about Mitchells Mausers

[Patrick Chadwick]

That looks fine as a Yugo. It's when I see something like that claiming to be an unissued wartime-made 98k that my fake-detecting antennae go to full alert! Always remember dear collectors - stamps are cheap!

Patrick

[seagoatami]

how can I say this? OK, there are those who own a collection of rifles that are as they came off the assembly line 100 yrs ago,perfectly correct in every way(supposedly)they know the linage of these rifles down to who shot them last and who shot them first. and where they were shot. Ok this is great. There are those who own rifles that may be or may not be historicly correct down to the last bolt and nut. But they are perfect looking and firing examples of the historicly correct ones. they bought them from people who completely refurbished them so they look extremly good hanging on the wall and shoot well on the range. The people who redid them are in that business to make people happy and from what I've read in here. they have accomplished just that. Or they wouldnt still be in business. their product is good and it is safe. or we would be reading about them being sued. I happen to own a MM rifle and to my eyes it is a beautiful piece of machinery and none of the numbers look to be altered in any way and it is just as they advertised it to be. I wish I could have a rifle in that condition that I knew came right from the battlefield. But they just dont exist in my price range. and the ones that do exist are no where near as nice as mine is . and by the way , I w3as at our county gun show a couple weeks ago and there were some mitchell mausers for sale in the boxes as they came and they were selling at the same price as the ones in the magazine or higher . Best of all they all sold. I sorta collect Endield rifles and the examples they had, were crap. I have better rifles in my collection than they were selling for over twice the price. I also like my guns sporterized or what is none as jungle warfare style. This will make died in the wool Enfield collectors turn in their graves lol. But thats what I like. so I collect themI also just like Carbines,or short rifles. But thats me so what ever you like you collect . Thats what makes you happy . Others shouldnt run you down for you likes and dislikes. Do what makes you happy. As far as I can tell you only go around once in life , enjoy it while you can do what makes you happy, Seagoat

[billt]

how can I say this? OK, there are those who own a collection of rifles that are as they came off the assembly line 100 yrs ago,perfectly correct in every way(supposedly)they know the linage of these rifles down to who shot them last and who shot them first. and where they were shot. Ok this is great. There are those who own rifles that may be or may not be historicly correct down to the last bolt and nut. But they are perfect looking and firing examples of the historicly correct ones. they bought them from people who completely refurbished them so they look extremly good hanging on the wall and shoot well on the range. The people who redid them are in that business to make people happy and from what I've read in here. they have accomplished just that. Or they wouldnt still be in business. their product is good and it is safe. or we would be reading about them being sued. I happen to own a MM rifle and to my eyes it is a beautiful piece of machinery and none of the numbers look to be altered in any way and it is just as they advertised it to be. I wish I could have a rifle in that condition that I knew came right from the battlefield. But they just dont exist in my price range. and the ones that do exist are no where near as nice as mine is . and by the way , I w3as at our county gun show a couple weeks ago and there were some mitchell mausers for sale in the boxes as they came and they were selling at the same price as the ones in the magazine or higher . Best of all they all sold. I sorta collect Endield rifles and the examples they had, were crap. I have better rifles in my collection than they were selling for over twice the price. I also like my guns sporterized or what is none as jungle warfare style. This will make died in the wool Enfield collectors turn in their graves lol. But thats what I like. so I collect themI also just like Carbines,or short rifles. But thats me so what ever you like you collect . Thats what makes you happy . Others shouldnt run you down for you likes and dislikes. Do what makes you happy. As far as I can tell you only go around once in life , enjoy it while you can do what makes you happy, Seagoat

+1 Well said!! Bill T.

[Sarge]

I will not address the M48 Yugos that mitchels sells, or has sold as they are out of my field of interest. However:

IF you want a WW 2 K98k AND want to get screwed royaly when you buy one - buy it from the shysters at mitchels Mausers!!! Get one of their "original" WW 2 Mausers with 6 matching numbered parts. There was never a 98k made before 1944 that only had 6 matching numbered parts, they had 25 matching numbered parts! Most of what they sell are russian captures with the X, altho some have been polished so that the X is gone. The bolts were ALWAYS blued till 44 and then some were phosfate finished - NONE were ever polished! In some of their adds they have said that their rifles have new made stocks, but not very often.
And then they refinish the rifles after they are thru renumbering 4 of the 6 matching parts, including the new stock which will have Nothing but a ser nr on it - NO WaA proofs, NO Eagle over H or any other war time markings.
Yes they look pretty and if "pretty" is your sole criteria, buy one, BUT their adds are just a half step short of fraudulant when they claim they are "original WW 2 rifles"!!!
Sarge

[Lifttech]

Newb here. What happened to integrity being a gauge to a man's/company's character? Not perceived value.

When we chose to do business with company's like MM, we are giving them a pass to continue their practices.

My son and I think they are nice also but will not buy from them. If they were open and honest like Gibbs representation of the 03A4 currently available these threads would go away and I would seriously consider one.

[billt]

When we chose to do business with company's like MM, we are giving them a pass to continue their practices. My son and I think they are nice also but will not buy from them.

I don't understand you people. You "think they are nice", but you, "will not buy from them"??????? Mitchell's Mausers are what they are, and they are nothing more or less. I don't care what they call them, or what name they tag them with, if you "like them" and "think they are nice", what more do you want? You're not making sense.

It doesn't matter what they call them. I know as most do they are not "historically correct". I didn't care when I bought mine. I wanted a nice clean shooter. Mitchell's provides this. If I wanted a battlefield pickup I would have bought one. You guys seem to think anyone who buys a Mitchell's Mauser is "getting screwed" for this or that reason. That is simply not the case at all. People who buy them ARE SATISFIED CUSTOMERS, PERIOD! You people are having some kind of mental block accepting that. That is not my, or Mitchell's problem.

Look them up on the BBB website. They have a double A rating. That doesn't come from misrepresenting their product, or "screwing people". They sell their weapons with a full money back guarantee. What more do you want from them?

If you don't care for their product, then don't buy it. It's as simple as that. The best, most trusted gun publications accept their advertising. They wouldn't if they are as corrupt of a business as you people seem to think they are.

In short your criticisms have no substance. The tried and true "collectors" know what they are, and won't buy one because they aren't "historically correct". People like myself who don't give a damn about that will. And that is it. You guys are having a lot of trouble accepting the fact they sell so many, and the purchasers are totally satisfied with what they are getting. GET OVER IT! Have a cold beer and chill out! Let people buy what they want and be happy with it. Last time I looked this was still America. To each his own. Bill T.

[my1stk98]

I mean if there's no big deal with them refinishing and restamping K98s to "original" then why can't they do so and sell them as prettied up reproduction/ refinished K98s as representative functional pieces? I mean I guess if all people want is something that looks nice and shoots (I'm sure the K98s from MM do), why even include all the other BS....? I just don't appreciate a company offering a product advertised as something its not...but if you wanna go buy it be my guest...as long as everyone's happy

[bearhunter]

This argument will go on forever. It's almost like religion and we don't want to start on that either.
Personally, I would rather have a decent Russian capture than an MM. That is my own taste though.
If you like to shoot your rifles and have them look clean and new, the MM rifles are just fine. Go for it. I think Sarge13 is put off by their vague advertising policy as well as the amount of people trying to sell them as totally authentic pieces to the less vigilant amongst us. He has a valid point there. I also think that the average shooter couldn't care less about the authenticity of their rifle as long as it shoots well and looks good, that's OK as well.
MM gets by with their advertising, misleading as it is, because the rifles haven't been issued since refurbishing and they were genuine WWII issued rifles. They are also Model 98 variants. They do advertise 6 matching parts, they don't say when or who matched them. Fine, if it's important to you, read between the lines and don't buy one. This is why I prefer a RC refurb. The RC rifles are frowned upon as well but are historically correct and are sold as refurbished war stocks. They weren't nearly as nicely finished as the MM rifles but as far as Russian/satelite countries specs go they are correct. Some of them are very nice as well, even though there isn't a matching number on them, unless it's force matched with an electropencil. I can still remember when the Indian SMLE and No4 variants hit the markets, the furor was maddening. People are finally acknowledging that they are correct to Indian specs and saw a lot of fighting service during the separation wars and later during the border and Kashmir skirmishes.

When all is said and done, don't sweat it. MM systems are complete with all of the accessories and that can be a real chore to find as well. Buy one if that's what you're looking for, just don't try to pass it off as a non issue, non refurbished example of a K98. All will then be well.

Sarge13, take it easy on these guys, they just haven't had the opportunities to aquire the rifles you and I have. They are young in many cases and hard pressed for time and money, just like we were at that stage of life. They have to get by with what's available. Nice clean mausers that were unissued were bought up long ago and converted into many fine sporters that allowed many a young hunter to get into the bush and on the range that couldn't have afforded the luxury otherwise. I'm willing to bet you cut up your share of those rifles, I know, I certainly did. I bought brand new in the wrap BYF 42, 43 and 44 rifles, eight in a crate, in the wrap with matching bayonets and slings for $100 per crate in 1970. After "sporterising" them and "cutting down" the bayonets, I could sell the separate components for 4 times what I paid for the complete sets. The stock parts and cases as well as the red ribbons and wrapping paper made fine fires as well. That's where most of those rifles went, like it or not. No wonder the MM rifles look so attractive when all that's available are the mixmaster, beat up Turkish and African left overs.

[Sarge]

I think Sarge13 is put off by their vague advertising policy as well as the amount of people trying to sell them as totally authentic pieces to the less vigilant amongst us. He has a valid point there.
They do advertise 6 matching parts, they don't say when or who matched them.
Sarge13, take it easy on these guys, they just haven't had the opportunities to aquire the rifles you and I have. They are young in many cases and hard pressed for time and money, just like we were at that stage of life. They have to get by with what's available.
I'm willing to bet you cut up your share of those rifles

You bet I am!!! Their adds are all just a half step short of Fraud!
Their 6 matching parts include the number on the NEW MADE stock. The only original numbers on those rifles is on the bbl & rec - which the other 4 parts are renumbered to match. There are 24 numbered parts on a correkt K98k. The shysters at mm boast of having 6.
Anyone smart enuf to ask questions, from a wide variety of sources, will never buy a butchered mm for their ridiculous price.
NO!!! I have NEVER butchered an original military rifle of any type and Never will!!! I have done my best to restore several though!
Sarge

[bearhunter]

OK Sarge, I offer sincere apologies. I haven't cut up any for at least 30 years myself. There were so many chopped ones around, there wasn't any need to. There was also a long spell when original milsurps were a lot less valuable than a "sporterised" version.
Many companies around the world turned the milsurps into fine sporters. Like it or not, everyone doesn't like milsurps. I know, sacrilege, but it's true.
Many of those old rifles are starting to show up at gunshows again. Everything from barely touched and restorable to butchered beyond repair and are only a source of parts.
I just picked up such a mauser last weekend at a local show for $50. It is a GEW98 that had the receiver softened so it could be engraved and the trigger guard ground to paper thin proportions. The stock is a piece of plain beech. It does have some nice features though, a set trigger, express sights and an after market barrel chambered in 8x57. I checked out the lug recesses for set back but they look good and the rifle is well used so it should be OK. I have a chance of getting a "Brinnel Hardness Tester" from a plant closure as a freebie, so one way or another it will be tested properly.
I also picked up a GEW98 bayonet by SIMPSONN in 99% condition with matching scabbard. Now, I need to find a suitable rifle to pair it up with. That won't come cheap.