Going to an auction... What to look for in a Mauser?

[jeep02tj]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to an auction in about a week where they will be auctioning a small Mauser collection. I'm not new to rifles as I collect M1 Garands and other modern weapons, but I'm not too familiar with bolt action Mausers. As with any auction, I'm sure I won't have enough time to fully inspect them, so I'm looking for a few tips on items I can't inspect in a 1-2 minute glance. Serial numbers? Wood? Really rare parts? Reproduction fake stuff.... you get the point.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
jeep

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[mark1]

First look at the guns and see if they have import stamps on they. These will be around the end of the barrels most of the time. All number should match receiver to bolt and all small parts. Now this being said if they are other than K98 WWII German issued than all bets are off without see them. Can you post pictures or the site?

[jeep02tj]

Hi Mark1,

Thanks for the tips. Just curious... but why are all bets off if they are anything but a K98 WWII German issue? How can I tell if it's an official German issue?

[jeep02tj]

I found an image of them! This image came from the auctioneers website.

[Calif-Steve]

Top gun is Japanese Artiska 7.7mm, 2nd gun is GEW98 8mm WWI Mauser (looks nice). 3rd gun is VZ-24 Czech 8mm Mauser, Last gun is Turk M1903 mauser. All look nice, glad I'm not going to that auction. I would be looking very hard at the 2nd gun. Looks like someone polished it, not German issue.

[mark1]

As Steve pointed out the rifles.
The 1st Japanese rifle - make sure the mum is not ground, check the s/n on the left side and the underside of the bolt handle to see if the s/n matches.
The 2nd s/n on the left should be stamped or part of the s/n on the bolt, safety, and other bolt parts.
The 3rd and 4th may not have matching s/n's.

Check the bore on the rifles. The Japanese may have a chromed lined barrel which is good. Check for import markings. Do they have the cleaning rod? Check the stampings on the stocks. There is so much to tell it would take too long.
Go to Gun Broker and look at the completed auctions for these rifles and you will get a good idea of the prices and what to look for,

[jeep02tj]

Thanks for help guys. I'll definitely check gunbroker.

[jeep02tj]

Hi guys,

I went to the auction. Cali-Steve, you were right on target with three of them. The 2nd one was not a GEW98. It was a Peruvian Mauser.

The Japanese Arisaka went for $150.
The Peruvian Mauser went for $125
The CZ Mauser went for $125
The Turk Mauser went for $150.

I didn't get there early enough to look them over, so I didn't bid on any of them. I wanted to check over the Arisaka for a mum, but I couldn't get close enough and I certainly don't know anything about Peruvian Mausers. Oh well... it wasn't meant to be. Thanks for the replies.

[Aragorn243]

Wish my auction was like your auction. The idiots down here would have easily doubled those prices without a second thought. Last import marked 91/30 Nagants sold for $350 each, there were two of them and there was nothing special about either.