Hey everyone. A couple years ago I picked up what appears to be an unfired Mitchell m63 chambered in 8mm. Does anyone know the history behind these? I've read some on the internet but wondering if its worth hanging onto or if there is even any sort of market for a rifle like this. Thanks everyone!
Mitchell Tanker 8mm
- Thread starter Ethan
- Start date
Muncher 1953
Senior Member
Please don’t take personal offense, but I’m going to criticize your rifle a bit. (& maybe burst your bubble)
All rifles “processed” by Mitchell’s Mausers are refinished rifles made from non matching parts & renumbered to “match” but they are like a repainted & restored ‘57 Chevy Bel Air coupe, look cool, are ‘real’ firearms but NOT a real German WW2 K98k rifle, and their value is comparatively low, because of what Mitchell does.
1st off, its a post war Yugoslav made rifle (Zastava Arms) made in a length never used by any German soldier EVER. There’s ‘no such thing’ as a ‘tanker rifle’ in terms of German K98k rifles & German tank crews. Machine pistols, yes, carbines shorter than a K98k, no. that’s pure sales & marketing fantasy. Yugoslav tank crews might have used them in the 1950s-60s, but not German panzer crews in WW2.
The history is that Don Mitchell made a business & brand out of buying surplus rifles & refinishing them, & in the case of K98k rifles, issuing a made-up “certificate of authenticity” that is meaningless. When they ran out of genuine russian capture K98ks they went to more available similar rifles like the M48 & M48a models. I hadn’t seen a Mitchell’s M63 before, decent pix for your 1st post here.
“Never fired” is a marketing idea, all firearms are test fired before proof marking & offering for sale. All countries around the world, no exceptions. Not fired since refinishing, & so ‘unmarked’ definitely.
So value? I’m sorry, but likely less than you paid unless it was cheap. Resale? If say someone wanted it for their office wall, perhaps the best opportunity, or as an 8mm shooter? Perfect for burning off some 8mm ammo, but little or no collecting value.
I sincerely hope that you stick around, there are good collectible rifles for sale here regularly, at entry & higher levels. Look thru the Photo Reference section of the forum to see what collectible rifles look like, & ask questions before you buy the next one.
All rifles “processed” by Mitchell’s Mausers are refinished rifles made from non matching parts & renumbered to “match” but they are like a repainted & restored ‘57 Chevy Bel Air coupe, look cool, are ‘real’ firearms but NOT a real German WW2 K98k rifle, and their value is comparatively low, because of what Mitchell does.
1st off, its a post war Yugoslav made rifle (Zastava Arms) made in a length never used by any German soldier EVER. There’s ‘no such thing’ as a ‘tanker rifle’ in terms of German K98k rifles & German tank crews. Machine pistols, yes, carbines shorter than a K98k, no. that’s pure sales & marketing fantasy. Yugoslav tank crews might have used them in the 1950s-60s, but not German panzer crews in WW2.
The history is that Don Mitchell made a business & brand out of buying surplus rifles & refinishing them, & in the case of K98k rifles, issuing a made-up “certificate of authenticity” that is meaningless. When they ran out of genuine russian capture K98ks they went to more available similar rifles like the M48 & M48a models. I hadn’t seen a Mitchell’s M63 before, decent pix for your 1st post here.
“Never fired” is a marketing idea, all firearms are test fired before proof marking & offering for sale. All countries around the world, no exceptions. Not fired since refinishing, & so ‘unmarked’ definitely.
So value? I’m sorry, but likely less than you paid unless it was cheap. Resale? If say someone wanted it for their office wall, perhaps the best opportunity, or as an 8mm shooter? Perfect for burning off some 8mm ammo, but little or no collecting value.
I sincerely hope that you stick around, there are good collectible rifles for sale here regularly, at entry & higher levels. Look thru the Photo Reference section of the forum to see what collectible rifles look like, & ask questions before you buy the next one.
Hey muncher no offense taken at all! I picked it up a couple years ago cheap for basically a short woods gun/plinker. I have a couple k98s now and would rather have something historical rather than the m63. I was hoping there would be some cult following for them!
Jakeman664
Junior Member
These weren't sold as "secret nahtzee wunderwaffen" these were I believe produced new or off existing M48 receivers by Zavasta for Mitchell's. Cashing in on the "tanker" short rifle fad with like the M1 Garand "tanker" or shortened military rifles that importers sold in the 50's.
Muncher 1953
Senior Member
short rifles are well suited to mounted operators, whether horse, camel, motorcycle or armored vehicle. ‘cavalry’!
heavy_mech
RKI- Reasonably Knowledgable Individual
This is my understanding as well, in that he had these 'made up' by Zastava for that exact reason.
heavy_mech
RKI- Reasonably Knowledgable Individual
I hear you. The M95 short Mannlichers in 8x56 are a hoot too.
Never had the pleasure, hopefully I run in to a recoil junkie at the range some time.
