Looking For K98 Wizard

[conductor]

I bought a K98 today in the gun store where I work. It's an all-matching gun that's in super-nice condition, The only thing wrong with it is that the rear sight mount (the tubular part that is usually soldered to the barrel) has got some serious dings in it, and the holes for the pin that hold the sight leaf on have been drilled out and totally screwed up.
I see that Numrich Gun Parts has the complete rear sight for about $25, but from what I can see, the parts look really cruddy.....lots of rust, no blue left, etc.
I'd like to find a gunsmith who specializes in K98s who can restore or replace the rear sight mount in such a way that the work would be as close to undetectable as possible.
Anybody here know anyone who might be able to do this work for me?

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[Calif-Steve]

Most good gunsmiths can do the work. It is not a simple job at all. Base was arsenal mounted with heat and lead. Most likely a re-blue. Are you sure you can afford it?

[conductor]

Most good gunsmiths can do the work. It is not a simple job at all. Base was arsenal mounted with heat and lead. Most likely a re-blue. Are you sure you can afford it?

I got a really super deal on the rifle.....$420 for an all-matching K98 with a mint bore. I figure I can spend a couple hundred on repairs and still be ahead of the game.

[Sarge]

After you have spent the "couple of hundred to replace the rear sight sleve and had the rifle reblued you will now have a mismatched/reworked rifle worth only about what you have in it.
The rear sight sleve has WaA proofs that match the receiver or are from a limited nr of suppliers to that maker. If you do not find a sleve with the same proofs as what is on your rifle you have made a mismatch. If you have the rifle or part of it reblued you then have 2 strikes against your all matching rifle. It is now not!
How about some photos to show what is wrong with the sight base?
My suggestion is to leave it alone, or sell it to someone who can live with it and Not Screw it up!
Sarge

[conductor]

Ummmm....That's why I said I was looking for someone who really knows K98s and who can do the necessary work in a way that will be compatable with the original. Most commercial gunsmiths don't have the necessary expertise when it comes to K98s to do the job correctly, and would end up rebluing the entire gun or doing something else to screw it up.
The damage to the rear sight sleeve makes the gun unusable (the sight leaf will not stay on), and the original sleeve is damaged beyond repair. If you want to have a rifle that you cannot use because the rear sight keeps falling off, then go for it. I'd prefer to have a knowledgable craftsman make the necessary repairs.

[Calif-Steve]

I recall some years back many parts coming out of Israel. Many rear sight bases in the white with no proof marks at all. That would be the way to go. You are going to end up re-bluing the entire rifle and I suspect any collector value will be lost. Realize any money you put into it will not enhance its value. When you are finished with the project you will have an expensive shooter. Just understand where you are going with this one. Might be better to swap it off towards a real collector 98. Good luck.

[conductor]

I recall some years back many parts coming out of Israel. Many rear sight bases in the white with no proof marks at all. That would be the way to go. You are going to end up re-bluing the entire rifle and I suspect any collector value will be lost. Realize any money you put into it will not enhance its value. When you are finished with the project you will have an expensive shooter. Just understand where you are going with this one. Might be better to swap it off towards a real collector 98. Good luck.

Thanks, Steve! It sounds as if a surplus Israeli sight base is the way to go....IF I have to replace the base. I say IF because I had a rather knowledgable dealer/gunsmith look at it this afternoon, and he said he MAY be able to repair the base that's on the gun. It's going to be a touch-and-go situation, since the holes for the cross pin that holds the sight leaf on have been drilled out to accomodate a nut & bolt (don't ask me what THAT's for). So the holes will have to be threaded and some sort of threaded liners put in that have the same inside diameter as the original cross pin. Additionally, it appears that the edges of the sight base have been hit with a hammer. All in all, it my be impossible to repair without replacing the sight base, but I'm going to give it the old school try.
If I do have to replace the sight base, The guy I talked to today said he thought he could do it without rebluing the gun. We'll see how it goes.