Mauser BCD HELP

[Hazmat]

A friend wants to sell me a this rifle... I dont know much about it or have not seen it yet. What he has told me is that a Sgt. in the US army brought it back with him and has had it till he died and left it to a family member. The Sgt had the stock replaced or modified with very detailed carvings with his name. Also said the manufacture is Gustloff...
Thats all i know right now... he is going to send me pic's tonight.
Any ideas what it might be worth... Im really interested but dont know what fair to pay.

Thanks
Hazz

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[Claven2]

I think on a piece like this, it is highly dependent on whether it's a beautiful piece of folk art, or if it's just a crude cut down sporter. Most cut down stocks with "detailed carvings" turn out to be less than skillfully done.

IF yours is "just another one of those", it value is as a hunting rifle - maybe $300 bucks.

[Calif-Steve]

Really need a photo. In the $250.00 range, my guess.

[Hazmat]

Still waiting for the pic's... as soon as i get them i will post

[Hazmat]

Ok here are the pic's.... This is what he told me

"here are photos of the mauser k98 with custom stock. i believe it might of been made into more of a hunting/sport rifle for the sgt. i forgot to measure both guns. i believe the maker of the mauser was h.w. stefani, when i did research on the markings on it, that is what i was able to find about the marks, the stock is made by a "pachmayr" gun works."

So is this worth it??? if i can get at a low price would it be worth finding an original stock to put back on it???

Thanks
Hazz

[boltaction]

My inclination would be to leave it as it is, but get the documentation on it, that it was brought back by the Sgt and then used as his hunting rifle. That is where the real "human interest" will be with the rifle.

You certainly could "bring it back" to the original military condition, as it doesn't look like it was drilled and tapped or otherwise brutalized, and it has all original metal parts by the look of it, except the barrel bands and sight hood. However, in the end you are going to have a bcd43 Mauser with matching metal parts, but a non-matching, non-original stock with non-matching barrel bands, and it will only be worth a bit more than what any other mix-master will be. It will never be a super valuable collector piece. If you spend the money to track down a full stock and barrel bands for it, then put it on a rack next to a bunch of the "Russian Capture" stuff, aside from the fact it's matching parts, it wouldn't be readily discernible.

There are "bubba" sporters and there are well sporterized rifles. This is one of the latter. It is not a typical hacksaw nightmare. I'm not a big fan of carved stocks myself, but that is a very well done sporter job, clearly done for someone who liked the rifle and wanted to keep it. If I wanted a nice 8mm Mauser deer rifle that would shoot well, stand up well, and look decent into the bargain, that would be one I could see going for, and it will probably always be worth more as it is now than it would be resurrected to mil-spec. However, that it just my opinion and others may disagree.

I just think it's neat that the guy brought it back, and you know who it was, and that he obviously cherished it and used it.

Ed

[Calif-Steve]

Does your buddy still have the old parts? Has anyone looked in his garage? As for price, I would guess something around $250-$300 would be right. Am I reading it correctly, it is a 1943 BCD with a 1941 barrel. The barrel has no serial number on it, as well. Likely re-barreled in German service.

[Hazmat]

No parts came with it... from what he told me... The family was cleaning out his (the SGT.) storage after he died my friend was there to help them out... For helping they gave him this gun and an 18?? shoot gun. Im gonna have to think about this one cuz i really want an unaltered original. If i was to get it how hard would it be to find a stock and what are they going for?

[Calif-Steve]

I would put it back in original condition. If you leave it alone someone, years from now, will drill and tap it. If this rifle was re-barreled by the Germans it may not have had a matching stock to begin with. No, I vote to restore it. A fun project, by the way.

[Hazmat]

Looks like im gonna have to wait for the next one..... he seems to think its worth 800 or more i told him he was nuts and good luck on that.
Oh well maybe i will just do some upgrades to my AR's for now.
Thanks for all the help and info guys

Hazz