What should be my next WWII era firearm?

[Aragorn243]

Personally $300 for a VZ24 with a good bore is a decent price. The metal may have been refinished as the bluing looks great and that is unusual for a Chinese Mauser. I don't think that would be a deal breaker for me. Non matching numbers on a Chinese is not unexpected. I'd have to hold it in my hands and inspect it closely but I think if that walked into my local gun shop, I'd take it home. I'd try to get it a little lower first but if not, I'd still take it.

[I.H.1989]

Personally $300 for a VZ24 with a good bore is a decent price. The metal may have been refinished as the bluing looks great and that is unusual for a Chinese Mauser. I don't think that would be a deal breaker for me. Non matching numbers on a Chinese is not unexpected. I'd have to hold it in my hands and inspect it closely but I think if that walked into my local gun shop, I'd take it home. I'd try to get it a little lower first but if not, I'd still take it.

I was kind of curious about the blueing myself, though i didn't think to ask at the time. I will try to find out if it has been or not. It might help me be able to talk the price down some if it has been. Might try to see if i can get them to lower it to between 200 and 250.

I also looked over that Belgian Mauser that some in here asked me about.

It is a Belgian MD1889/36 for $700

most serial numbers match, minus the bolt. the stock has a lot of dings and a couple of "gashes" but nothing too deep and no cracks. The blueing for the barrel and the upper parts of hte receiver were good, and i would place it around 90% give or take, while hte bolt area was more about 60% to 70%. The rifling looked good as well

[Aragorn243]

That's a Belgian I'd like to have. Not sure I'd pay quite that much for it though. I don't think the fellow is correct on his card. This is not a newly manufactured variation, this is an actual 1889 that was upgraded in 1936 to a new standard. Not exactly rare either but this is the reason the 1889's are hard to get. In any case, as a Belgian, it's not a common rifle here in the states. This would be a rifle used in WWII and was probably the most common type in use then.

[I.H.1989]

Yeah $700 is a bit steep for me. They store owners didn't really know much about the rifle itself, and I am guessing that they went off online sources.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Yeah $700 is a bit steep for me. They store owners didn't really know much about the rifle itself, and I am guessing that they went off online sources.

I run into that constantly. I think a lot of folks look at the starting bid price on gunbroker etc.. without noticing there are no actual bids.
Something is worth what someone will pay not what someone will ask you to pay.

[I.H.1989]

I've been doing research on the VZ24, and i am starting to think that the one i have been looking at is a Japanese one. Both the Chinese and Japanese were part of the "P", but appearantly there is no specific range on serial numbers on what ones when to where.

It would explain why the rifle and bore are in generally good shape since this rifle could have been used by the Japanese Navy. I could be wrong, but if anyone can find the serial number range for chinese vz24s, it would be appreciated.

[Aragorn243]

Possible. There were 40,000 VZ24's sold to Japan and used by the Navy. Others were captured from the Chinese and probably put to similar use. Mauser Military Rifles of the World says "most" were captured by Japan and recaptured at the end of the war by the Chinese. But a lot of people question the accuracy of Ball's book. I'd find it even more interesting to be Japanese.

[I.H.1989]

I started to look at Arisaka's, and I found a Type 99 at the same store.

No mum, dustcover, or anti-air sights
Matching serial numbers on the bolt, receiver, and forward barrel band from what I could tell
broken cleaning rod
bluing was good and rifling appeared to be good as well
Built by NAgoya in 1942
Stock in good shape, some rough spots but were around where the bolt handle was.

The only problem that i could find was that they wanted $399 for it, which was overpriced in my opinion. I was thinking of trying to get it to $300, but what do you guys think?

[browningautorifle]

It's not bad you know...but cheaper is better still.

[Aragorn243]

$399 with no mum is high. $300 without a mum but otherwise in good condition is OK. They can be found for less however but getting harder to do so.