My mom told me he brought it home after ww2 but doesn't know if he altered it(sporterized). I assume it has been altered based on what I've seen online, but idk if it was done by its German owner or my grandfather. I'm also wondering what its value is
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What is my grandfathers mod 98 worth?
- Thread starter Familyshooter
- Start date
It’s a pretty sporter with a nice looking stock, but it probably won’t fetch much value in resale, you see sporterized mausers in varying condition pretty regularly selling for $200-500 with old hunting scopes attached. I’d say keep it and shoot it for sentimental value.
1960's (or thereabouts) Fajen stock... you could order and drop a 98 right into it with minimal work.
The rifle itself doesn't seem to have been really altered, though. Markings good, bolt not changed. Even the ladder sight is intact. As a restoration project, you could put that in an (original) or good reproduction stock and turn it back into its 'as-captured' configuration pretty easily. And if you have your grandfather's 'bring back' papers or a good provenance from your grandmother or family... GI Bringback rifles are always in demand when they can be associated with a soldier or family.
It's a pretty sporter. Some were plug-ugly and butchered. So you can leave it as he 'created it.' Or restore it and I don't think it's a losing proposition when you have his history to go with it.
Thanks for posting!
Cheers,
Sirhr
The rifle itself doesn't seem to have been really altered, though. Markings good, bolt not changed. Even the ladder sight is intact. As a restoration project, you could put that in an (original) or good reproduction stock and turn it back into its 'as-captured' configuration pretty easily. And if you have your grandfather's 'bring back' papers or a good provenance from your grandmother or family... GI Bringback rifles are always in demand when they can be associated with a soldier or family.
It's a pretty sporter. Some were plug-ugly and butchered. So you can leave it as he 'created it.' Or restore it and I don't think it's a losing proposition when you have his history to go with it.
Thanks for posting!
Cheers,
Sirhr
I agree that it does not appear altered. Many lost the front sight and were drilled for various mounts. There are a number of sources for reproduction stocks, as originals have become somewhat scarce.
has both original and reproduction.
Rifle Stocks - Liberty Tree Collectors
www.libertytreecollectors.com
As jphill mentioned above, perhaps $500 on gunbroker.... perhaps.
You'd need a stock assembly, barrel band, and a forend cap to restore. Unless a true passion project, I'd leave it as is and keep it in the family.
If you restored with original, mismatched K98k parts, it would probably be a $800 rifle in the right sale venue unless the rust spots are worse than they look or the bore is bad.
You'd need a stock assembly, barrel band, and a forend cap to restore. Unless a true passion project, I'd leave it as is and keep it in the family.
If you restored with original, mismatched K98k parts, it would probably be a $800 rifle in the right sale venue unless the rust spots are worse than they look or the bore is bad.
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That's a few years ago prices. Pretty much nothing "Mauser" is going for less than $400 nowdays.
here you would be lucky to get $250. if it was in original config it would be about $500 if the bore was fairly good. $700 if it was a perfect bore
I would pick up what you can at those prices. They are going up. Don't pay atrocious, "I'll never see one again." prices, but good ones for $250 will fetch you back another $100 on GB or Armslist. Even where you're at they will increase.
I'm not saying they are the greatest thing since sliced pie, and I love 'em, but they are going up.
I agree with the above, probably $250-350 as is. It appears to be matching with a non-matching bolt that matches itself which is very common. I'd say if it was left in original condition (original laminate stock with matching hardware) it'd go pretty easily at $1500+ through Simpson Ltd. or the like. A guy always likes to find deals when buying but there are a surprising number of people out there that will pay a LOT for various collectible genres, and 'Germany WWII' attracts the some of the wildest of them that I've seen. I browse the "what's new" page on Simpson's in the shitter at work and it's amazing to me how quickly K98's from sporterized to pristine sell after being posted for prices that I think are 20-50% inflated... but if people pay it, I guess it's not that inflated.
ETA: If you were to replace the stock with an original I'd say you might be able to get $700 out of it. A little more than the going rate for Russian captured rifles.
ETA: If you were to replace the stock with an original I'd say you might be able to get $700 out of it. A little more than the going rate for Russian captured rifles.
You should see the prices of k98 in Aus .nothing under $3k AUD ( $2000 USD +/- )
A matching gun is in the 3.8- 5k +
A matching gun is in the 3.8- 5k +
He should probably pick up all he can at those prices. At worst, he could resell online and double his money.
An average condition Russian Capture K98k on gunbroker looks more like $700. A mismatched bringback in decent shape will close in on $1000, with an all-matching rifle nearing $2000. I see the same prices locally, and they go fast.
Lot of people think 5-10 years behind on milsurp prices. German Second World War guns have almost doubled in that time.
FWIW, the rifle was manufactured at Mauser AG Oberndorff, 1942. They along with Steyr and Sauer & Sohn were the biggest manufacturers of wartime Mausers.
I would not put a price on it. Don't let money be more important than memories.
