VZ24 at Gunshop

[Aragorn243]

Nearby gun shop has a VZ 24 in at present. It is a sound rifle and the bore doesn't look bad with the limited light I had to check it today. The issue is the finish of the metal. The entire barrel, bayonet lug, magazine base and receiver is in the white. It's not shiny, it looks worn/aged. The front sight and the bolt are blued. This particular rifle has the large lion crest. Stock appears to be a dark walnut. Price is $180.00. I think this rifle has been there a while, price might be negotiable but I have never dealt with this particular shop before. Is rust free except for a couple of small spots on the barrel. It is import marked on the barrel. Bolt does not match the receiver. I've looked it up in my various books including Ball's Mauser's of the world and from the photos, some look to have receivers in the white but I can't tell about the barrels.

Advice welcome.

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[Aragorn243]

Did some research and found prices anywhere from $125 - $325 with one in similar condition to this one at $250, but it had not sold.

I'm assuming that the finish is simply worn off. The rifle has not gone through a refurbishment which many have. I kind of like the way it looks and I actually have the wife's permission to buy it but if it's over priced or I could get a much nicer one for $25 more, I can wait.

All the metal is white other than the bolt assembly and front sight hood/protector. I didn't mention the sling swivels were in the same condition. The stock had no repairs that I noticed, didn't notice any numbers on it either. It is a bit dirty. Straight bolt, very smooth. i do seem to recall it is missing it's cleaning rod. Everything else appeared to be there including the locking screws.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I saw a Chilean Mauser at the last gunshow here that looked almost chrome. I asked the dealer about it and he gave me some story about it being someones competition rifle. Looked close and it did not appear chromed. The explination I was given is the steel has a high nickle content. I do remember seeing old Winchester No 12 that had been so well taken care of that the blue was gone and the metal looked chromed.

[Aragorn243]

This one doesn't look chrome. It's definitely worn. The markings are all crisp. I may go look at it again tomorrow after work. I have a strange feeling that if I do go look at it, it will come home with me. I just hate going in not having a good idea of it's actual worth. And yes, I understand that it's worth is what I value it at as the buyer but my wife or kids will have to dispose of it someday and I don't want them taking a big loss because I like the way something looks. Not that at $180 I'm risking a whole lot I suppose.

I saw they were selling for $90 just a few years ago. Shame I missed them then. These were arsenal refinished with ground crests I guess.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Keep us posted.

[Patrick Chadwick]

The entire barrel, bayonet lug, magazine base and receiver is in the white. It's not shiny, it looks worn/aged. The

Aragorn, it's quite simple really. I have never seen a Mauser barrel in the white on a service rifle. That is, of course, not a proof that there never was such a thing. Just that I reckon that it is extremely unlikely.

1) Go to shop with cash.
2) Remove handguard.
3) if barrel is "white" under handguard, the metal has been stripped. And look very closely at the waterline for signs of rust in the barrel channel.
4) If barrel is blued under handguard, the "white" is probably just wear and/or excessive cleaning.
5) Mentally adjust price to suit.
6) Stop dithering, start haggling (but not too seriously - this is surely not much above a parting-out/wallhanger price).
6) Bring it home.

[Aragorn243]

Patrick,

Very good advice and I basically followed through with it other than taking the handguard off. Not an easy way to do that without tearing the whole rifle down. I also didn't bring it home.

The price was $189.99, not $180.00 and it was a consignment rifle they could not come down on.

I took a flashlight and looked it over very thoroughly. I looked for evidence of blue in all the hard to reach corners etc and saw none anywhere so it's possible it had been scrubbed at some point. I did find a matching number on the stock. I also found a small chunk missing from the handguard. What made me say no however was the recoil lug through the stock. This was very badly corroded with very deep pitting on both sides. I had not seen that the other day because the lighting isn't that good. If it was rusted that bad there, I am too concerned with what it looks like under the wood. The bore looked a little dark but no pitting I could see, just a lot of dust.

I may think it over some more but I'm passing on it for now. For the money and maybe $50 more I can get a much better example if I'm patient.

On a side note, I stopped at another gun shop before going to this one just to check to see if something nicer was there since I have the wife's permission and all. Didn't find anything nicer but did find a bubbad carcano with Finnish markings on it. First I've seen. They stamped the serial number on the bolt too. Had it not been completely butchered and drilled for a sight, I might have brought that one home. It was "bargain" priced at $89.

[Patrick Chadwick]

What made me say no however was the recoil lug through the stock. This was very badly corroded with very deep pitting on both sides. I had not seen that the other day because the lighting isn't that good. If it was rusted that bad there, I am too concerned with what it looks like under the wood.

Correct decision, IMOH. It sounds as if it had been a rust bucket and someone removed all the bits he could and stripped them. As said person was unable to remove the cross bolt/recoil lug, the rust remained there to tell the story.