about Mitchells Mausers

[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.