1940 Turk Mauser Advice

[Aragorn243]

OK. There is a 1940 Turk Mauser available in my area. It is a Kale rework 8mm with bayonet for $175. Stock looks good, metal is better than most Turks, bore is very good. Everything matches with the exception of the bolt. Has the cleaning rod but no sling.

Problem is, it is not on my list of wants or needs. Turkey did not participate in WWII and while I want a 1903 Turk pretty bad, this is not on the list.

So, pros and cons for breaking my "List" are welcome.

Fair warning, I do not need this rifle to shoot or to hunt with. I need some historical context for why this should be part of my collection, or not. I do have some non-combatant rifles so it would not set a precedent by any means.

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[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Granted a K-31 is way cooler non combatant. But at $175 with pointy end invest.

[WarPig1976]

on the plus side= #1. it was made during the war. #2. its a $175.00 with bayonet. #3 it is a Mauser variant, how can you go wrong added that to the collection.

Negatives ? I really can't think of any other than storage space which may or may not be an issue for you.

[Aragorn243]

I'm still on the fence with this. The price is good which is why I'm considering it. I did send the fellow a message to see if I can at least look at it. Storage space is somewhat of an issue. I ran out of that a long time ago and that's part of the reason I came up with the "List". The Enfield wasn't on the list either but that was somewhat more special than a Turk Mauser.

[vintage hunter]

I can understand your hesitation, it's not something you want or need but your attracted to simply because of the price. Been there myself.
Downside: If your luck is like mine soon as you buy this something on your list will magically appear.
Upside: It can always be used as trading fodder towards something you want.
Whatever you decide we're with you.

[Aragorn243]

It's really not something I don't want, I just decided about a year or so ago that I need to cut down my collection wants to certain representative items. Rifles like this one could be acquired later if and when I completed the "List". A "List" item isn't very likely to come up, I rarely see them and when I do they are out of my price range or in such bad shape that even I don't want to mess with them and I've already brought one back from the dead.

I set up a meeting to at least look at it. I've checked Gunbroker and based on the photos he provided, I can't go wrong with the price. There are numerous Turkish Mausers of the same type and even the same year which have current bids higher than what he is asking and they are in apparent worse shape and lacking the bayonet.

Granted the photos he supplied are small but they appear to show 80% original finish on the metal and a stock that has not been beat to crap. He claims the bore is shiny and strong. Many of the Mausers on Gunbroker were grey rather than blue and they were still selling.

I did learn this morning that Turkey actually did join the Allies before the war ended. I don't believe they were in any combat however.

[Aragorn243]

You guys all had excellent advice. It really wasn't like it was all that of a hard sell though. I checked it out, liked what I saw and here it is. Bluing not quite as nice as I thought but it still isn't bad and the stock looks pretty nice too. It could use a bit of light cleaning but isn't bad. Action is very smooth. Trigger is very crisp. Bore is shiny with strong rifling. He said it shot fine. Bayonet is just a run of the mill Turk. On the positive side, I mis-quoted the price. It was actually $170.00.

[Calif-Steve]

Sure looks like Turkish walnut to be. A very nice keeper. Many look beat, not this one.

[WarPig1976]

Yes, the stock has a gorgeous color to it. Can't go wrong with this one...

[vintage hunter]

You did good, nicest Turk I've seen in a while.............