The Good, the not-so Bad, and the Ugly tale of a bring back 98k
It took me a while to put this together, and for the mean time I need to dispense with photos, but I hope I can compell your interest in my story....
I am currently working out the details with a seller for a bnz. 43 K98k Mauser.
I have inspected the offering as closely as has been possible via the two dozen or so ledgible photographs provided to me by the broker that introduced me to the rifle.
I find myself confident that the seller is who he says, and is offering me an authentic Vet bring back in very good condition.
Of the overall description and photo portrayal of the gun I am finding only a few flaws, one of which, I am unable to describe as really a flaw, but maybe just an example of "I wish it were otherwise".
Let me explain: The bolt & it's closely related parts reflect matching serial number of 7xx8, but that number does not match all of the other easily inspected pieces on the gun, which have a number 3xx0 on the reciever, trigger guard, floor plate, and forward barrel band. I haven't been able to dismantle and inspect the rest of the metal parts nor the stock, and won't be able to until I have purchased it and awaited it's delivery from a neighboring state.
Since the aforementioned broker is a clergyman working on behalf of an aged fellow's family, I have little reason to suspect anything other than what I have been told about the rifle's origin & history. The aged fellow is a Vet who brought the 98 and several other guns home with him from the European theater.
So, I am in the process of laying claim to a two serial numbered gun.
The blueing on everything BUT the bolt & it's closely related parts is worn through to a fairly even mottled grey, the bolt being a much darker, but NOT unused blued tone. I'm more than willing to accept the rifle as an in-use armory refit.
I will certainly inspect & otherwise check the head space & such upon reciept.
The obvious markings on the barrel are 84 to the left of a cartouche of "W" inside of two segmented circles (what does this mean?) with a capitol "B" and a lower case "o" with a pair of dots above it on the right side.
There are numerous Waffenamt and additional tiny number/letter markings all over the area of the receiver and barrel joint.
The bnz. and 43 markings are of the smallest & lightest strike variety with that I have seen.
The cupped butt plate is the only part that I see that reflects any corrosion to speak of, and actually I'd consider that almost expected from an authentic battle rifle that has sat on that butt plate in a closet for most all of the past 65 years or so.
The metal-work around the coupler on the bayonet shows some prominent freckling that doesn't extend beyond the bakelite? grip panels (blood?). The blade is spotless & marked 2242 with a stylized "L" or something under the number. The sheath body is an aged patina that matches the rest of the rig nicely. And to top the bayonet off is an intact leather frog that has survived the last 70 years VERY nicely.
Now I will get to the FLAW as I see it. The rear sight ladder pivots on a tube that is wrapped around the barrel. Someone, I don't know who, used an electro-pencil to inscribe what I suspect is the old fella's Social Security number onto that tube on the same side as the bolt handle. Now, I know the number has the same 9 digits as a S.S.I. number, but I am not able
to verify that is actually what it is. Could it be the Vet's serial number? The other three guns in the collection bear the same number I have been told. An auto pistol that I have seen photos of has been marked with the same number in a barely more "workmanlike"? method, so I'm pretty sure that the number is related to the Vet somehow.
This "flaw" on the Mauser is ugly and deep enough that when another "someone" attempted to scrub it off with some sort of abrasive that it is STILL legible, and, they marked up the barrel finish a bit right behind the sight sleeve (not HORRIBLY so, but, all the same, they introduced some ugly there also). Thankfully, whoever messed with the rifle didn't touch the walnut stock with thier efforts, but it still made me want to spit & curse when I saw the result.
Honestly, the "flaw" and it's accompanying "mistake" are not REAL bad, (it certainly isn't a museum piece anymore) but it has affected the overall appearance enough that if the bore wasn't as bright and clean as it is, I would have been tempted to complain about the price.
How hard is it to remove and replace the sight sleeve?
Are the sight sleeves numbered? The broker/clergyman mentioned a mark " f f "? on the sleeve body, but nothing else so far.
I don't know whether replacement or refinish/camoflage the existing part will work out best. I'm fairly certain that the "flaw" can be sanded off (but NOT without removing the sleeve first or otherwise protecting the barrel), but I don't know the best avenue to fix the "mistake".
HELP!
Is there a method to reproduce that worn gray/blue patina that most of the rifle retains (everything but the several shades darker bolt), and can that sort of camoflage be performed to the area of the barrel that suffered somewhat during the "mistake" ?
