Does anyone know of this gun?

[harry potter]

Does anyone have knowledge of this gun?

Mauser "byf" Code "42" Date Model 98K Bolt Action Rifle

Mauser "byf" Code "42" Date Model 98K Bolt Action Rifle Documented as the War Trophy of a Bastogne VeteranIncluded with this rifle is a 1994 dated letter from a previous owner, which lays out a chain of possession from himself, to the Trigger Hill Trading Post of Salinas, California, to a 1st...

www.rockislandauction.com

I find it difficult to reconcile the high estimated sale price with the very limited photos and unverifiable story attached to it. I am wondering if perhaps this is not a piece that is well known within collector circles?

Cheers,
HP

 

[bigwagon]

That letter and story is worthless.

 

[Cyrano4747]

That letter and story is worthless.

Yep

I’ll quote myself from the other thread:

Based on those pictures I can confidently say that it is (probably) a K98k rifle with a bayo, scabbard, and sling. The listing claims it is a BYF42 but I see no proof of that.

It comes with a letter written in 1992 by someone I have never heard of who relates a story he claims to have heard about the rifle.

Yes that is a cynical as hell take and maybe it's as honest a vet bringback as you'll ever see, but the saying is "buy the rifle, not the story" for a reason.

edit: this is one of my huge problems with RIA. For such a "high end" auction house their pictures SUCK and frequently leave you more in the dark about what you're bidding on than the worst GB listings.

 

[mrfarb]

With the stock refinished its even more undesirable. I guess people with big money believe stories are valuable, even without any corroborating evidence. I was told a story once about a dual tone byf44 P..38 pistol which was captured in Italy in 1944 by the vet. Problem is, pistol was made March 1945.

People forget things and while stories are nice, they aren't $8,000 worth with no evidence. Even then, what does it add? Many of these rifles have similar stories behind them.

 

[Cyrano4747]

You're correct about the stories, but frankly I think the bigger part of it is that it's coming from RIA. The same gun on GB with the same story wouldn't draw a tenth of the attention. But the world is full of more well to do, less knowledgeable collectors who believe that since something is coming out of a big, well known auction house that it has been vetted or is otherwise more trustworthy. See also: the RIA K98k with the ground and renumbered bolt that was recently discussed.