Matched DOU44

J

JRG

Active member
I'm considering buying a matched DOU44. It's been reblued and sanded by a gunsmith. The bore is described as excellent. I don't have detailed pics yet but assuming that it is matched, what would something like this be worth?
 

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$450 or less. Even if matching, it is strictly a shooter. Im sure some would value it below this.
 
At that price it might just be a deal based on what RC's are going for, assuming it is actually matched and not humped. It would be highly suspect to be original, but not impossible. Refinishing is verboten.
 
Considering RCs are selling for up to 500 I would gladly buy the pictured rifle (If I could verify it was indeed all matching as in not renumbered) for $650.00 or so. (This not an offer to buy, if I saw this locally I would be able to verify it and would likely make the buy)

Sanded and re-blued is a big no-no but as a good shooter a nice looking matched dou44 is far better than any RC and IMO that a bolt MM (If the intent is shooting not filling a space)

IMO

Wulfmann
 
The seller is asking $695. The sanded stock doesn't bother me at all...the reblue does. But as Wulf pointed out this would make a nice matching shooter, and a nice shooter is ultimately what I want. I need to think about it still.
 
dou 44

I wouldn't pay $695 for that rifle. You could spend 100 more and get a nice, correct, unscrewed with bolt mismatch. I think that is way more than that rifle will bring considering it has had stock work etc. If you have to resell that rifle you will have a tough time getting it back. I sold a very nice bolt mismatch bcd 4 for $675 plus shipping and couldn't get any more for it. Id be careful paying for something you cant recoup the money from. IMHO
 
As stated, $450.00 would be tops for me. I'd put that into a nice shooter especially if it has a real nice bore, but there's no way I'd pay close to $700.00. The reblue and stock refinish just totally kills the value. Yeah, she sure is pretty, but she's not in her original prom dress. You would have a very hard time indeed to get $695.00 out of it if you ended up having to sell it down the road. No where near worth what the seller is asking IMHO.
 
Everyone is entitled to their opinions and they are valid to each

But, the fact remains a good RC is going for $450.00-500.00 and I would certainly value that dou matching at much higher.

To say 450 is top is saying it has the same value as a RC. Why? Because the stock is refinished and the metal reblued. But, the gun is all matching and the RC of the same price has been refinished both metal and stock but not to look nice but to look like krap and every single part is from a different gun so i simply don't see the logic.

there was a time when an RC brought $200-250 and then maybe this was 450-500 but times have changed. The last RC I sold was for $450.00 in November 13. I would consider it a good day if i traded that RC and $200.00 for the all matching dou44 that was refinished.

So, does anyone here really believe this all matching gun is worth the same as an RC. really??? Hmmmm, I am guessing you are from Colorado :laugh:

Wulfmann
 
RC

This is going to cause a stir I'm sure but a RC has absolutely NO value to me. That is my opinion and many on here share it. I want a k98 that is original.....not screwed with. If he can buy an undicked with bolt mismatch that he can get his money back out of....that to me is worth more than buying a post war bubba job or a communist whack job rifle.
 
This seller often makes mistakes on his description of K98s that his is trying to sell. He doesn't check all the numbers, over rates bore condition and over rates the blueing % in his descriptions from the dealing I have had with him. He also has a byf 45 for sale that he says is matching. After getting more pictures I informed him the rifle has issues. Wrong stock, wrong trigger guard and the stripper clip guide is ground off the back of the receiver. I think there was some more too but I forget now. He still doesn't mention all of the problems with the rifle in his add. So just be careful...
 
Try to get some detailed pictures and post here. Not all refinished rifles are equal. If the metal was not buffed and the original markings are still sharp, that means a lot. I think this rifle is considerably more valuable than an RC. They are also reblued and sanded, and totally mismatched. This rifle still has some historical value in that all parts are original to the rifle and show how dou was configuring them at this period in time. If truly all matching, i.e. not renumbered and the bore is excellent. It would make a great shooter that would probably appreciate in value. I think it would unquestionability bring a premium over an RC, the question is how much. I recently looked over a collection of about 50 RCs that were all available at $400. each, so that is my baseline. I would put a $150. premium on this rifle so say value of $550? I think on Gunbroker it would bring $600. Buyers there like pretty.

I completely understand that a seasoned collector would say this rifle, or an RC, has zero collector interest, but we must realize that the RC importations brought lots of new entry level collectors into the hobby, (a Good Thing) and they can't always afford, or have the comfort level to jump directly into a $2000. original matching example.

Again just my opinion and I respect thats others will differ.
 
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runner said:
Try to get some detailed pictures and post here. Not all refinished rifles are equal. If the metal was not buffed and the original markings are still sharp, that means a lot. I think this rifle is considerably more valuable than an RC. They are also rebelled and sanded, and totally mismatched. This rifle still has some historical value in that all parts are original to the rifle and show how duo was configuring them at this period in time. If truly all matching, i.e. not renumbered and the bore is excellent. It would make a great shooter that would probably appreciate in value. I think it would unquestionability bring a premium over an RC, the question is how much. I recently looked over a collection of about 50 RCs that were all available at $400. each, so that is my baseline. I would put a $150. premium on this rifle so say value of $550? I think on Gunbroker it would bring $600. Buyers there like pretty.

I completely understand that a seasoned collector would say this rifle, or an RC, has zero collector interest, but we must realize that the RC importations brought lots of new entry level collectors into the hobby, (a Good Thing) and they can't always afford, or have the comfort level to jump directly into a $2000. original matching example.

Again just my opinion and I respect thats others will differ.
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The only argument against your logic is that russian captures are at bare minimum an official government refurb, while bubbas gunshop hot blue is just that. IMHO
 
bsd said:
This seller often makes mistakes on his description of K98s that his is trying to sell. He doesn't check all the numbers, over rates bore condition and over rates the blueing % in his descriptions from the dealing I have had with him. He also has a byf 45 for sale that he says is matching. After getting more pictures I informed him the rifle has issues. Wrong stock, wrong trigger guard and the stripper clip guide is ground off the back of the receiver. I think there was some more too but I forget now. He still doesn't mention all of the problems with the rifle in his add. So just be careful...
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So are you saying that the byf45 or the dou44 has the wrong stock, trigger guard, and stripper clip guide ground? If you still have them, post the pics he sent you.
 
The byf has the wrong stock etc. Deleted the pictures long ago. The reason I brought that up is for you to ask for pictures and do a complete check on the rifle when you first get it to make sure it is what you wanted.
 
bsd said:
The byf has the wrong stock etc. Deleted the pictures long ago. The reason I brought that up is for you to ask for pictures and do a complete check on the rifle when you first get it to make sure it is what you wanted.
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Thanks for the heads-up.
 
Dou 44

I was at my neighbors talking guns when he produced a model 98 German Mauser. He had found it in a cave in Vietnam in 1969 and bought it back. I know very little about rifles (more of a handgun guy), but being a history buff and knowing a little bit about German firearms I felt that I had a small piece of history in my hands.
My neighbor has had no interest in guns until recently and asked me to see if the the rifle could be restored to shooting condition. I'm posting here to obtain more information as to the history of the gun and if it is a good idea to restore it. I'm attaching photos of the gun and the markings. I've found that it is a 1944 build at the Waffenwerke Brunn in Bystrica Czhecoslovakia. It has matching serial #s (856) on the receiver and stock and 855 on the bolt. The front ring markings 3972 don't match and I can find no markings on the rear ring. Iv'e read that serial nos. from this factory for the period did not start this low so I don't know what to think.
The stock is in very poor structural condition (multiple cracks) but the receiver, barrel, bolt and other parts are ok except for some rust and pitting (bore looks great). It is missing the floorplate, mag spring, mag follower and set screws. Iv'e had no problem locating replacements. This, a new stock and a little work would make this a shooting rifle once more. Please feel free to share your thoughts on this.
 

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falcon said:
I was at my neighbors talking guns when he produced a model 98 German Mauser. He had found it in a cave in Vietnam in 1969 and bought it back. I know very little about rifles (more of a handgun guy), but being a history buff and knowing a little bit about German firearms I felt that I had a small piece of history in my hands.
My neighbor has had no interest in guns until recently and asked me to see if the the rifle could be restored to shooting condition. I'm posting here to obtain more information as to the history of the gun and if it is a good idea to restore it. I'm attaching photos of the gun and the markings. I've found that it is a 1944 build at the Waffenwerke Brunn in Bystrica Czhecoslovakia. It has matching serial #s (856) on the receiver and stock and 855 on the bolt. The front ring markings 3972 don't match and I can find no markings on the rear ring. Iv'e read that serial nos. from this factory for the period did not start this low so I don't know what to think.
The stock is in very poor structural condition (multiple cracks) but the receiver, barrel, bolt and other parts are ok except for some rust and pitting (bore looks great). It is missing the floorplate, mag spring, mag follower and set screws. Iv'e had no problem locating replacements. This, a new stock and a little work would make this a shooting rifle once more. Please feel free to share your thoughts on this.
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Never a good idea to restore anything. Look at the OPs rifle in question. Stop the active rust and never more quoth the raven. Find the parts to shoot it though. To some folks even if it has no import marks it will be an RC stored by a water heater.
 
CanadianAR said:
The only argument against your logic is that russian captures are at bare minimum an official government refurb, while bubbas gunshop hot blue is just that. IMHO
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This. I've become more appreciative of RCs for the research information they've provided and for their own historical value. They also provide entry collectors a gateway drug ;) I'd like to find a really nice "original condition" RC but the longer I wait the tougher and more expensive it gets.
 
falcon, Clean off the active rust with that Kroil oil and some bronze wool. Apply a thick coat of Rust Inhibiting Grease/RIG. Suggest that your neighbor look long and hard for any documents, pictures, whatever he can to link it to VN capture. If VN capture can be verified, the rifle has quite a bit of value. Russian captured have turned up documented as VN captures, so it is certainly possible.

If he wants a shooter, get an RC or mismatched rifle to shoot and this one should remain a relic IMO.
 
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