Third Party Press

Newbie needing help

J

JoeUK

Member
Hi guys, im new to shooting and looking to get my first mauser over in the uk. I have been offered this one and been doing alot of reading. Looks in good order, almost too good with the stock but wondered if trained eyes could see anything here thats not adding up or of concern. 1941 BCD mill stamped. Im told all numbers are matching on the gun. D4085F16-C332-441E-BCA4-700B39E5CD92.jpegDD86CD65-7393-4B46-B148-96099FE9CBFF.jpegD216F712-8C80-43DB-9D18-ADB7ADF7146E.jpeg6B1ABEC4-FEC0-4FFB-B671-D0E40C49FE35.jpegThanks for your help
 
Greetings. More photos of the rifle would be necessary for a better observation. Anything with serial numbers; Bolt assembly, floor plate, front and rear sights, front and rear bands, buttstock, and stock. However, from the photographs shown, it appears the stock may have been sanded.
 
Last edited:
I can tell right off the bat that it is not all matching as described. While I cannot see the bolt in detail in the first pic, I can see enough to definitively say the bolt doesn’t match.
 
Looks like a possible Russian Capture (RC). Stock has been heavily sanded and refinished, all the metal has been refinished. You can also faintly make out the electro pencil serial # on top of the bolt.

RCs are a neat piece of history(I find them just as cool historically speaking as a bring back), they are rarely if ever truly all matching. Most are completely mismatched other than the barrel and receiver. The Russians would EP(electro pencil) serial # the trigger guard, floorplate, bolt and sometimes other parts to "match" the serial # on the receiver and they'd often sand down the side of the stock and restamp in the wood the SN as well.

Hard to tell from the pictures.. That bluing just gives off strong RC vibes to me.
 
Herk1994 said:
I can tell right off the bat that it is not all matching as described. While I cannot see the bolt in detail in the first pic, I can see enough to definitively say the bolt doesn’t match.
Click to expand...
hello Herk, thanks for the reply. Do you mind advising how you know they are non matching so i know what to look out for as i am new to this. I can also go back to the seller to advise him of this. Thanks in advance, joe
 
JoeUK said:
Thats for the reply, i definitely thought the stock was for sure. I am assuming if it has then its value is probably significantly decreased?
Click to expand...
I'm unsure the rifle values in Europe. It's going to be nowhere near the value of a true matching/unmessed with rifle. For example, that rifle as an RC in the US would go for around $1000. That same rifle, original matching and unmessed with would go for at least $2500 imo. You need to take American gun values with a grain of salt because it'll be totally different than elsewhere.

It also looks to me like someone further spiced that stock up. That does not look like the shellac the Rus would have applied. The sling will add some value if it's legit. But for all I know that could be a yugo or an Israeli post war sling.(I'm not a sling guy.)
 
ncreptile said:
I'm unsure the rifle values in Europe. It's going to be nowhere near the value of a true matching/unmessed with rifle. For example, that rifle as an RC in the US would go for around $1000. That same rifle, original matching and unmessed with would go for at least $2500 imo. You need to take American gun values with a grain of salt because it'll be totally different than elsewhere.

It also looks to me like someone further spiced that stock up. That does not look like the shellac the Rus would have applied. The sling will add some value if it's legit. But for all I know that could be a yugo or an Israeli post war sling.(I'm not a sling guy.)
Click to expand...
Thanks mate really appreciate your time and knowledge. To be fair he only wants about £500 for that rifle which is significanly below your estimate and things here have gone up alot! I wanted one to shoot anyway so wasnt after a museum piece so maybe i will consider it still. Thanks again
 
JoeUK said:
Thanks mate really appreciate your time and knowledge. To be fair he only wants about £500 for that rifle which is significanly below your estimate and things here have gone up alot! I wanted one to shoot anyway so wasnt after a museum piece so maybe i will consider it still. Thanks again
Click to expand...
That sounds fine and reasonable to me, especially if you're looking for a 'shooter'. You can clearly see where they worked to remove the electro pencil serial number on the bolt and from study we know what acceptance should be on parts from certain manufacturers.
 
JoeUK said:
Thanks mate really appreciate your time and knowledge. To be fair he only wants about £500 for that rifle which is significanly below your estimate and things here have gone up alot! I wanted one to shoot anyway so wasnt after a museum piece so maybe i will consider it still. Thanks again
Click to expand...
for $635 USD I wouldn’t leave the store without it, understanding your goals of a representative example, shooter grade rifle, assuming full function. From the pix, it’s not a bad looking example, though one can see that it has seen some ‘enhancement’. Values are a bit inflated in the US gun market (IMO), if I had no others, & came across that one I think it might follow me home.
See if the seller will allow a takedown inspection, so you can be certain that there is no wood breakout behind the recoil lug. Only the trigger guard need be removed, you’d be looking closely with bright torch at the front wall of the t guard recess for a horizontal crack or shelf. If the wood is solid there (& elsewhere, wrist area) I’d go for it, if cracked, pass. For a shooter, this must be solid, or repaired because continued shooting will split the stock.
 
ncreptile said:
I'm unsure the rifle values in Europe. It's going to be nowhere near the value of a true matching/unmessed with rifle. For example, that rifle as an RC in the US would go for around $1000. That same rifle, original matching and unmessed with would go for at least $2500 imo. You need to take American gun values with a grain of salt because it'll be totally different than elsewhere.

It also looks to me like someone further spiced that stock up. That does not look like the shellac the Rus would have applied. The sling will add some value if it's legit. But for all I know that could be a yugo or an Israeli post war sling.(I'm not a sling guy.)
Click to expand...

RC prices have gone way up in the last few years, but $1000 for a BCD 41 is still really high. A quick and dirty flip through of auctions completed on GB in the last 30 days points to about $500-800 being the norm for common years and codes, higher for the unusual stuff that is hard to get in any condition.

edit: but seconding that 500 pounds for that rifle is totally fair. I wouldn't feel bad about taking it home at $625 USD.
 
One thing I will say is that I don't like that stock. Whoever refinished it tried way too hard, I don't know if it's a shellac or if it's stained or what but it looks way too red.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me at that price, especially if the local pickings on K98ks were fairly thin, but it's something that I'd be keeping my eyes out for a replacement stock down the road. Thankfully that's relatively inexpensive if you aren't looking for a specific maker/type/etc and easy to swap out.

But, again, that's purely an aesthetic consideration.
 
You don’t seem to see a lot of nice 98k’s in the UK, assuming that’s where you are. If this is the case I’d buy it if it’s a good price. It is nice by UK standards, no offense, just referring to 98k’s here. (Been to the UK many many times and it’s really a fantastic part of the world)

The bolt numbers run parallel to the handle, they should run perpendicular to it. That’s what I meant by the bolt numbers.

Also, check the headspace to ensure safety if you do purchase this. You can always procure a proper bolt on eBay or wherever you choose, won’t match but would be a proper bolt that might headspace too.
 
Cyrano4747 said:
RC prices have gone way up in the last few years, but $1000 for a BCD 41 is still really high. A quick and dirty flip through of auctions completed on GB in the last 30 days points to about $500-800 being the norm for common years and codes, higher for the unusual stuff that is hard to get in any condition.

edit: but seconding that 500 pounds for that rifle is totally fair. I wouldn't feel bad about taking it home at $625 USD.
Click to expand...
Not saying you're wrong, but searching completed auctions on GB is showing me $750 minimum and it's for this one in not the greatest shape.
I have not seen an RC in decent shape go below $750 in a long while. Of course I am searching terms "rc k98k" and "russian capture k98k", so you may be seeing things popping up that didn't include that in title/description.

Seen plenty of Yugo repurposed(and scrubbed) k98ks go for $500-700, but those are not the same.
 
Last edited:
ncreptile said:
Not saying you're wrong, but searching completed auctions on GB is showing me $750 minimum and it's for this one in not the greatest shape.
I have not seen an RC in decent shape go below $750 in a long while. Of course I am searching terms "rc k98k" and "russian capture k98k", so you may be seeing things popping up that didn't include that in title/description.

Seen plenty of Yugo repurposed(and scrubbed) k98ks go for $500-700, but those are not the same.
Click to expand...

I'm just searching "k98k" and "K98" and the like. There are way more that are listed without actually referencing them being an RC. Here's a pretty typical one that went for $550 with a single bid.

You've got to poke around a bit and do the standard GB thing of sorting through a bunch of listings. But seeing them go for sub-$750 isn't a weird anomaly. You do see them go higher as well, but you see all sorts of wonky crap on GB. A $500-700 RC is still very much obtainable on GB these days.
 
Cyrano4747 said:
One thing I will say is that I don't like that stock. Whoever refinished it tried way too hard, I don't know if it's a shellac or if it's stained or what but it looks way too red.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me at that price, especially if the local pickings on K98ks were fairly thin, but it's something that I'd be keeping my eyes out for a replacement stock down the road. Thankfully that's relatively inexpensive if you aren't looking for a specific maker/type/etc and easy to swap out.

But, again, that's purely an aesthetic consideration.
Click to expand...
the stock finish looks too nice to be russian red shellac, but ?
looks like sanded to remove most blemishes, & stained with a ‘cherry’ wood stain. I might be tempted to remove the bands & rub the wood beneath with a patch moistened w/mineral sprits to see if the color lifts off. If not, then try again with methanol, if still not color on the patch I’d stop. IF the finish is any kind of polyurethane, it’s hard (not impossible) to remove it without it LOOKING like you did.

If you look at the two rifle links to gb in this thread, you’ll see how red this one looks in comparison. Not really a bad color, just not ‘correct’ for a K98k.
 
Cyrano4747 said:
I'm just searching "k98k" and "K98" and the like. There are way more that are listed without actually referencing them being an RC. Here's a pretty typical one that went for $550 with a single bid.

You've got to poke around a bit and do the standard GB thing of sorting through a bunch of listings. But seeing them go for sub-$750 isn't a weird anomaly. You do see them go higher as well, but you see all sorts of wonky crap on GB. A $500-700 RC is still very much obtainable on GB these days.
Click to expand...
The one you listed was from a scammer, which is why it sold for so low. (See his feedback.)
Not trying to argue with you at all.. Just saying you have to be careful on GB, if it's too good to be true, it usually is.

Being a dealer myself, if I could find a source for RCs @ sub $600, I'd be all over it.
 
Just want to say thank again for all the input from everyone. Very helpful and informative for a newbie like me. You are correct we have alot less shooters in the UK as the laws make it a marathon to get a license and so the pool of guns is obviously less. I have been looking for a while an not many Genuine 98ks come up and those that so are a heavy price or have been shot to the point of no return. I do love the ww2 bits though so maybe ill get something else for now and keep an eye out for the right one to pop up! Thanks again all great forum
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Military Rifle Journal
Back
Top