Help with Yugo M48A (B) Mauser Rifle Appraisal!

[mahbann]

I have a buddy of mine that wants to sell me his M48A (B) Mauser rifle. It could be a "B" but I haven't gotten the chance to look at the trigger guard to see if it's stamped. He wants 300 for what I am assuming is a M48A but possibly could be a "B". The rifle is pretty much unissued however and comes with a sling and a bayonet (once he finds it). The rifle has barely been fired and I know for a fact that the bore is immaculate. These are the only pics I have of the rifle that he sent me.


1. Do you guys think 300 is fair for either a M48A? or M48B?

2. If it turns out to be a "B" does that mean it should necessarily be cheaper?

3. Are the M48A/B's good rifles? or should I just wait for a real M48 to come along?

4. Is the M48B necessarily worse then having a M48A?

5. anyone know why it says MMC H.B. CA 17649 is on the barrel? does that mean the barrel isnt matching the bolt or receiver?

Information

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[RCEMERalf]

M48A should be so marked on the top of the receiver and have stamped floor plate. In my experience the M48As are better machined and finished than the M48. A minty M48A with bayonet (not matching ?) and sling is worth about $ 300. Try to get it for less, of course. I am not familiar with the M48B. The markings on the barrel are required import markings.

[mahbann]

So I figured out that MMC is mitchell's mausers..Should I stay away from it? because I've heard horrible things about them...

[mahbann]

because it's a mitchell's does that mean that nothing on this rifle is original and everything was refurbished/polished. I've heard nothing but negative things from mitchell's mausers

[Aragorn243]

Mitchells have a bad reputation because of their selling practices. This rifle probably sold for $500 from them and was advertised as a rare K98 found in storage after 60 years.

$300 is a fair price for one in this condition. If you friend bought it from Mitchells, he's taking a loss but that is on him. It was never worth $500 in the first place. Beat up examples are bringing $250 now and not getting any cheaper.

Is there anything wrong with it being Mitchells, is it refurbished or original? Nothing wrong with it being a Mitchells import. Some may question that and most would balk at $500 for it but they most likely did nothing to this particular rifle other than wipe it down. Many of these rifles were built and placed in storage 60 years ago and that's where they stayed. About the only accurate part in the Mitchells ad. So it's probably original as built on the day it came out of the Yugo factory. It looks like the stock may have been refurbished due to the wood repair but again, this would have been done at the factory.

I myself have a Mitchell's import M48 that I got from Cabelas a few years ago for points. Very attractive rifle and I found no issues with it. Unfired, not a dent in the stock. Bayonet that came with it was issued but I had an unissued one I swapped out. Sling is rough.

I myself would not worry about either the price or whether it came from Michells. You need to decide if it suits your needs, that's all. They aren't getting any cheaper and are steadily going up in value and this is likely to continue as re-enactors are using them in place of the K98's they can no longer afford. Only cheaper 8mm's out there are the Turk Mausers and they are in the $250 range also.