Russian Capture 98k (Ich Habe Eine Frage)

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I am getting the itch (and the funds) to buy a rifle. I think its going to be a Russian capture 98k. I am very familiar with mausers & ww2 rifles (Own several for many years). What I dont know is, Currently what are the more rare manufacture markings that I should be looking for. I know "Rare" is a potentially bad word. I don't mean, something unlike any other mauser ever, just something that is somewhat uncommon / interesting / neat. Let me know the code mark and years to look out for (In your opinion). I tend toward things made in 1942 as I have been lucky enough that I have 3 really nice ww2 rifles from 1942 already. So if there is a low production manufacturer from 1942 specifically that would be great, or perhaps a really late manufacture or really early? Stock features to look out for? Hidden flaws of the R/C Mausers (If Any)? Let me know what you think.

Other questions: How much did you pay / what is a good price?

Did you remove the laquer from the stock? I see it both ways, on one hand the rifle was captured and refinished by the russians, part of its history. On the other hand, being really nice German rifles, removing the laquer makes it more like it was when the poor SOB humped it aus Der Vaterland auf die Mutterland.

 

[TurboThom]

Well, I don't know much about what factories and years are more collectible since I just look for good shooters when it comes to mausers...but with RC karabiner 98 kurz rifles I look to see how much is legitimately stamped matching and how much is electropencil matched, look to see if the waffenampts are intact, inspect the chamber and bore, and make sure it has all the locking screws.

I scrub off the shellac finish with clean 000 steel wool and denatured alchohol, cook out the excess oil/cosmoline from the wood, steam out light dings, and give it an oil scrub with a fine scotch-brite pad and boiled linseed oil. Sometimes I will apply some wax after the BLO scrub/finish.

$175-300 is what I have been paying, depending on condition.

 

[Trebor]

With the Russian capture rifles I'd go with the overall condition of the rifle instead of looking for a specific year or manufacturer.

It also depends on how many you have available to pick through. If you have access to a rack of 20 or 30 or more rifles then maybe you can pick through to look for a good condition rifle and then narrow it down a little more by manufacturer.

Just know that they are all likely to be mixmasters after the Russians got through with them anyway.

Personally, I'd leave the rifle "as is" in the same condition as when it was released from the Russian arsenal.

You really aren't going to be able to restore it to "as built" condition and the Soviet rearsenal process is now part of that individual rifles history. Changing the rifle from that condition erases part of the history of that specific rifle.

If you want to do it because it's just a "shooter" and you want it to look pretty, fine, it's your rifle. But, if you are interested in it as a historic artifact, I believe you should keep the history of that piece as intact as possible.

I also predict that the market for unmolested Russican capture rifles will increase after these rifles have dried up. When they are not as common collectors will realize the history of these rifles and will actually start to seek out nice examples that include the Russian arsental rework and refinish to round out their collections.

I've seen that happen with other mil surp varities, such as the "lend lease" M-1 Garands, and I expect to see it happen in a few years with the Russian capture rifles as well.