about Mitchells Mausers

[tiriaq]

Ok everyone I now have the straight story.The Germen Mauser was the exclusive domain of Paul and Willhelm mauser who manufactured the German Geweher 98 and the Karabiner K98 in Oberdorf Germany until sometime after the end of WW2. It stands among the top 10 rifles of the world, and is #4 in the top bolt action rifles of the worlld( I may be wrong on the bolt action bit) If I am feel free to correct me.I do not know where Mitchell came into the picture, but he is no authority on the Mauser, and I will not buy one of his guns.The more time I spend with this hobby the more I learn

I'm not sure what you mean by "Mauser was the exclusive domain". Mauser type rifles were made all over the world by numerous makers, licenced and not. Some of the rifles sourced in Yugoslavia were unissued. Many were rebuilt there. Many were made there, others in Germany or elsewhere in Europe. MM rebuilds rifles. Whether they are considered scrubbed bitsers or are desirable as anything other than shooters is a matter of opinion.

[gandog56]

I tend to have no faith whatsoever in MM after I saw them trying to sell a Mosin Nagain 91/30 Sniper Rifle for 1500 bucks. Heck, I can't find anybody else trying to sell them for more than 500 bucks. And oh yeah, the accessory kit for it that everybody gives away for free on their 70 dollar Mosin Nagants....$250.00

Sheesh what a rip off.

[Claven2]

has anyone ever done any real research on this? and no, forum research doesnt count. i mean actually taking one to be appraised or inspected. i just bought one today, a k98 not an m48, and yes i know the differences between the 2. i keep seeing forums bad mouthing mm but i keep wondering if any has done their homework besides browsing a forum. i know the mm k98 probably has no collectors value but its still a working rifle and thats what i bought it for, to put little holes in paper a football field away. ill post a follow-up when i receive the rifle.

Nobody ever claimed they weren't perfectly good shootable rifles. But a K98k that has been altered away from the condition it was sold out of government ownership lessens it's value as a collectible. Mitchells Mausers are more of this latter type than the former IMHO.

[hamttx]

Hello all,
Like many of you I have heard many stories on Mitchells Mausers, and I think they are getting a bad rap in general. That said I have a friend who purchased one recently (a K98 not the M). It came packaged very professionaly and during the ordering process he was specific about what he wanted. For example, no arsenal repairs on the stock, a good blue job on the metal, polished bolt, etc. He paid right at $500.00 for the rifle and it looks great. It is a earlier model so it does not have provisions for a site hood (no groove), but the "appearance" is worth $500.00. It also shoots lights out even in the hands of an average marksman (me). When I compare what I recieved in the past from SAMCO, IOC and the other importers for around $200.00 to $250.00 you get a lot for your money. You are basicilly paying for someone else to do the restoring job for you.
So far as historically correct I'm sure there is some issues, but every gun show I have been too (I live in Augusta, Georgia so I attend shows that are close to me) the vendors that sell Mausers are all "supposed" experts with over priced examples, the furniture usually looks ratty, the bluing is coming off or gone completely and you have no idea if things like the headspace or the grooves and landings are good or not, so you still have to take it to a gunsmith before you fire it. The matching number thing is another joke. Having lived in Germany for a better part of 10 years and spoken with ex german soliders at length you can argue almost any fact of the manufactoring process based on the fact that their (Mauser) records have been lost or destroyed so you cannot verify very many statements. Think about it, the germans have the reputation as excellant record keepers, but there is no logic on having some super accurate markings during war time on a firearm that the enemy could capture and use to determine origin, production runs, where the arsenals are located, etc. Historians may be able to make an educated guess, but ultimitly that is just what it is, a guess. Other than the example I saw at West Point (they had one on display) they made certain cliams about the rifle, but it came with a discliamer, "based on the information that was available" so you always take a risk at just what your buying anyway. Mitchells "Sniper" is a good example. I don't beleive it to be a actul sniper rifle, but I do believe it to be a fair representation of what one looked like. Though the $2700.00 price is way crazy. The intent of the scope mount was so that any solider in the field could have a sniper rilfe without having access to a gunsmith due to its unique mounting system. I would rather find a copy of the blueprints of the scope mount, take them to my local machine shop and make a copy on a CNC machine and try to find the scope. Saving $xxxx.xx along the way.
In the end, IMHO if you purcahse their K98 or M48 (which they state in their ad "made in Serbia") you get a decent rifle at a fair price considering what I have seen out in the market place and you can take it striaght from the box to the range. Hope I was not to long, and again just what I think so it don't mean much.
Leonard

[oldrgr]

Like neolithic, I read the "Going, going, soon to be gone for ever," baloney for two plus years in various ads, and finally bought an M48 back in around 2004.

Some positive things happened as a result of this purchase.
1. It got me into collecting and shooting milsurps. There is a debate in our house as to whether this was actually positive or not....
2. I too went the route of a C&R license, found the plethora of gun forums on the Internet with all kinds of great info, etc. and have learned a great deal. I chalked up my goof to being ignorant.
3. My MM is a tack driver on the range.
4. Caused me to get a RC K98 (dot 1944) from Classic Arms, which I truly love.

I am under NO illusion of any collector value of my MM. I would not buy another from them now knowing what I know.
Regards.
Bob

[Former Cav]

Try aims surplus or someone like that. I bought a yugo m48 from them about 6 years ago for less then $100. It shoots about a 3 inch group at 100 yards with the V notch (factory) sights and my 56 year old (at the time) eyes with surplus ammo.
HTH
Bob

[Jim K]

Sounds like there are either Mitchell fans or some Mitchell employees out there. Yugo M48's are perfectly good rifles, though Mitchell's prices were twice what others sold them for. But Mitchell's lies about them being K.98k's, used in WWII by the Germans were just too much. Oh, I forgot, they didn't QUITE lie, just used some clever language to make people believe the rifles were what they are not.

The true K98k's they sell are genuine, but rebuilt and refinished more as decorators than as collectibles. That they are shootable rifles is not in question. But Mitchell's is selling as collectible, and charging collector prices for, reworked, mismatched, and refinished guns that have little or no collector value.

I see the problem with Mitchell not being the rifles themselves - they are what they are - but the hype and not-quite lies used to sell them at inflated prices.

(OK, let's hear from those Mitchell employees, and say Hi to your boss for me.)

Jim

[billt]

I purchased 2, M-48 Mauser's from Mitchell's a few years ago, and have been completely satisfied with both of them. I wish the people who continually badmouth them would just realize that not everyone is interested in a "period correct", historic Mauser. Some just want a really nice, clean shooter that doesn't look like it was used for a tomato stake. Mitchell's provides this, and at a fair price I might add. My rifles look and shoot great, and I've never taken them to my club range without receiving several compliments on them. Someone will most always ask where I got them from. If Mitchell's were such "ripoff artists" as many accuse them of being, why do they have a triple A rating with the BBB? Mitchell's has many repeat customers. I know of 3 people who bought rifles from Mitchell's after seeing and shooting mine. Face facts, there IS a market for these rifles, and it's a very large one. Not everyone who wants or owns a Mauser is interested in "historical correctness". I keep hearing how you can buy rifles like Mitchell's sells for much less. I have yet to see one. Here in Phoenix we have more per capita gun shops than anywhere, and I've seen plenty of Mauser's in them. Most I would be afraid to load and shoot. Beat up, old Mauser rifles are a dime a dozen. You can buy them most anywhere. Mitchell's provides nice, clean, accurate rifles with new accessories that you can't find at most gun shops. They also deliver in a timely fashion, and provide a money back guarantee. That is more than most do these days. Count me as a satisfied Mitchell's customer, and there are plenty more where I came from. Bill T.

[oswago]

Post war yugos have little value to a real collector. They are nice and clean though.

[RED]

What they offer is a really nice copy of a historical firearm. The ones I have seen are quality restorations/imitations. If being the original real deal is important to you stay away. If you want a pretty copy to put on your office wall, they are perfect for you. If you want a shooter or an original firearm, you won't get them from MM. By the way, if you feel ripped off, send me your MM Mauser and I will cry with you.