Inherited K98 - issues?

[Claven2]

Also worth pointing out, it's a rare barelled receiver. 660 steyr code from 1940 with no receiver sidewall roll stamp. Less than 150,000 made (a small number for Steyr) and a high attrition rate. No matter what you do with it, it's a niftily marked rifle.

[Aragorn243]

If you really wanted to get rid of the checkering, you probably can by sanding it as mentioned but I have to second just leaving it alone. That is one nice looking rifle with the checkering and it wasn't done by some bubba, that looks professional.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Looking at it, I may be able to sand down the stock

NO !! UGH !! HORROR !!

Never, ever, sand a stock.

If it's varnished, you can remove that with the jelly-type paint stripper.
If it has dents, you can bring them up again with the steam-iron method.
But if you remove wood, it is gone for ever.
Sanding is the simplest way to permanently and irrevocably devalue the stock.

May I very seriously suggest (I'm being polite What I really mean is: insist!) that you search the forums and read up on the topic of refurbishing and restoring stocks before you do anything irreversible. That is what the forums are good for - to record and exchange information so that we don't all have to make the same mistakes and reinvent the wheel.

[BoulderChris]

It seems there is no easier way bring out dissenting opinions than to discuss the "restoration" of these classic rifles! As for myself, I don't know what I'm going to do. It would be a lot easier decision to make if the hatching wasn't so pro. That said, I have a hard time looking at the hatching knowing the rifle as issued would have never had it and while the historical value is one thing, historical accuracy is another. I do agree that anything which removes material must be long considered before being attempted as it is irreversible. Again, though, this isn't a "collectors" rifle as it's not a matching s/n and I have no intentions of parting with it in the long run, anything I do is for my own gratification. Like I said, I don't know what I'm going to do with this rifle, and I don't plan on making up my mind anytime soon. I appreciate all the info and opinions though, I'm kicking myself for not starting these threads a long time ago!

[Calif-Steve]

Leave it alone. It is a "family" gun and stands on its own merits.

[Salt Flat]

In general I would agree that stocks should not be sanded BUT the DAMAGE has ALREADY been done to this stock. All the varnish remover in Europe won't make it better than if you remove the checkering that is totally out of place on a German military rifle. OF course this is Boulder Chris's rifle so he should do what he likes with it. Salt Flat

[WarPig1976]

I would leave only because Pappy liked it & it's none matching. Keep it for what it is, Pop Pop's sporterized K98. My 2c..

[michael pollack]

The K98 seems to be a Russian capture weapon, look for a "X' on receiver, the waffennapts have the swatiska pinged out..Keep it as is and enjoy it Mike

[BoulderChris]

I'll check the receiver over, but I don't remember seeing anything on it before.

[Calif-Steve]

Not a RC Mauser at all. Perhaps a bring-back perhaps not. But a fun family keeper.