Originally Posted by
Jack71
I joined this forum to ask about a rifle I recently acquired. I bought a Mauser K98k and about 1400 rounds of ammunition for $450. I figured the ammunition was worth about that much, so it was a good deal even if the rifle isn't worth a huge amount.
My question is, what I can find out about the rifle, and also, approximately what the rifle itself is worth. Description:
- BNZ 4 (Steyr 1944). German markings intact. No electro-penciling. No import stamps.
- Bolt, receiver, barrel numbers match.
- Stock, buttplate, trigger guard numbers match (but do not match bolt, receiver, barrel).
- Bolt, receiver, barrel have no rust, pretty good blueing. I'm not good at estimating percentages, but blueing is only missing in a few places. Good rifling. The rifle is an accurate shooter. When I got it, it had the cleaning rod and one of the capture screws - missing the sight hood and the other capture screw.
- I added an aftermarket capture screw and an aftermarket sight hood. They look right.
- Buttplate, trigger guard/floorplate are grayish with mottled spots. I'm not an expert, but I think it's a phosphate finish.
- Stock is solid walnut. No duffel cut or other modifications. Has not been sanded. Several military markings are visible - three eagles with numbers on the right side near the H (Heer) mark - and what I believe is a W on the underside of the stock. There are small dents on the left side of the butt. It looks like it may have banged into something on the soldier's belt as he walked? Only visible within a few feet, no cracks or gouges, just the small dents. It's hard to see, but the stock has a toe splice - I didn't see it until about the 20th time I inspected the rifle. Stock is medium/dark reddish brown (raw linseed oil). Looks pretty good.
- Includes a leather sling - the leather looks too new to me to be original, though the markings appear German. I think it's a reproduction.
My belief is that the stock is older than the rifle, and was most likely swapped onto the rifle during the war by a German armorer, or possibly at the factory? But I am only guessing, and would love to hear expert opinions on how this stock may have come to be on this rifle.
Is this probably a GI bring-back? The person I bought it from got it from a pawn shop, and doesn't know. There are no papers with it.
Any thoughts on its value?
Thanks!
