Mitchell's Mauser for $200 - Good Deal?

I know that Mitchell's Mausers aren't really the real deal and have little to know collector value - but a friend of mine has one that looks to be a Russian captured and refinished k98 that he purchased several years ago and never did anything with and is now selling some of his guns, this being one of them.

Is $200 a decent price for such a rifle? Does it have any collector value at all, or should I consider this only as a shooter (which I am OK with)? That polished bolt really annoys me, but I thought it might be a fun rifle to shoot (the bore and crown look great), and I love shooting iron sights.

Please feel free to educate me if I am off target here.

I'd think $200 would be a good price if you want a shooter. As a collector they probably have less appeal than they would if they were still in original RC condition.

The have a very bad name with collectors because Mitchel Mausers reworked them, forced match numbers and sold them with semi-fraudulent ads so many people who didn't know better bought them at high prices.

I'd buy it for $200 as a shooter. Doubt you'll find a RC for $200 anymore.

Nope, not anymore. I paid $250 for an RC in good shape but that was 4 or 5 years ago. I was just making an observation about what Mitchel did to their real actual value.

I imagine you could still easily sell the Mitchels for a more than $200 to some people with no trouble. Many of the them do make good shooters though as you say.

Check the MKL under Germany ... :)

Here's a typical entry for a K98k ...

1935 S/42G K98k 'Reconditioned' Rifle (Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N)

Read the section in that entry written by claven2 about Russian Captures and I think it will help you a lot ... ;)

Regards,
Doug

For $200, I would get it and, depending on the bore and the how heavily it had been "mitchelled," I would give thought to putting together a replica sniper with some of the repro optics you can find now. I've always wanted to do a faux sniper build on one of those or on just a restoration of one without any collectible value left. For $200, you can't lose and could probably get more at auction sites or at gunshows. I say go for it!

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Originally Posted by m4a3sherman

For $200, I would get it and, depending on the bore and the how heavily it had been "mitchelled," I would give thought to putting together a replica sniper with some of the repro optics you can find now. I've always wanted to do a faux sniper build on one of those or on just a restoration of one without any collectible value left. For $200, you can't lose and could probably get more at auction sites or at gunshows. I say go for it!

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That's an idea that appeals to me quite a bit. In doing some quick searching I've come across the replica ZF-41 scope. Are there any other replica scopes out there that would be appropriate?

I know the Germans used a number of scopes, but the ZF-41 is probably the only one I can think of that's being reproduced- but I am sure there are others out there as well. I would check ebay, gunbroker, numrich... etc.

As odd as this may seem, take the rifle, its paperwork and box. Pay your friend what he asks. And put the rifle in the gun safe. Go to the local used book store and find a fifteen-year old gun magazine with their advertisement.

It is a Mitchell Mauser; not an original Mauser. As an example of gun dealing, a Mitchell Mauser has a place in the gun collecting realm, even if all knowledgible people will sniff at it. As silly as this sounds, someone will pay your more than $200 for that slice of the pie in ten or fifteen years. (We know they aren't making Mauser 98s any more, and the supply is getting thin.)

I may be wrong, but I seriously doubt that a pimp shined mitchels Mauser will ever have any type of collektors value!!!
If you can live with the fact that it is a pimp shined Mauser then the $200 is a very good price.
I couldn't stand having the thing in my house, but that is me, an RC is of 10X more interest to me.
Sarge