Best place to buy a K98?

[Brian Dick]

You're correct Patrick. I wouldn't sell any of my vet bring back rifles for the price of an RC. Please don't misunderstand, I wasn't speaking badly of the RC's. I've had many through my shop over the years and they shoot very well. To me they are every bit as honest as a vet bring back rifles but with more history for less money!! I second the motion to contact Dennis at Empire Arms if it's a quality RC you're looking for.

[Aragorn243]

If you want a shooter, rather get an honest RC that may have been properly overhauled and can actually shoot. Avoid the illusion that there are pristine and magically untouched Wehrmacht Mausers to be had. It's strange - I live in the country where these things were made by the million, and there aren't any here. How come they seem to be available on the other side of the pond? If someone offers you such a one, then the chances are it's been faked. Go RC and pay for the rifle, not a story.

I saw one at my recent gun auction. I was even foolish enough to stick around "just in case" it sold for $400 (I'm a dreamer, what can I say). Now you wouldn't have liked this one much because it only looked like new on the outside. The bore was a real mess. Evidently whoever brought it home never cleaned the interior. In any case, this sold for $2200. Personally, I can't see why anyone paid this much with the bore in such miserable shape but it is what it is. The exterior wasn't perfect, it had 60 years of dirt on it and some light rust here and there but it did look like a new rifle taken directly off the battlefield and stuck up in an attic.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Bought an RC today at the poorest gunshow I have ever attended ( we had two within twenty miles probably being the reason along with it being peak deer season). Walk in had an No 4 Mk 1 mixmaster Longbranch and several Mausers of diffrent discriptions. 1943 BNZ with no scrubbed waffen marks import marked $350. Have to see if the bore cleans up.

[Salt Flat]

Also look at the Simpson Ltd web site. They have some RC's for $450 and a few cheaper that have issues. Salt Flat
Simpson Ltd

[burb1989]

Hey Hooked where was that show you went to? I wasn't aware of any gun shows this weekend in the state but I guess my info's been messed up a bit since I'm buying a Japanese canteen next weekend in Biloxi and I've been real excited about that.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Memphis & Southaven Ms.
Could have picked up the RC outside and saved $7. Ran in to some regulars and had a chance to milsurps chat a bit so I do not feel too bad about the $7.

[burb1989]

Glad you got a nice RC for a good price. I still am having trouble finding a true German K98 that doesn't have a ton of issues down here. Most are just sported up guns that are priced way too high for a sporterized K98 or are South American mausers, which don't have that appeal to me since I would like one that saw WW2.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

In my brief collecting carrier the only non RC K98 I have seen was one brought back from the war by a friends father. I continue to have a bring back on my want/need list.

[burb1989]

Hooked I have had the pleasure of seeing two all matching confirmed bringback German made k98s at a gun show a few months back. Both were owned by dealer friends of mine who I work for part time and they brought them to show me where all the numbers would be matching. Both came from decedents of theirs and both had the corresponding paperwork to show they were brought home from war. This experience has got me looking for a good German made K98 RC or not.

[A34]

Thanks again guys. I'll check out Empire and Simpson. My dad has a pretty extensive WWII collection of general stuff, but no Mausers. That might make a nice gift for him too, a nice shooter for the collection.