Thoughts on a RC BCD43 and RCs in general.

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artyldr01

Senior Member
Updated info on RC bcd 43...I think I can control my OCD...

Good Evening.

I am new to Mausers having focused on Mosin Nagants lately, but I own a Romanian Contract vz24 and Swedish M96. I also have a transitional Gewehr 98 on layaway. The ultimate though, is the K98k. I bought "Backbone of the Wehrmacht," researching here and elsewhere, and talking to friends but ultimately collecting the K98k is a bit baffling still. I have a very patient person who I am hoping to buy my first non-Russian Capture from, but I stumbled on a Russian Capture bcd 43 at a local pawnshop. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos but it appears to be a standard, electro-pencilled, refinished, replaced stock rifle. It is priced at $449.99. I know it isn't the rarest make of K98k out there, but, all things being equal, is it of interest at that price or just kind of standard. I passed on a 1940 RC 337 marked rifle that I now understand was probably worth grabbing, even as an RC.

I myself like the idea of an RC, just knowing the history they represent, but I know more original is generally more desirable. Do RC values fluctuate based on manufacture or are their prices more stable and commensurate with each other because they were generally refinished, mixmasters?

Thanks

///UPDATE///

Well, I went back and looked at the bcd 43 in my local pawn shop. Normally the shops around here let me take photos to do my research but this one wouldn't. So, what I saw was standard RC refinished and electropenciled. However it seems, based on my newbie research, that the TYPES of parts are right, ie. milled-solid upper band, milled lower band, milled trigger housing and magazine plate. In the short time I could tell (or remember from research) I believe the waffenampt and firing proofs are the correct nazi eagle type. Like a dummy I neglected to note the SN, it was four digits with a suffix I believe. No sight hood, no cleaning rod and the front capture screw was missing. The laminated stock had the cupped buttplate. Rifling was strong but dirty (no surprise). So, all in all it appears to be what I have narrowed in on as my requirements for an RC, "correct" types of parts, even if mismatched.

That said, at $450 it seems to be pretty "market" value so I think I will be, hard though it may be, to keep focussed on the bolt mis-matched I am saving for!

Thanks again!

Niels
 
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Welcome to the forum. R/C rifles are collectable to some, shooters to others and junk to some. I like their history and like to shoot them, but would rather spend money on a matching or bolt mm rifle. Prices have went steadily up on R/C rifles and condition and or rarity of a code with generally bring a premium over a run of the mill R/C. Where the prices are now on them, I would prefer a bolt mm rifle or a rescued sporter with a mm stock and matching metal for a little more money. If buying the R/C will use cash that will keep you from getting the matching gun, I would hold off.
 
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mauser202 said:
Welcome to the forum. R/C rifles are collectable to some, shooters to others and junk to some. I like their history and like to shoot them. But would rather spend money on a matching or bolt mm rifle. Price have went steadily up on R/C rifles and condition and or rarity of a code with generally bring a premium on a run of the mill R/C. Where the prices are now on them I would prefer a bolt mm rifle or a rescued sporter with a mm stock. It matching metal for a little more money. If buying the R/C will use cash that will keep you from getting the matching gun, I would hold off.
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Thank you very much for the perspective and assistance!
 
Buy one (1). At least to start.

Check the bore and the action. Check the stock carefully for cracks.

Try to find one from the maker you want (for no rational reason I like BNZs). Buy one with clear markings that haven't been defaced or peened.

For a decent RC you are in the $400 to $600 range.

If you just want a starter for less than $400, check out Allan's Armory, but read carefully and understand that you are buying a Mauser k98, and that's it.

I say only buy one because after you get it, your collecting ethos will really develop. This is an expensive and addictive hobby. You need to be more circumspect about where you put your dollars than with Mosins. They were my entry level "drug" too!
 
One more thing. You need to be very, very careful in buying these Mausers. Research is key, but even with that, there are a lot of rifles out there that fraudulent claims are made about to boost the sale price. The guys on this forum are extremely knowledgable about k98s and are very generous in sharing their knowledge (I'm referring to the senior members). Ask when you have questions, if there is something you don't understand, or if something doesn't feel/look right.
 
Best advice I can give is to go over to forums.gunboards.com.....specifically the k98 section there.... And do a search. You will find oodles of threads answerig your questions on RCs, the topic has been absolutely beaten to death. Most in this site do not care for them, but there are some other perspectives presented there also.
 
djbuck1 said:
Buy one (1). At least to start.

Check the bore and the action. Check the stock carefully for cracks.

Try to find one from the maker you want (for no rational reason I like BNZs). Buy one with clear markings that haven't been defaced or peened.

For a decent RC you are in the $400 to $600 range.

If you just want a starter for less than $400, check out Allan's Armory, but read carefully and understand that you are buying a Mauser k98, and that's it.

I say only buy one because after you get it, your collecting ethos will really develop. This is an expensive and addictive hobby. You need to be more circumspect about where you put your dollars than with Mosins. They were my entry level "drug" too!
Click to expand...



+1

Buy an RC its a great place to start. I purchased 25 of them when they were cheap $200. -$300. from 2000 to 2008 despite the advice of some of the so called experts that they were junk and had no collector value.:laugh: It was one of the best investments I ever made. Over the last 2 years Iv'e sold off 13 of them and most have sold for 50% to 100% of what I purchased them for.

RC's are honest Guns and for the most part you won't have to worry about them being humped. (stay away from Mitchell's Mausers)

Try to find one that has a good bore/ stock and has not been peened. Yes I have moved on to other collectible Firearms but the RC will always hold a special place in my Firearms collection.

HDH.
 
My response would depend on if you just want one representative example, or intend to continue to collect K98ks. If you just want one I would use the money toward a bolt mm or matching example. These can be had at reasonable cost. I purchased a matching but bolt 42 code 1940 for $500. just last month and it came with an original muzzle cap. If this will just be your entry into mauser K98ks and you intend to grow the collection, starting with a RC would be ok as it is a opportunity to study the rifles, the rifle will probably have a wide variety of parts from both a variation and maker perspective. Studying the history of each individual part can be very informative.

good luck
 
Thank you all very much. I guess initially my intent is to have a good representative example...but that was my logic when I added three various Enfields and 15 Mosin Nagants! I did start researching first and this and Gunboards have been absolutely indespensable in researching.

As was stated above, the K98k (and for that matter the Gewehr 98s) have the potential for high cost and high fraud. This is why I want to get smart first. Eventually I'd like a correct rifle, and actually have a line on a non-import, non-RC, bolt mismatch for what I believe is a very reasonable price that I am working on. But every time I see an RC in the store I start twitching.

I have gotten smart on the Mosin Nagant and now am very smart on what to snatch instantly, what can wait and what to avoid. I just have much more to learn on the K98k and frankly, the cost of entry into this game is much higher than a "starter" MN! I will not be able to get as deep into the K98k as I did the MN so I want them to be the right ones.

I guess what I would like in an RC is one that may be a total mixmaster but at least has correct type of parts, (should it be milled or stamped, correct waffenampt, type of stock, etc). I guess carrying my copy of BBoTW in my car is a must for now until I can spot a period correct rifle!

Frankly, I think the RCs have just as interesting a history as a matching rifle, but there is defintitely something to seeing a rifle, potentially untouched since it left the European Theater!

The BCD43 I see locally is interesting and at $450 seems a good price but I need to go back and take a closer look and get smart! I'll take some photos if they'll let me. I tend to like the pre-war Mausers with Weimar markings over Nazi, and the BSW marking looks neat but other than that I really have no basis to what I like and why yet.

I'll keep reading here and at Gunboards and reaching out when needed. Thank you all VERY much! Any other advise is certainly appreciated!

Merry Christmas!
 
Be very, very careful as Elmer would say....

I bought my first K98 RC about eight years ago (bcd41). I now have close to 100 milsups and have had the collecting bug since.

Then again, firearms and authentic WWII collectibles have done much better than my stocks/bonds over those years.
 
agentcq said:
Be very, very careful as Elmer would say....

I bought my first K98 RC about eight years ago (bcd41). I now have close to 100 milsups and have had the collecting bug since.

Then again, firearms and authentic WWII collectibles have done much better than my stocks/bonds over those years.
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I've already been heavily bitten by the milsurp bug. I had an M1, Model 1917 rifle, M1911 for well over a decade...then I opened my eyes to foreign weapons by stumbling on a beautiful Webley Mark VI, unshaved, for $199! That kicked me down the British path...three Enfields later, someone or something pushed me over my arrogance towards Mosin Nagants...15 later...throw in the odd Gustav M1896, Erfurt M1888, Danzig Gewehr 98 transitional, a couple FN 640b "Hi Powers," a Czech (Romanian Contract) Vz24...now I'm ready for the big leagues!

I too agree (and sell it to the wife) that these are a much better investment than stocks!
 
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