Maybe a K98k Optic

[GeeRam]

I am aiming for as closer functional faxicimaly as I can manage. If there was no material impact to function I would take a post war rifle. If it shoots I'm fine with an RC or any other miss match.

I would avoid a post war one. RC's are you best bet (especially if you find one that hasn't had the waff's peened, as not all of the Soviet factories did it) but even they are getting hard to find and have increased in price by 50% in this past 12 months.

There is a “real” sniper on at Highwood classic arms, but I know too little about these rifles to contemplate dropping 14k on it.

The well known K98k experts that have viewed the advert photos say it's not a real one. Its a very good fake, and not therefore a £14k rifle.