiculed. I was collecting them when they weren’t popular. It’s a special interest of mine. Back 10 years ago there were maybe 5 advanced collectors with an interest in these who knew what was what.

One could base a collection just upon these, from depot (e.g., Su, Kru, Psn, Mz, Mg, etc.), to district (e.g., XX, XXI, etc.), to field level (dangerous area), to LZA to SS. Once you get a feel for them you can spot legit from humpjobs. Sadly, the fake inspection dies for the reworks are done and the humpers and high priced gun carnies (we know who they are) will get into the act as the value increases. That’s one reason you don’t see extensive discussions on authentication. The sh1tbags use our reference and info too.
Seeing these kinds of stories of how this hobby use to be makes me wish so much I had been born 10-15 years earlier.
 
Seeing these kinds of stories of how this hobby use to be makes me wish so much I had been born 10-15 years earlier.

We all have that. Back when I started I got stories of $200-400 matching K98ks being in barrels at the Western Auto for $49, take your pick. ;) I remember being at the Dallas Militaria Collectors show in 1993 and seeing a beautiful almost unissued condition walnut stock 42 / 1939 e/L, unturned screws, untouched, for $750 and laughing with my table buddies that when K98ks really started fetching that I knew it was time to start collecting something else.
 
We all have that. Back when I started I got stories of $200-400 matching K98ks being in barrels at the Western Auto for $49, take your pick. ;) I remember being at the Dallas Militaria Collectors show in 1993 and seeing a beautiful almost unissued condition walnut stock 42 / 1939 e/L, unturned screws, untouched, for $750 and laughing with my table buddies that when K98ks really started fetching that I knew it was time to start collecting something else.
Makes sense, I was born in 96 so I got into this hobby waaaay late.
 
Makes sense, I was born in 96 so I got into this hobby waaaay late.

Never too late, just more expensive. If someone would have told me in the 90s that I would at some point pay over $3k for any K98k that wasn’t an original sniper, when you could get a matching original MP.40 for that, I would have laughed at them and said that would be when I started collecting Enfields and Carcanos. Yet here I am and I’ve paid that a number of times. But, I’ve found great deals at over half that too. You’re in the right place. Welcome.
 
Makes sense, I was born in 96 so I got into this hobby waaaay late.
While you and I and every other young collector got in now when prices are high, the information available now is way more thorough and detailed than what was around in the '90s. There's a lower chance of getting burned now if you're able to use that information effectively. The only prices I mourn for is MG prices, all but the most entry level of pre86 MGs are effectively out of reach financially for most collectors unless you become a dealer and work with dealer samples.
 
Interesting thread as it’s the opposite of what I remember in the past. Seemed to be that you could deduct 25% for a rework, even a marked one.

To me they’re worth the same or slightly under a non reworked example depending on the level of rework. If you know what you’re looking at it’s not hard to separate from a fake, but for the large pool of collectors they bring an element of grey that should scare a casual collector. They are very cool for study and variation, but a much smaller pool of buyers and therefore not as good from an investment perspective IMO. Of course we all weigh that differently.
 
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if you are buying just for your own enjoyment, spend what you are comfortable with to get what you like. I have been known to violate the collectors rule, “always buy the best condition” on numerous occasions to get rare examples I may never see again. Think very early Chinese purchased Standard Modells that many here would consider tomato stakes. I like to study them, and like many interwar rifles, I think they are under appreciated. But I also do not expect them to appreciate. I think any K98k that has renumbered scrubbed parts or unmarked spares, and is not depot marked is going to be viewed with suspicion compared to a factory original rifle in comparable condition, and therefore command a lower price in the overall market. This in no way minimizes their historical significance, but I do think it makes them a less desirable option for those who consider their collectibles as investments.
 
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