Mauser M48 - Yes or No?

[mattx109]

I have a thing for Mausers, I guess. I own a Chilean 1895, and today I saw an M48 at my usual shop. At first I assumed it was Czech, but it could very well have been a Yugo piece. Serials didn't match, but I don't care about that since I want a shooter.

Barrel was in good shape, action was smooth and easy, magazine had a nice action to it. The stock may have been replaced or modified, as the leather sling is attached to the bottom of the butt, not the side, and there's a round metal bolt-like piece where the sling should loop through. Were some made like this?

There was some fair pitting at the base of the magazine, where it protrudes slightly from the bottom of the stock. It doesn't look like anything that would affect operation, and it appears to have been cleaned up well; there was no visible rust.

The price is $150. Good? Should I try to talk him down? Or should I wait until a better looking example comes along?

 

[ROTTO]

That price seems high for a gun in that condition. 3 weeks ago I picked up a M-48 in unissued condition for $169.00 out the door.

 

[mattx109]

Yeah, I've seen unissued rifles online for $150. I may go that route, or I may just wait for a decent, mismatched K98 to come around.

 

[Jim K]

The true M48 is not a standard 98 Mauser; the receiver is shorter. But many Mauser rifles have come in from the former Yugoslavia in the past several years, including rebuilt Czech VZ-24's, German K.98k's and others. The best of the lot for smoothness of operation are the VZ-24's. Even though they and the K.98k's have been remarked with the Yugo "flame", there are enough other indications to show what they were. Some dealers just call them all "M48" and let the customer worry about the differences.

Jim